Separation anxiety in dogs is a term that gets thrown around often, but what does it truly mean? Many pet owners notice that their dogs become distressed when left alone, but separation anxiety is a specific condition with its own set of challenges. In this article, we’ll delve into the definition of separation anxiety, its symptoms, causes, and the methods used to diagnose it. We’ll also address common misconceptions, available treatments, and provide clarity on what steps to take if your dog is struggling with this condition. By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of whether your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety and what to do next.
What is Separation Anxiety in Dogs?
Separation anxiety is a severe stress response that occurs when a dog is left alone or separated from its owner. Unlike general distress that some dogs might feel, separation anxiety is characterized by intense and persistent anxiety, leading to behaviors that can be troubling for both the dog and the owner. Dogs with separation anxiety may bark excessively, destroy furniture, have accidents in the house, or try to escape—behavior that is driven by panic rather than defiance.
According to Certified Separation Anxiety Trainers (CSATs), separation anxiety occurs when a dog experiences an irrational fear of being alone, which triggers anxiety even when there’s no immediate threat. While fear is typically a response to an identifiable danger, anxiety is often linked to anticipation of a stressor, even if that stressor never materializes. For example, many people are afraid of cockroaches, even though the insect poses no real harm. The anxiety is real, but the source is irrational, and the same principle applies to dogs with separation anxiety.
If you suspect that your dog has separation anxiety, consult our CSAT certified Chief Behaviourist!
Diagnosing Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Diagnosing separation anxiety is not always straightforward. It requires careful observation and often involves monitoring the dog’s behavior when they are left alone. Many pet owners initially think their dog has separation anxiety because of how they react when they leave the house. However, it’s important to differentiate between general distress and true separation anxiety.
One of the most effective ways to diagnose separation anxiety is through video monitoring. CSAT professionals often review footage of the dog alone to assess the level of anxiety. Some dogs may settle down after a few minutes, which suggests a lower level of distress. Others may escalate, barking incessantly, pacing, or trying to escape—clear signs of separation anxiety. A history of the dog’s behavior during these periods is also valuable for making an accurate diagnosis.
At Pet Coach SG, we’ve seen cases where the symptoms were mistaken for separation anxiety, but upon closer examination, the root cause was different. This is often a relief for pet owners, as separation anxiety is a debilitating condition that requires intensive and long-term management.
As the symptoms are pretty complex, we’ve written a detailed article on how to identify separation anxiety in dogs. Check it out and please feel free to reach out to us if you suspect your dog has separation anxiety.
The Role of Veterinary Behaviorists and Animal Behaviorists
When addressing separation anxiety, it’s essential to work with professionals who specialize in animal behavior. Veterinary behaviorists and animal behaviorists both play a role, but their approaches can differ. Veterinary behaviorists are trained veterinarians who have specialized in animal behavior and are licensed to prescribe medications. On the other hand, animal behaviorists typically focus on behavior modification techniques and training.
At Pet Coach SG, our chief behaviorist is CSAT certified, and we collaborate closely with veterinary behaviorists when medication is necessary. This ensures that your dog’s anxiety is managed holistically, combining expert behavior modification techniques with any required medical intervention.
Ruling Out Medical Conditions
Before diagnosing separation anxiety, it’s crucial to rule out other medical conditions that might cause similar signs of distress. Dogs may exhibit symptoms like excessive barking, destructive behavior, or restlessness when left alone due to health issues such as pain, neurological disorders, or gastrointestinal problems.
When our Chief Behaviorist performs an assessment, she thoroughly evaluates your dog’s behavior and considers any potential medical conditions that could be influencing their symptoms. If there is a possibility that a medical issue is at play, she will refer you to a veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist for a comprehensive examination.
This step ensures that any underlying health concerns are identified and addressed before we proceed with the separation anxiety protocol. By doing so, we ensure that the treatment plan for separation anxiety is based on an accurate diagnosis, allowing for more effective and targeted intervention.
Ruling Out Other Behaviours
In addition to ruling out medical conditions, it’s essential to differentiate between separation anxiety and other behavioral issues that may exhibit similar symptoms. Distinguishing between these can be challenging and often requires experienced professionals. Here are some common behaviors to consider:
- Attention-Seeking Behavior: Some dogs may engage in disruptive actions simply to gain attention, rather than due to separation anxiety.
- Destructive Chewing: Dogs that chew on furniture or other items might be experiencing boredom or a lack of exercise, rather than separation anxiety.
