Around 40% of dogs experience separation anxiety for a variety of reasons. Some of them suffer from this disorder as a result of premature weaning, while others have developed it after experiencing a traumatic situation alone, among many other causes.
Without a doubt, it is one of the most common problems and it is our responsibility to treat it to ensure that the animal remains emotionally stable. For this reason, in this article on our site we share a complete guide on separation anxiety in dogs, talking about its most common causes, the usual symptoms that lead to an accurate diagnosis, and guidelines for action. Discover how to know if your dog has separation anxiety and how to treat it
What is separation anxiety in dogs?
Separation anxiety is defined as the state of stress reached by the dog when it has no access to its owner. This state does not occur because the animal feels dependent on its human, but because it is not capable of managing the situation of loneliness and separation.
Thus, it is not an obsession, but a attachment bond and an inability to build a balance being alone. For the dog, its owner acts as a reference figure that guides and provides protection, in other words, it is his secure base When his secure base is not there, and the dog has not learned to cope with this situation, that is when stress, fear, frustration and anxiety appear, causing him to present a series of symptoms and unwanted behaviors.
However, there are different types or degrees of separation anxiety in dogs, so some may be related to a relationship of hyperattachment by the dog and, at the same time, poor management of separation.
- Type A or primary hyperattachment: occurs in dogs that have been separated from their mother and siblings prematurely. When an early weaningoccurs and is therefore less natural, the dog has not experienced progressive detachment, so it has not learned to be separate from its secure base (in this case his mother). The ideal is to let the weaning occur naturally so that the mother can teach her puppy to be without her protection. For this reason, the best age to adopt a puppy is three months of age, both to avoid the development of this emotional disorder and to prevent socialization problems, and behavior problems in general, derived from early separation.
- Type B or secondary hyperattachment: occurs after spending a long time with the dog, such as after a vacation or a sick leave. In this case, the dog was initially able to manage loneliness, but after experiencing this repetitive contact with his reference figure, he creates a kind of dependency that causes anxiety when his secure base is absent. On the other hand, this type of separation anxiety in dogs can also happen after a move, an abandonment or the death of their reference figure. Here, the dog has lost what for him was an important stimulus (a home or a person), feels the need for contact with his secure base and is fearful, stressed, nervous or anxious alone.
- Type C: occurs when the dog has suffered a traumatic or negative experience while alone. In this case, separation anxiety manifests itself only when the stimulus that causes fear in the dog appears.
In general, a dog with separation anxiety is unable to find a balance between environment, social stimuli and reference figure when one of these elements fails. This ability to balance the different elements that are around him, even if one of them is absent for a certain time, is known as sensory homeostasis A balanced dog is able to maintain this balance even if its reference figure (owner) is not at home. A dog with impaired sensory homeostasis, for the above reasons, suffers from this type of anxiety.
When left home alone, the dog feels threatened, in danger, and a state of alert is activated that it can lead to the destruction of objects, desperate crying, etc. As its name suggests, the separation for a period of time, whether short or long, between dog and owner produces a state of uncontrollable anxiety in the dog.
Approximately between 20 and 40% of the canine population suffer from separation anxiety, being one of the most frequent reasons for consultation. In either case, it is essential to intervene and put an end to this situation as soon as possible.
Causes of separation anxiety in dogs
Before delving into the symptoms of this type of anxiety and the possible solutions to treat it, it is important to talk about the most common causes that cause it.
As we mentioned in the previous section, premature weaning is one of the most common reasons for the development of this disorder. Likewise, the change of home or abandonment are also among the main causes of separation anxiety in dogs. For this reason, it is common to find this type of case among adopted dogs, adults or the elderly, due to the separation experienced from their previous owners.
However, these are not the only reasons, so this imbalance can also occur for the following reasons:
- If you spent practically the whole day with your dog and, for whatever reason, have stopped doing so, this is probably the cause. Going from always being with you to staying many hours alone at home may have triggered the type B anxiety state in him, or secondary hyperattachment, explained in the previous section.
- In relation to the previous point, have you made any changes in your daily routine or habits? If so, this may be the reason.
- If your dog has developed this state suddenly and without any apparent explanation, the cause may lie in a traumatic episode that has occurred. experienced while home alone. The relationship that the dog establishes is very simple: without his secure base, something negative has happened, so that the situation of loneliness is now insecure and, therefore, he feels fear and anxiety when he is now alone
Once separation anxiety has been diagnosed it is essential to treat it to restore emotional stability to the dog, since he has a really hard time being alone. But how is it diagnosed?
