"Separation Anxiety Leads To Destruction"
Home Alone: Separation Anxiety and Your Dog
It is a too-familiar and truly miserable scenario. You leave your normally well-behaved dog at home alone and return to find things in shambles with items chewed or destroyed, poop piles in odd places (even though your dog is housebroken when you are around), and other problems. If you are a normal dog owner this is the time when you question your decision to have a pet, and think seriously about how much easier things were pre-dog ownership.
You are not alone. Separation anxiety is a fairly common problem, but it is sometimes miss-diagnosed when the real cause is simply boredom. There are ways to tell what the problem really is.
When you are around home, is your dog glued to your side, including sleeping times? Does any destruction occur within the first half hour after you have gone? (You can verify this with the help of a video camera.) Is there a sense of panic from the time you leave until you return? If so, you probably have a genuine case of separation anxiety.
On the other hand, if your dog is able to spend the night away from you and is comfortable being in another room than you are in when you are at home, the problem is more likely to be simple boredom or bad behavior, both of which can be treated with conventional training tips.
Some things to watch for to make your diagnosis -- the dog always exhibits these behaviors when you are gone:
- Chewing on items that smell the most like you or someone else in your household. These might include underwear, socks, some pieces of furniture, and perceived ways to escape, such as door and window frames. If the dog only selects items like these, it is likely separation anxiety.
- When you are gone, the dog stays close to only those things that smell like you.
- Pee or poop accidents (that may not be accidental) in multiple areas of your home, only when the dog is left alone.
- Continuous barking that may start out with whining. This is not the on/off bark pattern that you are apt to see routinely.
- Predictable behavior when you get home – the dog goes crazy when you come home and seems unusually clingy. He or she also does not exhibit any indication of guilt about accidents or destroyed property.
- The dog does not get into the same kind of trouble when left for a short period of time in a car.
These are not the only behaviors that indicate separation anxiety, but they do give you an idea about what to look for.
There are lots of ways to deal with true separation anxiety, but you will have to train yourself to follow them since you are part of the problem.
First of all:
- Make your arrivals and departures very low key.
- Make no fuss over hellos or goodbyes.
- Indicate your casual attitude about leaving and returning.
- Let your dog become accustomed to the things you do in preparation for leaving.
- Try picking up your jacket or keys on a regular basis without actually leaving home.
- Your departure cues may be what are setting off the anxiety.
- Defuse it by repeating this exercise often.
Exercise your dog longer and more often. A dog that is tired is far less apt to get into trouble. If you can’t be there to provide it, consider a dog walker to occupy your pet at some point during the day. Human interaction with someone other than you can be a big help when modifying separation anxiety behaviors. If you are going to be gone all day on a regular basis, consider doggie daycare for some days to break up the routine.
Toys that require effort are great for some dogs. Kong treats, hollow bones filled with something tasty, and other toys that keep your pet occupied are terrific for creating distraction. Instead of having the dog chew on something that is important to you, the dog has its own treats, and will begin to relate your departure with something really good.
Crating can be a big help if it is not seen as a punishment tool. The crate can become your dog’s personal space and a comfort when you are gone. If you are uncomfortable with crating – though there are some dog breeds who don’t take well to crates, it’s usually people not dogs who have this aversion – use a single dog-proofed room in your house rather than giving the dog the run of the place. Neither of these is a substitute for the other recommendations so don’t look at them as the easy out.
Add noise to the home environment if it is typical in your home. Leave a TV or radio on to mimic the conditions that are common when you are at home. CDs are great, also, because they can be set to repeat throughout the day.
Do some practice departures and returns. Go away for short periods of time after doing all of these other things. Your return will help to relieve your pet’s anxiety. Extend the length of these trips so your dog becomes accustomed to the routine.
If separation anxiety is still a problem, a good book on the topic is Patricia McConnell’s I’ll Be Home Soon!. There are a number of other good sources on the topic, as well. And, remember that this is about you as much as it is about your dog.
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