Separation Anxiety and How to Help Your Dog Who Struggles with Alone Time
By Joann Rechtine, CSAT, CPDT-KA, FDM, FFCP, MS, MPH, RN
If you are reading this, chances are your dog is having a hard time being home alone and you are wondering if he has separation anxiety.
On your dog’s behalf, I thank you for being attentive to what he is experiencing and hope that this blog post will answer some of your questions.
What is separation anxiety?
Dogs who experience separation anxiety are incapable of coping with the fear and anxiety of being alone. (Think panic attack) Your dog is not mad at you and is not trying to get back at you for leaving. Dogs just don’t operate that way. Unfortunately, we can’t explain that we will be home soon, or hope that they will just get used to being alone. The constant fear and stress associated with separation anxiety will not go away on its own.
Common signs that we see in dogs with separation anxiety include:
Destruction, especially at exit points such as windows and doors, sometimes to the point of self-injury
Excessive vocalization: whining, barking, howling
Elimination (accidents in the house)
Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea
Anxiety when you're getting ready to leave
Pacing, trembling, or panting
Lack of interest in food while alone
MYTH: You caused your dog’s separation anxiety? You did not cause your dog’s separation anxiety.
If you take nothing else away from reading this, please know that you did not cause your dog’s separation anxiety and you are not making it worse by comforting him, allowing him on the bed or couch to be near you, or staying with him instead of letting him struggle and cry it out.
How can you tell if your dog really has separation anxiety?
This is where technology is our friend. Watching your dog via video to see if he displays any of the signs mentioned above is a great way to get a baseline read on your dog. These days, there are so many ways to observe your dog remotely; many already have cameras in the home to watch their dog. If you don’t, you can observe your dog with a laptop, tablet or phone using Zoom, FaceTime, or other method of video conferencing.
MYTH - Crating your dog will help with their separation anxiety.
It is quite the opposite. Dogs with separation anxiety tend to also have issues with confinement and being crated can increase their feelings of distress and panic.
Can your dog’s separation anxiety be helped?
Yes! There is hope and your dog’s separation anxiety can be treated. With the help of a trainer who specializes in separation anxiety training, your local pet sitting team to help with alone time and your veterinarian, your dog can be helped and you can get your life back.
MYTH - Getting a second dog will fix your dog’s separation anxiety.
This advice makes intuitive sense. Unfortunately, in practice it rarely makes any difference at all. Dogs suffering from Separation Anxiety are usually distressed during separation from humans. Adding an animal companion rarely fills the gap or reduces the panic for these dogs.
How can your dog be helped?
We work to change how your dog feels about your absences through a systematic desensitization protocol carefully tailored to your specific dog and situation. It will be done in tiny steps without causing him to feel afraid. It’s not quick, but done properly it has a very high success rate. The majority of dogs go on to live happy, relaxed lives — even when their humans are absent for extended periods of time.
One of the key components of a separation anxiety protocol is the suspension of absences for longer than your dog is comfortable being alone. That does not mean that you alone have to stay with your dog 24/7. This is where your team at Auntie M Pet Care comes into play. They can help you with coverage for going out to eat, when you have to run errands, get your hair cut, etc… You are not in this alone, every member of the team is here to help and support you as you help your dog get more comfortable with alone time.
MYTH - Your dog needs more exercise.
Almost all dogs benefit from regular physical and mental exercise. But no matter how much you walk, run, or play with your dog, the only thing you’ll change is their fitness level. Being well exercised isn’t going to make your dog feel better about being alone.
Will medication help and should your dog be checked out by a veterinarian for other health issues?
Your veterinarian is a key member of the separation anxiety team and can assess whether your dog would benefit from medication being prescribed for them. In addition, your dog should always be evaluated to see if anything is going on with them physically. A physical issue can have a huge impact on how they are from a behavior standpoint. Think about how you feel when you are sick or have pain; you may not be at your best to cope with emotional stressors.
If medication has been prescribed, the most effective way of helping your dog is a combination of medication, a behavior modification training protocol and suspension of absences. Your pet sitting team at Auntie M Pet Care is an incredibly valuable resource for helping with alone time.
As we said in the beginning, Separation anxiety is treatable; your dog can learn to be comfortable and relaxed while staying home alone. At The Loose Leash Academy, we specialize in separation anxiety cases and are here to help. If you suspect your dog suffers from separation anxiety, and you’d like help, please get in touch for a free 30 minute discovery call to learn more about separation anxiety and what we do.
Joann Rechtine, CSAT, CPDT-KA, FDM, FFCP, MS, MPH, RN
Joann has been working with dogs professionally for over twenty years and specializes in separation anxiety work. Joann is a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT), an experienced dog trainer who has studied extensively and been certified by Malena DeMartini, the world’s leading separation anxiety training expert. She is the owner and founder of The Loose Leash Academy in Black Mountain, NC and works exclusively with dogs who experience separation anxiety. Joann uses humane and studied protocols that are formulated specifically for a dog’s needs.
She is also a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), a certified Family Dog Mediator, and a Fear Free™ Certified Trainer. Joann received her initial formal education in dog training from the renowned Turid Rugaas International Dog Training Program: she’s one of twelve US-based dog trainers who has received an International Certification in Dog Training. A keen student of animal behavior, Joann is always learning and uses kindness and compassion when working with clients and their dogs.