Very simple, ensuring that the dog shows the symptoms only in the absence of the owner. These signs should be shown whenever you are alone, including short outings.
Although not all, most dogs with separation anxiety show nervousness and anxiety when their secure base leaves, regardless of whether or not there is another person in the household who is part of the family.
Symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs
Anxiety is distinguished by a series of strange or abnormal behaviors in the dog that we can easily glimpse. However, sometimes they can be confused with the symptoms of other problems. Therefore, to get to know them better and learn to identify them without error, we will separate them into two groups: the symptoms that the dog shows during the separation and the associated signs that it presents before or after.
During separation, the dog with this type of anxiety may display productive symptoms or deficit symptoms. The productive ones are the following:
- Destructive behavior. When he's home alone, he can destroy objects, furniture, and even scatter the rubbish.
- Excessive barking, whining, whimpering and, depending on the breed of dog, maybe even howling when alone.
- Urinate and/or defecate inside the house, especially near the exit door, although it can also be done throughout the home. In well-trained dogs, used to doing their business in the street, this unusual behavior can be the key that tells us that something is wrong.
- Vomiting or diarrhea. In severe cases of anxiety, it is possible to see these symptoms, although they are not usually very frequent.
As for the deficit symptoms that a dog with separation anxiety can develop when alone, they are:
- Stop eating.
- Don't drink anything.
- Ignore toys, including food dispensers.
A dog may only experience these types of symptoms, making it difficult for owners to identify the problem. However, in these cases it is common to see that the dog eats a lot or drinks a lot of water after its owner has returned home. Perhaps this behavior is strange, but if we think that he has been able to go all day without eating or drinking, it is totally justified.
Continuing with the symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs, we now turn to the associated signs, which usually occur before or after outputs:
- Anticipatory anxiety. The dog identifies the steps prior to departure and before the separation occurs he is nervous, cries, moans or barks, follows the human everywhere and tries to get his attention
- Exaggerated greeting It is possible that even before your sitter enters the home the dog is already barking, jumping or scratching the door by way of greeting. Once inside, he continues to be nervous, jumps and makes various vocalizations, typical of an exaggerated greeting. Depending on the dog, it may last more or less and it is even possible that a few drops of urine may escape from the same emotion.
If we have detected that our dog shows any or all of these symptoms, we should take him to the vet to make sure it is separation anxiety, and is not the product of a physical abnormality or internal pathology. Likewise, it is possible to confuse the symptoms with the signs shown as a consequence of other problems, making a wrong diagnosis. The most common cases in which this occurs are the following:
- Lack of stimulation Boredom, lack of exercise, failure to develop exploratory behavior, etc., cause the dog to a destructive behavior, which is often confused with the symptoms of separation anxiety.
- Excess stimulationListening to other dogs barking, the doorbell of the house or the neighbors, the neighbors themselves talking or entering their house, etc., can make the dog nervous and bark, cry or howl. In general, it is related to a lack of socialization
How to correct separation anxiety in dogs? - Guidelines to follow
The treatment of separation anxiety in dogs involves different factors. On the one hand, it is essential to identify the cause to correct it, since to eliminate it it is necessary to act on the root of the problem. On the other hand, it is important to work on the symptoms to reduce anxiety as much as possible and treat the underlying cause more effectively. Thus, in general, the action protocol usually includes the following guidelines:
- Behavior modification techniques.
- Biological therapy using drugs or pheromones.
The behavior modification techniques are not always easy to execute, so especially in the most serious cases, we recommend going to a canine educator or ethologist. That said, let's see what these guidelines consist of to treat separation anxiety in dogs.
1. Modify the relationship with your dog
As we have said, the main problem with this type of anxiety is the lack of self-control and the inability to manage loneliness. For this reason, reinforcing the dog when he is in a state of nervousness (before we leave or upon arrival) or while he presents any of the aforementioned symptoms, is totally counterproductive. Thus, it is essential to take these recommendations into account:
- Pay no attention to him until he is completely calm. While he's excited or trying to get your attention, ignore him. Remember that a simple look or a "No" is not a corrective act, it is an involuntary reinforcement that worsens their state and, therefore, their hyperattachment.
- Don't come back in if you hear him start barking, crying, or howling as soon as you leave. Again, it is a reinforcement, since the dog through this behavior achieves what he wants, which is your presence. Even if it costs, ignore it and continue with your exit. In this sense, talking to the neighbors so that they understand that you are in the process of treatment to correct the problem and notify them of your dog's vocalizations, can be of great help.
