Separation Anxiety in Dogs

What is it?

Separation Anxiety is a condition in which dogs show symptoms of distress when left alone by their owners. It is like a panic attack and can affect dogs of any age and breed(s). It is a serious problem where dogs feel legitimate stress when left on their own and goes beyond the occasional barking or mischief that some dogs can get into when left alone.

What causes separation anxiety?

There is no prescriptive reason why some dogs have separation anxiety and others do not. Explanations could be that a dog is predisposed to the condition through genetics, not being trained adequately enough to understand that being on their own is not a problem. It could be that a traumatic event happened when the dog was left alone such as a bad thunderstorm, the house being broken into. Dogs that have been rescued, who have formed a strong bond with their new family might find it hard being separated from them. Other causes could be moving house, a breakup, a change in routine of the owners because there has been a change in job, children leaving to go off to college, a change in the routine of the dog.

What are the symptoms? How do I know that my dog has this condition?

It can sometimes be difficult to ascertain whether a dog is suffering from separation anxiety or simply has not been taught properly that being left alone for a period is “okay”. The best way to really make this distinction is to set up cameras in the house to see your dog’s behavior when you leave the house. Typical signs of distress when an owner has left their dog alone which can be interpreted as separation anxiety are:

Panting
Drooling
Barking or howling when left alone
Pacing
Damaged furniture
Relieving themselves in the house
Being overly excited when owner returns
Chewing or digging, in particular around windows or door frames
Trying to escape
Trembling
Excessive salivation

Our dogs are looking at us all the time and reading our body language, they know when we are preparing to leave to go out and so may start to show pre-departure anxiety. Signs of this are:

Excessiveness attention seeking – clinginess, following their owner around
Vocalization – whining, barking, howling as their owner starts to gather their things
Changes in body language – tucked tail, tense muscles, flattened ears
Trembling or shaking

What can be done to help a dog overcome separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety is a real emotion that dogs experience and can be challenging but there are things that can be done to make your dog feel more comfortable depending on the level of anxiety that they feel when left alone. The best way to know that is by having cameras in the home and seeing exactly what happens when you leave the house and how quickly the anxiety starts to happen. That will let you know whether this is something that can be dealt with through training, training plus the support of anti-anxiety medication or if you need to seek help from a certified separation anxiety therapist.

How to help a dog with separation anxiety through training

A positive reinforcement approach to this training is key. Using some tasty treats start off by teaching your dog the “Stay” cue. At first this is where your dog will learn that you will be taking distance away from them and returning and when they can cope with distance you will begin to work with disappearing out of sight for a few seconds and then build up the time that you are out of sight for and then return to them. The concept of this training cue is to teach your dog that when you say “Stay” you may take distance away or you may disappear, but, you will always return to them. This helps to build their confidence to learn there is nothing to fear when they are left on their own.

How to teach your dog the “Stay” cue

Have your dog in a down preferably on a comfortable mat or blanket.Hold your hand up, palm facing your dog, and say "stay" in a calm voice. Immediately reward your dog with a treat if they remain in position for even a second or two. Repeat this process several times, gradually increasing the duration of the stay by a second or two at a time.

Adding Distance: Once your dog consistently holds the stay for a few seconds, start taking small steps backward. Say "stay" and take one step back. If your dog stays, return immediately and reward them. Gradually increase the distance you move away. If your dog breaks the stay, calmly bring them back to the starting position and begin again.

Increasing Duration and Distance: Continue to gradually increase both the duration and distance of the stay. Mix up your training sessions by sometimes focusing on duration and other times on distance. Remember to always return to your dog and reward them before releasing them.

Adding Distractions: Once your dog is reliable with the stay in a quiet environment, start introducing distractions. Begin with mild distractions, such as walking past your dog or dropping a toy. Gradually increase the level of distraction as your dog improves and remember if they move simply direct them back to the starting position on the mat or blanket.

Release Cue: It's essential to teach a release cue, such as "release", "free", “break” to signal to your dog that they can move. After a successful stay, when you return to your dog, say your release cue in a happy tone, toss a treat out so that your dog gets up to get it and eventually they will learn that the release cue means that they can move.

Important Tips

Keep training sessions short and positive.
Use high-value treats to motivate your dog.
Be patient and consistent.
End each training session on a positive note.
Avoid punishment. If your dog breaks the stay, simply start again.
Practice in various locations to generalize the behavior.
"Stay" is a difficult cue, so take it slow.

Subtle Stress Signals

When practicing the "stay" cue, especially as you increase duration and distance, it's crucial to be aware of your dog's stress signals. Recognizing these early can prevent your dog from becoming overly anxious. Here's what to watch for:

Lip licking: This is a very common sign of stress in dogs.

Yawning: When not tired, yawning can indicate anxiety or discomfort.

Panting: While panting can be normal after exercise, excessive panting in a calm environment can indicate stress.

Whale eye: This is when the whites of your dog's eyes are visible, indicating stress or fear.

Stiff body language: A tense or rigid posture can be a sign of anxiety.

Scratching: Excessive scratching, especially when not itchy, can be a displacement behavior indicating stress.

Raised paw: lifting a front paw can be a sign of stress.

Whining or barking: Vocalizations can be a sign of distress.

Trembling or shaking: This is a clear sign of fear or anxiety.

Tucked tail: A lowered or tucked tail indicates fear or submission.

Dilated pupils: Enlarged pupils can be a sign of fear or anxiety.

Trying to leave: if a dog is constantly trying to leave the area, or break the stay, this is a very clear indicator of stress.

What to do

If you observe any of these stress signals, immediately stop the training session and resume the following day. Remember, training is supposed to be a fun interaction between you and your dog and you do not want them to associate it with feeling scared or stressed. When you train the following day try the following:

Reduce the duration or distance of the "stay."
Return to easier steps in the training process.
End the session on a positive note with something your dog enjoys such as a puzzle toy, a game of tug.
Ensure the training environment is calm and free of distractions.

Paying close attention to your dog's body language is essential for successful and stress-free training. It is very important to make sure that the dog is not pushed past its limits, patience is key.

It might be a good idea to enlist the help of a positive reinforcement dog trainer to help with this since they can help with the training process but also be quick to spot whether your dog is distressed. The trainer can then advise you to seek the help of your veterinarian who may suggest medication for your dog coupled with training.

If your dog is too stressed out though then it would be better to enlist the help of a certified separation anxiety therapist (CSAT) to help you and your dog and get the best results.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, separation anxiety in dogs is a very real emotion and the condition needs to be addressed with patience and understanding with a focus on building confidence through gradual desensitization.