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“Take Me With You!”
Dealing with Canine Separation Anxiety
Safety in Numbers
Dogs are social, animals who rely on the other members of their family for protection. In domestic dogs, the humans become their families. Dogs want to be with their family every second of the day. When that is not possible, which it frequently isn’t, dogs need to adjust to being alone. Some dogs cannot make that adjustment easily.
Puppies learn within a few minutes of birth that making noise brings their mother. So barking, whining and crying are natural reactions when a dog wants to be reunited with his family. It is also common for dogs to try to escape their confinement in order to find their family. Some dogs become so anxious when left alone that they become destructive and or defecate and urinate without control.
It is the family’s job to help their dog learn how to stay calm and comfortable when left alone.
Home Alone
It is difficult for owners to leave their dog knowing that they are having a hard time being left alone. There are things we as owners can do to make the transitions a little easier on our dog.
1. A tired dog is a good dog: Dogs need both physical and mental exercise to be happy and healthy. A dog who does not get enough exercise is more likely to have stress and tension. Try taking your dog for a long walk before you leave in the morning. Spend some time with your dog teaching some new tricks. Dog’s love learning new tricks especially if they are positively reinforced with play, toys or treats. Ensuring your dog is getting plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation will enhance the likelihood of having a well behaved dog.
2. Just leave: We humans love to talk, especially when we are plagued with guilt about leaving our dog for a few hours. We have a tendency to go on and on. “I’m going out, you can’t come with me. I will be home soon. You be good. Okay? You be good. I love you. I will see you when I get back.” If your dog was not worried about being left alone before, he is now. When it is time to go, just go.
3. The yum on the run: Prepare a yummy snack to keep your dog busy while you are gone. My favorites are hollow marrowbones or KONGs (trademarked) that have been stuffed with mashed banana and then frozen. Another item that will keep your dog entertained is a “busy toy”. There are a number of toys on the market made to keep your dog challenged and entertained. These toys are made so that kibble can be put in easily, but takes a bit more persistence to get the kibble out. They have to be rolled, tossed or pushed to get the food out. Your dog will be so busy trying to get his food he won’t notice that you left. When he has finally finished retrieving his food from the toy hopefully he will be tired enough to take a long nap.
4. Ho hum you’re back: Make your comings and goings uneventful. If your dog gets locked in a crate or confined to a room when you are not home, put him in their area about 10-20 minutes before you have to leave, then when it is time to leave just grab your keys and go. When you return home, give your dog 10-20 min before you let him out of his confinement. I like to wait until my dog is settled and seems to have forgotten that I am back before I let him out.
5. Quiet is not necessarily settled: It is a well-known fact that you should never let your dog out of his crate unless he is quiet. This will teach your dog that quiet behavior gets him out of his crate. I am going to take that one step further and say that you should only allow your dog out of his confinement if he is settled and just because your dog is quiet does not mean that he is settled. A settled dog is not panting, is usually lying down on one hip and does not spring to standing every time you take one step in the crates direction. A dog who learns that being settled gets him out of his crate is much more likely to be relaxed about your leaving. It is very difficult to be stressed and settled at the same time.
6. Bad Crate: If your dog is only ever confined when you are leaving the house your dog will soon learn to associate the crate or being locked in the kitchen as a really bad place to be. In order for your dog to feel comfortable in the place you have decided he will be when you are not at home he should spend some time there when you are home as well as when you leave. Let the crate be a marker for good things to come. From day one, feed your dog in his crate. Anytime you have something special to give your dog, like a bone or a new toy, give it to him in his crate. Soon he will see his crate as a great place to be.
7. Cues to Abandonment: Dogs are masters at reading body language and behavior chains. Humans are great at forming habits and ritualistic behavior. What do you do before you leave the house each day? Maybe your morning routine consists of making your lunch, pouring a travel mug of coffee, grabbing your bag and keys, putting on your jacket and heading out the door. What ever your routine is, your dog is bound to know it. Which means that your dog may start panicking about you leaving as soon as he sees you making your lunch. By the time you are ready to walk out the door your dog is already in a state of frenzy. Desensitize your dog to your leaving ritual. Grab your keys and then sit down and read a book or watch the news. Grab your keys, walk out the door and then turn around and come back in. Grab your keys, walk out the door, start the car and then turn around and come back in. Constantly mix it up for him, so he does not have a chance to learn your routine. If your dog cannot determine when you are leaving he can’t begin to panic.
8. Comforting sounds: Try leaving the TV or radio (tuned to a talk station) on, in a room that you are frequently in but your dog can’t see. Hearing human voices coming from a familiar place may help calm a nervous dog. It is important to note that in order for this to work, you should have the TV or radio on when you are home as well as when you are out. Otherwise your dog will come to associate the TV or radio being turned on as a cue to abandonment.
Serious Separation Anxiety
A dog who does major property damage, injures himself, or stresses himself to the point of exhaustion when left alone may have serious separation anxiety. In these cases you should first rule out any medical conditions by taking your dog to the veterinarian. Once health has been ruled out as a cause, seek the professional advise of a canine behaviorist. Videotape your dog while you are out. This will give you a real sense of how bad the separation anxiety is. Many dogs stress for the first 45 minutes of being left alone but then settle down for the remainder of the time.
Products That Can Help To Calm
There are several products available over the counter that claim to help anxious pets.
A product on the market sort of like a doggy “plug-in” called “Comfort Zone with DAP” can have good results. It releases a chemical, which mimics the hormone released by dogs while they are nursing. This is supposed to be comforting to dogs who are stressed or excited. For some anxious dogs it really seems to help take the edge off of their anxiety.
Also available, are homeopathic remedies like Bach Flower Essence mix “Rescue Remedy”. “Rescue Remedy” is a mixture of natural ingredients (valerian root) that may also help calm an anxious dog.
Final Thoughts
Separation anxiety is something that can be cured, but it takes time. Following the steps above will go a long way in helping your dog. Remember, it is not your dog’s fault that he is feeling anxious. By being a patient, loving and willing caregiver you will help your dog through this difficult period. Although it can be a long process for some dogs, it is always well worth the effort.
© Copyright 2008 Liz Maslow, CPDT. All rights reserved.
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