Separation anxiety in dogs: what it is and how to deal with it
Miscellaneous / / April 02, 2023
We tell how longing for the owner can develop into a serious disorder.
How separation anxiety manifests
“Of all the animals on earth, only dogs have developed a strong ability to form affectionate bonds with humans.” thinks Doctor of Veterinary Sciences Franklin McMillan. These pets are really very attached to the owners. They can smell voice and even smile your person.
But this devotion has a downside. Many dogs in separation from the owner experience a strong stress. Specialists called his separation anxiety. This condition can be indicated by various behavioral disorders.
- Fussiness. Noticing that the owner is about to leave, the dog should behind him. Or left alone running around round.
- destructive behavior. Alone, the dog gnaws furniture or tears apart the owner's things. With especially strong anxiety, the animal can harm itself: in an attempt to escape from the house and catch up with the owner of the dog are fighting about windows and doors.
- Vocalization. Experts considerthat with the help of howling, barking and whining dog trying to re-establish contact with the owner.
- Urination, defecation, vomiting. Especially if the pet was accustomed to walking and did not leave puddles in the apartment before.
- Coprophagia. From excitement and fear of being abandoned by dogs sometimes are eating their excrement.
If nothing like this happens in the presence of the owner, most likely the dog really has a psychological problem. But in any case, you need to go to the vet. For example, incontinence may indicate not only for anxiety, but also for infections, kidney stones or urinary tract cancer. By the way, symptoms can also appear in an animal that used to calmly endure loneliness.
Which dogs are more prone to separation anxiety?
With a combination of factors, no one is insured against separation anxiety of a pet. owner. In 2007, American scientists figured outthat males are more likely to show separation anxiety than females. In addition, dogs of single people are 2.5 times more likely to develop a disorder than dogs living in families.
In 2015 Finnish researchers assumedthat the problem of such anxiety may be associated with a lack of maternal care and socialization in the first three months of life puppy.
And in 2020, scientists conducted a large-scale study to understand which breeds are particularly susceptible to separation anxiety. They analyzed 13,700 pets and discoveredthat separation anxiety behavior is more common in mixed breed dogs and wheaten terriers. But these conclusions must be taken critically, because the data were obtained by interviewing the owners, and not by observing the animals. Therefore, it cannot be argued that the puppy husky sure to smash the furniture to pieces, and a pair of beagles will drive the neighbors crazy with their bass barking.
What to do if your pet can't be left alone
It is difficult to live with a dog that reacts even to a short separation from the owner with damaged furniture or noise. But this behavior can be corrected. Specialists of the animal protection organization Save Them All advise Try a few simple exercises first.
- Rehearse care. Put on your shoes, take your keys, bag and stand in the hallway by the door. Repeat the exercise several times a day. It may take a couple of months for a dog to completely subdue his worries about the impending separation.
- Play hide and seek. Go to the next room or climb into the closet. The main thing is not to use the main exit from the house in the game. Leave the dog alone for a couple of minutes and then come back. If the dog does not show concern, gradually increase the time of absence. Practice every day.
Need for exercise add encouragement to have a pet formed a clear connection: "If the owner leaves, then in return I will get something nice." Try leaving him a puzzle toy with treats - for a while the dog will be busy getting his favorite snacks.
Do not confuse: toys and treats should be given only before leaving, and not upon returning. Otherwise, the pet will be even more anxious from waiting.
Here's what else you can doto help your pet:
- Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise. Fatigue reduces the level of general anxiety.
- Connect verbal commands. If on walks the dog reacts to the phrases "Wait!" or “Wait!”, they should be said before leaving.
- Don't exacerbate triggers. Avoid long and sentimental goodbyes - just pat your dog on the head and leave. Excessively emotional greetings are also harmful. Say hello calmly and ignore your pet until he calms down.
- Rearrange your schedule. Make sure someone is always at home. This temporary measure will help during dog training.
- Be patient. Shouting and physical punishment will definitely not get rid of the problem, but only will call the pet has additional stress that can lead to much more serious disorders.
- Contact the experts. If you can't solve the problem on your own, ask for help from an animal psychologist or cynologist.
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Text worked on: author Evgenia Mitkevich, editor Almaz Zagrutdinov, proofreader Olga Sytnik