- Excessive Barking: Barking when left alone can also be a sign of insufficient training or boredom, not necessarily separation anxiety.
- Compulsive Behaviors: Actions like pacing or repetitive movements may indicate a compulsive disorder rather than anxiety about being alone.
- Fear-Based Behaviours: Dogs with fears or phobias may show signs of distress that can be confused with separation anxiety, such as fear of specific noises or environments.
In many cases, these symptoms can overlap with those of separation anxiety, making it difficult to determine the exact cause without professional help. A CSAT-trained behaviourist can provide a thorough assessment to accurately diagnose the issue. If you suspect your dog might have separation anxiety or another related condition, seeking a CSAT professional assessment is always recommended. This ensures a precise diagnosis and effective treatment plan tailored to your dog’s specific needs.
For more information on how to handle separation anxiety and related behaviours, refer to our comprehensive guide on treating separation anxiety in dogs.
What You Can Do to Minimize Separation Anxiety
Preventing separation anxiety is ideal, and there are several steps you can take to minimize the chances of your dog developing this condition. These strategies won’t guarantee that separation anxiety won’t occur, but they can help reduce the risk.
- Home Alone Training: Gradually expose your dog to being alone. Start with short periods and slowly increase the time as they become more comfortable.
- Monitor Stress Levels: If you notice signs of stress, such as pacing or whining, don’t allow them to persist for long periods. Early intervention is key.
- Gradual Alone Time: Increase the duration of your dog’s alone time slowly. Sudden changes can cause stress, so it’s important to be patient.
While these strategies can help, it’s crucial to understand that separation anxiety isn’t caused by over-pampering your dog or letting them sleep in your bed. It’s a complex issue, often rooted in genetic predispositions, and requires careful management.
Treatment Options for Separation Anxiety
If separation anxiety has already developed, addressing it requires a specialized approach. The most effective treatment is a fear-based desensitization protocol designed by a CSAT professional. This process involves:
- Assessing the Dog’s Threshold: Understanding how much stress the dog can handle before their anxiety becomes overwhelming.
- Identifying Predictive Distress Queues (PDQs): Recognizing the cues that trigger anxiety, such as picking up keys or putting on shoes.
- Desensitization Protocols: Gradually exposing the dog to these triggers in a controlled manner, increasing the duration and intensity over time.
Checkout our guide on how to treat separation anxiety for details on what to expect from your CSAT professional!
This process takes time and patience. Each dog is different, and the treatment must be tailored to their specific needs. The goal is to help the dog become more resilient to being alone without triggering overwhelming anxiety.
Remain below threshold
However, the most crucial step in treating separation anxiety is management. Proper management ensures that your dog does not cross their anxiety threshold while undergoing treatment. This might involve having a pet sitter, dog walker, or other solutions to avoid leaving your dog alone during the process.
If you’re exploring dog boarding, daycare, or board and train options in Singapore, check out our alternative to board and train service at Animal Training Centre (ATC), where your dog can receive specialised care in a supportive environment. Whichever service you decide to engage, be sure to review our guide on the key considerations when choosing a board and train service in Singapore to ensure your dog receives the best care possible.
The Role of Medications in Managing Separation Anxiety
For some dogs, behavior modification alone may not be enough. In severe cases, medication may be necessary to help manage the anxiety. Medications prescribed by veterinary behaviorists can help raise the dog’s anxiety threshold, making it easier to apply desensitization protocols.
At Pet Coach SG, we work closely with veterinary behaviorists to ensure that any medications are part of a broader treatment plan. The goal is to reduce the intensity of the anxiety to a manageable level, allowing desensitization techniques to be more effective. Over time, as the dog’s anxiety decreases, medication can be gradually reduced or discontinued, as long as the desensitization protocol remains in place.
It’s important to note that medication isn’t a permanent solution. It’s a tool that, when used alongside behavior modification, can help your dog overcome their anxiety.
Common Misconceptions and FAQs
Throughout the years, we’ve encountered many misconceptions about separation anxiety that are important to clarify. These misconceptions often lead well-meaning pet owners to unknowingly exacerbate the condition. By addressing these misunderstandings, we aim to prevent common mistakes and guide you towards the most effective strategies for managing your dog’s separation anxiety.
Does giving your dog a treat Cure Separation Anxiety?
Many pet owners believe that giving their dog treats or toys when they leave the house will help alleviate separation anxiety. Unfortunately, this is a common misconception. While positive associations can be effective for general training, they don’t address the root cause of separation anxiety.
