I won't lie, managing canine separation anxiety is a pain. Carter was suffering from a severe case of separation anxiety, and it was heartbreaking to see. He would panic every time I went out of the house and this panic continued long after I had left. I felt absolutely helpless.
I read all the books and articles I could find, but his anxiety continued to worsen. As I was unable to control the situation by myself, I sought help.
With the help of an amazing trainer, I was finally able to manage his anxiety. The biggest difference for me was realizing that I had to manage in small steps and that progress is a long process.
What I learned and how I managed my dog's separation anxiety. Here are 5 tips to help you manage your dog's separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety in dogs: Symptoms
Do they panic and get anxious when you leave? When you leave, do they howl or bark? They try to follow you as you leave the house. They may be exhibiting separation anxiety if they do.
Separation anxiety is not the cause of all problems. It may be that your dog chewed your shoes because he was bored . Separation anxiety can cause issues when you are away, while you're gone and even as you prepare to leave.
Separation anxiety is usually exhibited by dogs as you leave, but depending on how severe your dog's anxiety is, these behaviors may continue for several hours. Separation anxiety is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Howling, barking and whining
- Sneak out of the door if someone is trying to follow you
- Destructive behaviors like chewing and digging
- Defecating or urinating inside the house
- Excessive drooling
- Excessive panting
- Hyperactivity or aggression when you leave
- Hide when you leave
- No appetite
Some dogs experience separation anxiety, while others do not. Remember that your dog's behavior is part of his panic response. Your dog doesn't want to punish you. They want you home! – Humane Society of the United States
Why separation anxiety needs to be managed
Separation anxiety is a fear-based behavior in dogs, just like with any anxiety disorder. You or someone you know who has experienced anxiety will understand how tiring and severe it can be, especially if left untreated.
Separation anxiety can cause dogs to panic for several hours when their owners leave. This anxiety can be detrimental to the dog's health.
Our dogs cannot tell us why they are so anxious and will continue to be anxious until we address the problem. Separation anxiety in dogs is progressive and will get worse with time. We can prevent the behavior from becoming serious if you intervene early.
How to Assess the Severity of Your Dog's Separation Fear
It's important to assess your dog's anxiety before deciding on a treatment plan. If your dog shows signs of panic, such as howling or trying to escape when you are away, it's important to take a step back and assess the severity. Your dog may have a severe panic disorder.
Severe separation anxiety can lead to long periods of panic and extreme fear in dogs. In cases such as this, you will likely need professional assistance to manage it.
Your dog tries to sneak out the door when you leave or whines for a few moments after you have left before settling down? This is a mild separation anxiety and it's easier to manage. This doesn't mean that it's simple, but it can be done. If your dog's anxiety is getting worse, please seek help. These issues can get worse if they are not addressed.
Canine Separation anxiety: 5 tips for managing it
First, the bad news. Separation anxiety will not improve on its own. It will get worse without management.
For dogs who have been suffering from separation anxiety, it is necessary to counter-condition them in order to remove all of the negative associations that they have associated with being alone. You must understand that separation anxiety is not something you can cure overnight. It will take a great deal of time and dedication from you.
You may wonder why I am pointing out so many negatives. When I was searching for ways to deal with my dog's separation anxieties, the articles that I read did not address how difficult it can be to manage. When I didn't get results over night, I thought I had failed. It turns out that treating anxiety is not as simple as you might think.
This is the truth. These tips are effective, but you have to be committed. Repeat the same steps step by step. You will find it tedious at first, but you will see results over time.
Let's get to the good stuff. Proper management can help you with your dog. Carter, my previous dog, had separation anxiety. These tips helped me manage it (alongside patience and understanding). Here are 5 steps to managing separation anxiety in dogs.
1. Keep Your Dog Calm As You Practice Getting Ready
To manage canine separation anxiety, the first step is to learn how to calm your dog while you prepare. The best way to start is to practice the routine and gradually get them used to it in a manner that will not agitate them.