- Increase gaming sessions and physical exerciseThis will allow you to better manage the handling that you must have with your dog, favoring your ability to ignore it in its constant calls for attention, and will help the animal to feel more stimulated. This is not a technique that by itself treats separation anxiety, but it does make the job easier.
two. Work on your exit signs
Until recently, it was considered that one of the guidelines to follow to correct separation anxiety in dogs was to prevent the dog from anticipating exitsThis method consisted of carrying out the usual exit rituals during the day, such as taking the keys or putting on the coat, but without actually going out in order to reduce the predictive value of walking as much as possible, considering that in this way the dog would avoid being anxious or stressed when it sensed that its handlers were about to leave. However, recent studies[1] reveal that these guidelines do not benefit dogs as previously believed, but instead keep them in a constant state of anxiety due precisely, because they are not able to control when their humans are going to be absent. In other words, a dog that anticipates that its owner is going to go out, may be anxious during those minutes in which the person prepares to be absent and be calm the rest of the day (when accompanied). However, a dog that doesn't know when his humans are going to leave him alone,can be nervous all day , waiting for the moment to happen because he doesn't know it. In this last case, we could say that the dog is in a state of chronic anxiety.
Studies indicate that, since predictability is one of the psychological factors that directly affect the body's response to stress, the fact of enhancing the predictability of departures benefits dogs suffering from separation anxiety because it allows them to know when their humans will and will not leave, as well as giving them control over when they can be relaxed and calm.
Having seen all of the above about predictability, treatment of separation anxiety in dogs should not be based on eliminating the exit signs, but quite the opposite. Thus, we recommend continuing with the usual exit ritual. Of course, in addition to working on your signals, it is essential that you modify certain aspects of your start routine, such as the ones shown below:
- Ignore the dog 15 minutes before you leaveto avoid inadvertently reinforcing him and making him more anxious
- When you get home, ignore him completely, so don't greet him until he's relaxed and calm. If you greet him as soon as he arrives, again you are subconsciously reinforcing anxious behaviors.
3. Make small outings, several times a day
Performing the exit signals without going outside keeps the dog in a state of chronic anxiety, however, carrying out small real exits during the day can allow you to work on separation anxiety from the dog. dog, help him better manage loneliness and make him understand that his humans will return.
Thus, it is highly recommended to schedule a series of outings throughout the day to begin to desensitize him, which we will call "false outings ". What does this mean? That from here the treatment that will help the animal to manage the separation will begin. To do this, experts recommend to introduce a new signal, such as placing an object on the doorknob, just before leaving. Initially, this new signal should only be used when making false starts, so it will not be used when leaving for work, for example. In this way, the dog understands that this exit is part of the training and that, in a short period of time, his humans will return, which allows him to remain more relaxed. The steps to follow are those:
- At the beginning, make very short outings, of five minutes maximum, in which you go out, spend a little time outside and come back to get in. Remember to post the exit sign before you leave.
- Carry out these false starts as many times as you can during the day so that the dog gets used to it, understands that you always come back and understands that being alone is not negative.
- Over time, progressively lengthen the minutes you are away. At this point, you can intersperse five-minute false starts with slightly longer false starts of 10 or 15 minutes. Of course, if when you lengthen the outings the animal shows the symptoms again, it means that up to now you have done the guidelines well, but that you have lengthened the time too quickly, so you will have to take a step back to practice again. short outings.
- As the dog gets used to it, reduce the number of false starts.
- For long absences, of 8 hours or more, or for vacation periods, during treatment it is advisable to leave the dog with someone you trust or a kennel that knows how to deal with this type of disorder.
Once you manage to keep the dog calm for a whole hour, that is, without showing symptoms of separation anxiety, you can use the false start signal also on real starts. It is essential that you make all the changes progressively and, above all, that you be constant with your training. If you break off treatment without having the desired results, it will be as if you did nothing and your dog will continue to display separation anxiety.
4. Maintain a stimulating environment in your absence
Although your home may seem comfortable to you, is it to your dog? Does he have enough stimuli to keep himself entertained in your absence? Do you usually turn off the light when you leave? To reduce your furry friend's anxiety as much as possible, it is essential to complement the above guidelines with a suitable environment. But how should it be?
- The space should be as close as possible to when you are in it. Thus, we recommend leaving a light on, music or even the television. This way, the dog won't notice the difference as much.
