Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Feel like a prisoner in your own home? Read on.

Separation anxiety is a term that is thrown out very loosely- there are multiple things that contribute to the clinical term of separation anxiety. A more accurate term in recent behavioral science is “Separation Related Behaviors/Problems” (SRB/SRP)

Some dogs may be experiencing true separation anxiety while other dogs may be experiencing confinement anxiety if crated, hyper attachment to a specific human, trying to adjust to a recent move, often new rescues just struggle with being left alone in a new home environment, while other dogs are just simply bored. It’s important to identify combination of behaviors you’re seeing in your dog so you know the best course of action to take. Chances are it's not what you've heard- or ehat you think. Prepare to reframe everything you've ever learned about dog training- because separation anxiety dogs are special and require special treatment if you want results with longevity.

You have to ask yourself: Do you want it fast- or do you want it forever?

Clinical Separation Anxiety is characterized by:

• Barking

• Whining

• Howling

• Destructive behavior

• House soiling

• Pacing

• Whimpering

• Attempts to escape

• Excessive vocalization of any kind

• Becoming increasingly agitated as you get ready to go somewhere

• Coprophagia (eating poo)

• Drooling

• Panting

• Lip licking

• Paw licking

• Walking in circles

• Aggressive behaviors/tendencies

  WHAT CAUSES SEPARATION ANXIETY?

• a recent move

• a recent change in household

• a death in the family or of another pet

• genetics

• history of abuse or neglect

• ignoring your dog when they are distressed

• forcing a puppy into a crate

• forcing a puppy to "learn to cope" or "self soothe"

• letting a dog "cry/bark it out"

• scolding or punishing upon departures/returns

• assuming a new dog will "just be ok" when left alone and not bothering to monitor them

• changing furniture around

• adding a new pet to the household

• leaving the dog alone for extended periods of time 6-8+ hours

• aversive training methods such as e-collars and invisible fences

  WHAT DOESNT CAUSE SEPARATION ANXIETY?

• Greeting your pet when you arrive home

• allowing your dog to sleep in your bed

• comforting your dog when they are frightened

• letting your dog follow you around

• spending too much time with your dog

• saying goodbye to your dog

• setting clear boundaries in a language your dog understands

• not leaving your dog alone until the problem is resolved (it actually accelerates the process to suspend absences from your dog if you're working through a training program with a trainer that specializes in separation anxiety)

  Treatment for separation related behaviors can range from simply an adjustment of departures to systematic desensitization training, and often times medication is necessary. Due to the nature of the problem and the necessity of acquiring accurate day to day data of what happens in the home, nearly all separation anxiety training is done remotely- and for good reason. Any dog experiencing anxiety, overstimulation, or overarousal will have hindered cognition making it nearly impossible for them to absorb and retain new information. It's also easier to go at a pace that the dog can cope with by keeping training sessions shorter and more frequent than ordinary training sessions. This allows us to get the best results in the most efficient way possible.

  So, does your dog have separation anxiety?

Let me know if you have questions in the comments- and if you think you need professional help Contact one of our Clinical Canine Anxiety Specialists at petparentlife@outlook.com