As much as we know our own routines, our dogs do too. For many, the act of getting ready to leave for work can cause them to become anxious even before we step outside the door. It's essential to keep your dog calm as you prepare for work. This will help reduce separation anxiety. You should include all the steps you take before leaving for work, such as getting dressed, applying makeup, putting your shoes on, and getting your keys or purse.
Dogs are intelligent. Dogs are smart. They know when you shower and get dressed in the morning, you're about to leave. If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, everything you do in the early morning can trigger them into becoming anxious. You can help them manage their anxiety by making certain parts of your morning routine a positive experience (or neutral at least). To do this, you will need to practice desensitization and counter conditioning on your dog.
Choose a time that you have extra time for your dog. Start by practicing how to keep your dog calm as you perform one of your routines for getting ready.
Remember that each dog is unique. The part of the routine you want to begin with will be the one that causes your dog the least anxiety. As an example, putting your shoes on may cause anxiety in your dog as it is likely one of the last things you do just before you leave. Start by focusing on a part that does not cause your dog to be anxious.
It's important to keep your dog calm as you perform the routine. desensitization and counter conditioning are designed to change your dog's emotional reaction to certain stimuli. It's not easy to change your dog's behavior, but repetition and good management can help.
How to keep your dog calm as you prepare for a big event?
In this example, let's assume that you have chosen to keep your dog calm as you brush your teeth. This activity causes some anxiety in your pet but is not overwhelming.
Food is the easiest way to make brushing teeth a positive experience for your pet (rather then one that causes anxiety). While your dog watches you brushing your teeth, throw a treat to them and then another one as you pick up the toothpaste. If your dog still seems a bit nervous, you might need to step back and work on picking up the toothbrush.
Although it may seem strange to reward your dog just for watching you brushing your teeth, this is part of the process. Your dog's behavior will change if you give them something to focus on when doing something that normally causes anxiety.
Your dog will begin to associate brushing teeth with the tasty treat. This helps them to shift their focus from the negative associations that they have built over time, and give them something positive to focus on.
The severity of separation anxiety in your dog will determine the pace at which you should work to de-sensitize them to things that make them anxious.
When they start to feel nervous, the anxiety can grow. By the time you are ready to leave, they could be too agitated to handle. You can prevent this by breaking the routine down into manageable chunks.
It is important to break down each part of the routine that causes your dog anxiety into smaller, more manageable pieces. Over time, your dog will become more comfortable with the parts of your routine that make him nervous.
The act of getting ready to leave for work can cause anxiety and stress in dogs who suffer from separation anxiety. Treats can be used to calm your dog down as you prepare for work.
2. Leave for Short Periods
After you have mastered the art of keeping your dog calm while you are “getting ready”, you can move on to walking towards the door, and then actually leaving. As before, the goal is to take baby steps. Once your dog has mastered the ability to handle you walking to the door, you can start walking through the door.
This may require days, weeks, or even months of practice depending on how severe your dog's anxiety is. This process is long, but it will change the negative associations that your dog has formed about you leaving. By leaving your dog for shorter periods, you can break this negative association.
Your dog will learn that you do not just leave the house for eight hours or more when you go to work. Your dog will learn that short trips away from the house are not a big deal, because you'll be back.
Keep your dog calm when you're leaving
Start by leaving your dog for a few moments at a given time. This exercise works best when I give my dog a tasty treat or stuffed Kong to keep his attention. It is important to not cause fear or anxiety in your dog when you approach the door.
You'll need to practice walking towards the door before you leave if your dog gets anxious.
It is important to leave for short periods to normalize and desensitize your dog . Take your time when doing these exercises. If you rush, your dog could become anxious and set back your progress.
After some practice, you will be able keep your dog calm as you approach the door. It may take weeks or even days of practice, depending on the severity of your dog's anxiety.
3. Give your dog something to do when you leave
When it comes to mild separation anxiety in dogs, a stuffed Kong is a lifesaver. Does your dog get anxious when you are getting ready to leave for work? Give them a Kong filled with frozen treats. I use Kongs as they are dishwasher-safe and indestructible for my dog.
They are great because they keep your dog busy while you are away, and take the focus off you. They are mentally challenging and the fact that your dog has to work to get that extra treat works wonders to keep their attention.