Imagine you’re terrified of cockroaches. If someone gave you ice cream every time a cockroach appeared on your arm, it wouldn’t make the cockroach any less terrifying. The anxiety remains, and the distraction doesn’t address the underlying fear. This is why simply providing food or toys doesn’t cure separation anxiety—it’s a temporary distraction that doesn’t tackle the core issue.
In fact, we’ve analysed a research paper that highlights the ineffectiveness of treating separation anxiety using counter-conditioning. We’ve penned down our analysis into a detailed article here! For those interested, the original research paper can be found here.
Does establishing a predictable daily routine reduce anxiety?
Another misconception is that creating a consistent routine can help reduce separation anxiety. In reality, consistent routines can make things worse because they teach the dog to predict when the stressor—being left alone—will occur. This anticipation can heighten the anxiety.
Imagine going to work every day knowing your boss will gaslight you. Over time, just the thought of going to work can trigger anxiety, even if your boss hasn’t said anything yet. The same happens with dogs. If they know you’re about to leave, the anticipation alone can cause distress.
Instead, the focus should be on reducing the predictability of the stressor, helping to lower anxiety levels. By building up a dog’s threshold to stress without allowing them to predict when the stressor will occur, we can gradually reduce their anxiety.
Can you let your dog “bark it out”?
No. Allowing your dog to bark or panic when left alone will only make the problem worse. This will further sensitize them to being alone, increasing the severity of their separation anxiety.
Consider a child who is fearful of confined spaces. If you were to lock them in a small room to “bark it out,” it wouldn’t help them overcome their fear. Instead, it would likely worsen their anxiety. Similarly, if you were terrified of cockroaches and were left in a room full of them to face your fear, the experience would likely intensify your anxiety rather than resolve it.
For dogs, allowing them to bark or panic without addressing the underlying cause of their anxiety will often exacerbate the problem, making it even harder for them to feel comfortable being alone.
Does pampering your dog cause separation anxiety?
No, separation anxiety isn’t caused by pampering. Some pampered dogs have no anxiety when left alone, while other dogs that aren’t pampered struggle with severe anxiety. These are two separate processes.
For example, imagine your child is fearful of going overseas alone due to a past experience. Even if you stop pampering them—such as showering them with love, buying them presents, or indulging their every whim—it won’t necessarily resolve their fear of traveling. The fear is not caused by their level of pampering, but by the underlying anxiety about the situation.
Similarly, pampering does not cause separation anxiety in dogs, and stopping pampering doesn’t address the root cause of their separation anxiety. Effective management of separation anxiety requires targeted strategies to address the specific fears and stressors your dog experiences.
Does allowing your dog to sleep on your bed cause separation anxiety?
No, just like pampering, sleeping on the bed doesn’t cause separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is rooted in fear, not in the bond you have with your dog.
Does crating help with separation anxiety?
Crating is often misunderstood when it comes to managing separation anxiety. Crate anxiety and separation anxiety are different issues:
- A dog that overcomes crate anxiety and is comfortable in the crate does not necessarily mean they will be okay being alone. Crate comfort and separation anxiety do not always align.
- Conversely, a dog that is anxious about the crate might still be okay being alone when not crated.
- Using a crate to address separation anxiety forces the dog to learn two things simultaneously: to be comfortable in the crate and to be comfortable being alone. This added complexity can make it harder for the dog to overcome their anxiety.
Crate training alone does not address the underlying separation anxiety and can add an extra layer of difficulty for the dog. It’s important to use targeted desensitisation techniques designed to manage separation anxiety effectively.
Conclusion
Separation anxiety in dogs is a complex and challenging condition, but with the right approach, it can be managed. If you’re noticing symptoms of separation anxiety in your dog, don’t hesitate to reach out for a professional assessment. At Pet Coach SG, we’re here to help guide you through the process, providing both the expertise and the empathy needed to navigate this difficult journey. With the right support, you can help your dog feel more secure and comfortable when left alone, improving their quality of life—and yours.
References:
lannigan, G. and Dodman, N.H. (2001) ‘Risk factors and behaviors associated with separation anxiety in dogs’, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 219(4), pp. 460–466. doi:10.2460/javma.2001.219.460.
Ogata, N. (2016) ‘Separation anxiety in dogs: What progress has been made in our understanding of the most common behavioral problems in dogs?’, Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 16, pp. 28–35. doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2016.02.005.