- The use of toys can work for some dogs, although at first we anticipate that they may not be entirely effective. In any case, a well-enriched space, with a comfortable place to lie down, a blanket, toys, etc., is always more recommended.
- Food-dispensing toys like the Kong often work well for dogs with separation anxiety. However, as we say, it is possible that, at the beginning of the treatment, the toy is intact when you get home and that is when you decide to pay attention to it. Patience and perseverance.
5. Use a camera to keep an eye on your dog
Currently we have cameras that allow us to monitor our animals when we are not at home. In this way, it is much easier to establish an appropriate action protocol and verify if the established guidelines are working or if we should modify them. The Furbo camera is one of them, which stands out for its image quality and general characteristics, designed to see and interact with dogs. This camera allows us to:
- Check through a mobile application how the animal is in our absence even at night, since it has night vision.
- Throw treats to reward the dog when it is deserved, although this functionality is not recommended during separation anxiety treatment.
- Talk to our dog. We do not recommend this functionality during the treatment either because it can cause stress in the animal by hearing us but not seeing us.
- Identify that it is barking, since it has an alert system that is activated when barking is heard. When we become aware of them, we do not recommend doing anything, but we do recommend taking note of the moment in which they have started and why, since it can help us to adapt the treatment.
Since some of the functionalities are not recommended during the treatment, what is the use of the camera? Very simple, it is a really good and recommended instrument to check the effectiveness of established guidelines, find patterns of action that allow us to better identify the cause of anxiety and adapt the treatment to obtain better results.
6. Be patient and be consistent
Correcting separation anxiety in adult dogs isn't easy or quick, so be aware that you won't see results in two weeks. Patience and perseverance will be your best allies throughout the process, so it is essential that you do not break with the established guidelines, as we have already recommended, and that you go to a professional in case of need it If the months go by and your dog is still the same, it is possible that you are not applying some of the guidelines correctly, or that your dog needs a different action protocol that only an educator or ethologist can determine after evaluating the case personally.
Pharmacological treatment for separation anxiety in dogs
The use of drugs or synthetic pheromones can help speed up the recovery process by temporarily reducing the dog's stress. In this way, they allow you to work much better on the cause of the problem and on the symptoms.
Especially in cases of separation anxiety in puppies, the diffuser pheromones help to establish a relaxed environment in our absence because the odor emitted is the same as that of the mother. In adult dogs it does not always work, but it is advisable to try it.
Regarding the use of drugs for separation anxiety, it is important to remember that both these products and pheromones do not treat the problem, rather they combat the stress produced, which is one of the main symptoms. In this way, we do not recommend basing the treatment solely on them, because when they are removed the dog will continue to suffer from the same symptoms. Therefore, they must be a complement to behavior modification techniques that help to work better with the animal by reducing this state of stress. Little by little, they should be removed.
We can administer drugs such as the following, although the veterinarian must always prescribe them:
- Alprazolan.
- Clomipramine.
- Fluoxetine.
Before purchasing any of the drugs mentioned, it is essential to go to the veterinarian to approve their use after evaluating the he alth status of the dog and indicate how to administer them correctly.
Is it good to adopt another dog to treat separation anxiety?
Absolutely NO As we have explained throughout the article, the problem lies in an inability to manage loneliness due to the established relationship with the owner, so introducing another dog won't change anything. The dog with anxiety will continue to develop stress when the separation occurs, regardless of whether it has the company of another dog or not.
On the other hand, since the anxiety is not treated and the dog continues to show the usual symptoms, there is a risk that the new dog decides to imitate it, resulting in a double trouble. Therefore, if you want to adopt another dog, even if it is not to treat separation anxiety from the current one, assess your particular case very well and act thinking about what is best for the dog that already lives with you.
Common mistakes when treating separation anxiety
During the article we have already pointed out some of the most common mistakes that should be avoided in the treatment of separation anxiety. However, below we will review all of them and add a few more:
- Punish the dog when showing any of the symptoms.
- Greet him when he is overexcited.
- Confine to a small space or cage. Not only does this not treat the problem, it makes it worse.
- Use a bark collar. Nor does it treat anxiety, it worsens his state of fear and stress because, in addition, he cannot express his feelings.
- Add a new animal.
- Don't exercise it.
- Not being consistent in treatment.
- Abusing pharmacological treatment.
- Do not enrich the environment.
- Do not leave water available for fear of urination in the home.
- Do not treat the cause and base the action protocol solely on reducing the symptoms (barking or destruction).
- Do not go to a professional in the most serious cases.