Laika, my current dog, started to show signs of anxiety when I left for work several years ago. I was amazed at how well the stuffed Kong worked with her. After a few days, she stopped following me as I got ready and waited by the freezer to get her Kong.
Are you unsure what to use as Kong stuffing? I like to use a “base”, such as peanut butter, low sodium broth or homemade treats. Fill a Kong with stuffing, place it into a bowl or cup (small side up), and freeze it overnight. It's not necessary to freeze the stuffed Kong. However, it will help it last longer.
A stuffed Kong might not be enough for a dog with severe separation anxiety. I would recommend consulting a professional trainer in cases of severe separation anxiety.
4. Teach Your Dog Independent Behaviors
Separation anxiety dogs develop an hyper-attachment with their owners. Some dogs are bred more dependently than others. We can also encourage clingy behavior. There's no way to know why some dogs get it, and others do not. But there are ways to manage the behavior.
To help with canine separation anxieties, I encourage my dogs to do things independently or away from me. You can encourage your dog to be independent if they get nervous when you are not around. Keep it positive and your dog will learn they don't have to always be by your side to feel comfortable.
Independent Behaviors To Encourage In Your Dog
Your dog will gain confidence if you teach them to do things independently, or even at a distance. Encourage your dog to be more independent by doing the following.
Games that require distance. Games like hide and seek and fetch, nose work, are fun ways to have fun at a distance. Your dog will learn that it doesn't have to be by your side all the time to have fun.
Give each dog a special place. Make sure your dog has a special bed, mat, or crate. Give your dog a special treat or toy when he goes there. This will keep the place fun.
Desensitize the dog to your movements. When dogs with separation anxiety get up, it can cause them to panic. They think that we are going somewhere.
To de-sensitize your dog , practice getting up and performing mundane tasks. This behavior should be repeated until your dog no longer reacts. She will eventually become desensitized and stay put when you move.
Give your dog a puzzle/food-toy to work with. To encourage my dog's independence (and to provide her with mental stimulation), I use a toy that dispensing treats. It gives her a task to complete that does not require me to always be by her side. As I've mentioned before, a long-lasting dog toy and a stuffed Kong are great distractions when you're out.
Encourage your dog to be independent. This will help reduce separation anxiety. Give your dog a fun thing to do by themselves, such as a puzzle toy, stuffed Kong or enduring chew toy.
5. Keep Your Dog Mentally & Physically Active
Canine separation anxiety can be managed by giving your dog a lot of mental and physical exercise. Separation anxiety may not be cured by itself, but mental and physical exercise can help.
Many of us leave for work early in the morning. This can be a problem for energetic, young dogs. Take your dog on a short walk, jog or play a game of fetch or tug before you leave for work.
It doesn't need to be a long walk or game. Even a simple 5 minute tug game or a 10 minute walk will make a huge difference.
Want to know some quick ways of tiring out your dog quickly in the mornings? Here are some of my favorite ways to quickly exhaust your dog.
- Use of a flirt pole
- Frisbee
- Play tug of war
It is easy to keep your dog entertained with mentally stimulating activities and burn some extra energy. These activities also allow your dog to practice problem-solving skills on their own, which is great for dogs who suffer from anxiety. My favorite ways to provide my with more mental stimulation are:
- Food & puzzle toys
- Find the treats is a game that involves finding all of the treats.
- Teach new tricks
- Stuffed Kongs/puzzle Toys
When your dog's separation anxiety seems to be better
After your dog's anxiety about separation is under control, it's vital to monitor their behavior and ensure that things remain good. Even after proper management, our dogs may start to show anxious behaviors.
It's unlikely that your dog will go back to full panic mode after you leave. If you don't keep your dog calm, the anxious behavior may slowly return. It doesn't need to be done every day. But a few times a week can make a huge difference.
If Your Dog Has Severe Separation Anxiety
Canine separation anxiety is difficult to treat in severe cases. These tips are for dogs who have mild to moderate separation anxiety. If the problem is severe, I would recommend consulting a professional behaviorist or trainer.
If you can't control your dog's anxiety on your own, you should seek professional help.