What is a Separation Anxiety in Dogs?

Separation anxiety is a subset of the group of behaviours called Anxieties where your dog shows signs of distress when separated from you.

Here are some Signs –

Your dog will appear to be down & not himself, showing what appears to be an emotion related to sadness, or anxiety & distress when you are preparing to leave.

Your dog  will show anxious behaviours while you are gone such as distressed vocalisation, whining, barking, escaping, digging, destructive behaviours, house soiling, jumping on you, lack of appetite etc
Your Dog may be over-attentive when you arrive home, perhaps even vocalising/barking & Jumping on you.

 

Dogs, like people, can suffer from Anxiety and trying to understand it can be challenging. A lot of dogs who have been re-homed may suffer some form of anxiety, especially when there has been neglect or abuse involved. To the un-trained eye, Anxiety can appear to be bad behaviour. The difference is that with Anxiety, the behaviours mostly happen when the owner is not around or is just out of reach, such as behind a closed door, in the office or bathroom etc… Management over Anxiety may be gained through using a behaviourist, who comes into the home, assesses the situation and may give advice to help lessen the Anxiety.

 

We suggest, from an early age, not to feed into any unstable behaviour. When your dog exhibits any of the above signs, do not comfort or pat your dog, as this only makes the situation worse. Your dog learns to repeat behaviours that are rewarding to them, so if you comfort your Dog at these times, your dog will just continue repeating the same behaviour. You must stay calm and assertive and confident. Remember to ignore the behaviours you don’t want repeated. Practice leaving your dog unattended for short and long periods, so he will know that you (the pack leader) always returns, therefore you dog will become more independent and grow in confidence. For those dog owners with only one dog in the Family, if at all possible, we always suggest buying another dog for company, as they are a social animal in the wild and benefit greatly by having a mate around.

 

Pheromones such as the Dog Appeasing Pheromone (D.A.P.) and Feliway are good products from your Vet because they are easy to use and side-effect free. But they are definately not a cure for all behavioural problems.

 

Leah & Angela OMeara (Specialists In Pet Sitting, Dog Minding & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)