Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a term often used, but what does it really mean? Many dog owners suspect their pets have separation anxiety when they notice excessive barking, destructive behaviour, or toileting accidents when left alone. The challenge is that these behaviors can stem from various causes. Even when owners are confident it’s separation anxiety, they often feel unsure how to address it.
In this article, we aim to:
- Clarify what is separation anxiety and how to diagnose it
- Review the causes of separation anxiety
- Explore effective treatments and training methods
For a detailed step-by-step breakdown of the training methods used, checkout our separation anxiety training guide - Discuss when medication may be necessary for separation anxiety
- Clear up common misconceptions
By the end, you’ll feel more confident in providing the best care for your dog and addressing separation anxiety with the right approach. If you’re still not sure whether your dog has separation anxiety or not, reach out for a separation anxiety consultation!
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
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.
It’s important to distinguish between general distress and true separation anxiety so you can address the issue effectively and give your dog the right support. Separation Anxiety Consists of 3 Phases:
- The Leaving Phase
- The Separated Phase
- The Return Phase
The Leaving Phase
This is the most common identifier for separation anxiety. Dogs often show signs of stress—like barking, panting, or pacing—right before you leave. This behavior is driven by the anticipation of being alone, which triggers anxiety.
Note: Misdiagnosis often occurs here because the same stress behavior can also result from door reactivity. In these cases, the dog isn’t anxious about being alone, but rather has a negative association with the door opening or being handled.
The Separated Phase
This phase is a strong clue that separation anxiety is present. When left alone, dogs with separation anxiety struggle to settle. They remain distressed and continue showing stress-related behaviors, like whining or destructive chewing.
In contrast, dogs with door reactivity typically settle down after a short time. They aren’t afraid of being alone, so they don’t exhibit ongoing stress.
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. Others may escalate, barking incessantly, pacing, or trying to escape—clear signs of separation anxiety.
The Return Phase
This phase is trickier, especially during training. As you work on your dog’s alone-time tolerance, they might seem to manage periods of separation but still feel uncomfortable. When they see you return, they release pent-up stress through behaviors like barking, jumping, or excessive excitement.
Note: This phase is complicated because the dog experiences a stark contrast between fear when left alone and joy when the owner returns. If leaving is made a big event—like giving treats or showing excitement—it builds anticipation, increasing anxiety. Similarly, if the return is overly celebrated with excitement or attention, it heightens the dog’s relief and joy. The perceived difference between these emotions—fear at departure and joy at return—intensifies the separation anxiety, aggravating the condition further.
Why Dogs Develop Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is believed to stem from a mix of genetics and environmental stressors. While genetics may predispose some dogs to anxiety, environmental factors, especially stress related to being left alone, play a key role. When a dog experiences stress from being left alone, they begin to anticipate that stress the next time they’re separated, which triggers anxiety.
Although we can’t control genetic predispositions, we can manage the environment to reduce these stressors and prevent the condition from occurring or worsening. Examples of environmental factors you can manage are as follows:
Limit Loud Noises
Sudden or loud noises, such as construction, honking horns, or fireworks, can heighten your dog’s anxiety. Try to create a calm environment when you’re away by closing windows, playing soft music, or using white noise machines to drown out unsettling sounds.
Avoid Long Periods of Absence Beyond Their Threshold
Each dog has a tolerance level for being alone, and exceeding this can lead to stress and anxiety. Puppies, in particular, have lower thresholds, so it’s crucial to limit alone time and slowly build up their comfort level over time.
Gradual Alone Time
To help your dog adjust, gradually increase their alone time in short, manageable increments. This helps them build confidence in being left alone without feeling overwhelmed. Over time, they will become more accustomed to being independent without feeling anxious.
Monitor After Environmental Changes
Changes like moving to a new home, introducing a new family member, or altering your dog’s routine can be major stressors. During these transitions, closely monitor your dog for signs of stress. Ensure they remain within their comfort threshold when left alone, and gradually reintroduce alone time to help them adjust.
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.
Excessive barking when alone is always due to Separation Anxiety?
No necessarily! Before diagnosing separation anxiety, we must first rule out other conditions that may cause similar signs of distress. These include:
- Medical Conditions: Issues like pain, neurological disorders, or gastrointestinal problems can cause behaviors like excessive barking, destructive actions, or restlessness. Our chief behaviorist will evaluate your dog’s behavior and refer you to a veterinarian if health concerns arise.
- Other Behavioral Issues: Dogs may exhibit signs like destructive chewing, excessive barking, or compulsive actions due to boredom, lack of exercise, or fear, rather than separation anxiety. A CSAT-trained behaviorist can help distinguish between these behaviors and ensure the correct diagnosis.
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.
