Don’t Leave Me Alone!!!!

By:  Pia Silvani, CPDT, CABC 

We routinely we get frantic calls from desperate owners who are at their wits end, not knowing what to do.  They love their pets but can’t continue to live with dogs that are destroying their homes.  “He’s got separation anxiety” is what we typically hear.  Perhaps, but not necessarily. 

 Separation anxiety occurs when an animal exhibits symptoms of anxiety or excessive distress, especially when left alone.  The most common behaviors exhibited by dogs are digging; chewing and scratching at doorways, windows or moldings in an attempt to escape; excessive vocalization; urination and defecation (despite the fact that the dog is housetrained) when the owners are gone; drooling, panting, pacing.  If confined, some may go to great extremes resulting in injury to themselves.  Clients have described their dogs as being “Velcro dogs” when they are home, engaging in overly excited greetings when the owner returns home or exhibiting extreme distress when the owner is about to leave. 

What causes the dog to suffer from separation anxiety? 

Unfortunately, we really don’t know why some dogs develop it and others do not.  Some possible reasons:

• A history of abuse or multiple homes

• Traumatic events when dogs are young

• Sudden changes in  normal environment  and routines

• Never having been left home alone

How do you know whether your dog has separation anxiety or just needs more training?

 Every dog will react somewhat differently with varying levels of destruction and anxiety.  It is important to understand that the dog’s anxiety peaks within 30 minutes of departure.  Vocalization can occur for hours, depending on the dog’s stress level.  Some may not eat, chew on bones or drink unless the owner is present.  In rare cases, dogs will engage in self-mutilation such as chewing on themselves or excessively licking on certain areas of their bodies. 

The key to remember, however, is that the dog is NOT acting out, getting back at you or angry with you for leaving.  The dog is stressed and cannot control its behaviors. 

 If your dog chews on the sofa, pillows or clothing regardless of whether you are home or not; is not fully housetrained (rarely has accidents in the house); vocalizes when you are home, confinement and more training may be all that's required. 

A Treatment Plan

If a physical exam by your veterinarian confirms that your dog is in good health and there are no medical causes for the disturbing behaviors and an evaluation determines that he is suffering form true separation anxiety, you'll be ready to begin treatment.  Here are a few tips.

• A combination of behavior and medication is often recommended and you will need to follow it carefully.  Medication alone is not a cure--but may be needed to help your dog relax so that he can successfully perform the modification exercises developed specifically for him.

•  Always keep your arrival greetings and departures low key.  This is typically more difficult for owners than their dogs.  There is no reason for a ‘party’ every time you come home.  Your dog already thinks you are the most wonderful thing on earth and he still will, even without a lot of hoopla every time you arrive.

•  When home, do not permit your dog to attach itself to you.  Close doors when you use the bathroom.  Teach him to "down/stay" on a mat away from you; give him a safe bone on his mat and put up a gate between two rooms, teaching him to settle down at a distance away from you.  Ignore any vocalization.  If you even tell him “quiet” he has succeeded in getting you to pay attention to him.

• Avoid the common pitfalls of owners who try to speed up the processing of improving their dogs’ conditions. For example, don’t punish your dog for his behaviors—it’s not effective and can even make matters worse.  Don’t get a companion animal in the hope that its presence will “cure” your dog—his separation anxiety is from you.  Rely on the behaviorist to determine when and what type of training class your dog should attend—simply enrolling in class to resolve the problem can increase the dog’s anxiety.

A systematic process of getting your dog to be okay with being alone takes time – weeks or possibly months.  The dog must learn to remain calm during practice departures and short absences and the best ways to get success will vary with each dog.  Seeking professional help is vital.  Your veterinarian and an applied animal behaviorist or certified dog trainer can assist you in identifying the best course of treatment for your dog. 

Don’t give up!  Remember that true separation anxiety is a complex disorder.  There is no one "recipe" to cure the condition.  Having patience and obtaining guidance from a professional will enable the establishment of a systematic treatment plan and can usually improve your dog's emotional health and minimize your frustration.