Separation anxiety is a common problem. It’s not just connected to a specific dog breed, but it has to do a lot with the owner. How we see our dogs, what we do when our dogs are puppies or when we just bring them home affects our dogs a lot. Of course, some dog breeds are more prone to developing separation anxiety issues. Usually, these dog breeds were originally developed to be human companions and rely on human contact. I also believe that whether or not a dog will develop separation anxiety depends on its personality. Some dogs from the same breed and litter have different attitudes, self-esteem, etc. 

Ask Yourself These Questions

“If I could turn back time, if I could find the way…” Well, not even Cher can turn back the time and change things. That’s the first thing we need to understand. We have to work with what we’ve got right now in front of us. Second thing is to ask yourself these questions below, and try to answer them to the best of your possibilities.

1. Is my schedule constant or does it change?
2. When did the separation issue start?
3. What does the dog do?
4. What did I do before to stop the behavior?
5. Is the dog all alone or is there someone at home?

Answers to these questions will give us a general view of the situation. It will be our starting point. But why do they matter?

Schedule: Dogs love consistency and respond well to a regular schedule. It can help a lot if a dog knows when the time to be alone arrives or even better, when it ends. We mustn’t make a big deal out of it. It is a normal part of our life – we have to go to work or leave home to go shopping, whatever is the case. But if we sometimes reward the dog right when we leave home while the dog is in an anxious state, and sometimes we follow the rules given by a professional, we won’t make big of a deal.

Timing: If this is something that has been happening since your dog was a puppy, treating the dog will be much longer (most times). On the other hand, if it suddenly started, it could be an underlying medical issue behind.

Misbehavior: This question and answer serves to see how stressed a dog is and whether there are other behavioral issues. A dog chewing on wood doesn’t have to be suffering from separation anxiety. 

Previous action: Some things we do without asking a professional could make the situation worse. For example, putting a dog in the corner or being angry with him because he chewed on your sofa won’t do a thing if you did it one hour later. It could also make the dog feel more stressed! As I said before, timing is the key.

Company: If there is someone at home, they could help a lot during the transition period. This period is time right before you leave home, during your absence, and right before you’re about to come back. Also, this means the dog is showing signs of separation anxiety when you leave your room or when you leave your home entirely.

What Can We Do?

While each case is different, there are some general rules we can apply and predict a couple of outcomes. Of course, the outcome depends on not just the dog, but the owner, the environment, and how long it has been happening. However, here are two possibilities.

1. An Active Dog Breed

Some cases of separation anxiety and boredom in active dogs have the same signs. You return home to find your dog has made a mess. You come back to see a chewed sofa, shoes missing, stuffed toy shredded to pieces. While such behavior can point at separation anxiety, perhaps it’s something much easier to solve. 

Some dog breeds have a much higher level of activity and need much more daily mental and physical stimulation. These are usually dogs from the Sporting or Herding groups.

If you have high-energy dogs, maybe they are overreacting or being destructive because that’s how they express their stress caused by lack of mental and physical stimulation. High-energy dogs need more than just a quick walk in the morning and evening. They need something more! A meaningful walk is what I like to call it.

Let the dog explore, sniff, be a part of the exploration, even if it’s just a local park. Play a game where a dog can use its senses to find a treat. Apply for one of the various dog sports that would benefit you, the owner, and the dog. For example, agility. 

This applies to other dog breeds, too. A Bulldog might also need more physical and mental stimulation than what it already has, even though they are quite different from a Vizsla. However, if you think your dog gets enough exercise but the dog always whines and feels anxious or becomes destructive when you leave, we have to move on to another step.

2. Separation Anxiety

It is easy to make a dog feel as if they are “left behind” when they are just small puppies. They are cute, adorable, they’re puppies! Who can leave them alone in a room or in a crate? And if they whine when we close the door, it is heartbreaking. So, we come back and try to comfort them or say we’ll never leave them all alone. Even though these actions come from a good place, they are harmful for the dog’s self-esteem and future psychological development.

What we can do in such citations is to make the dog feel as comfortable as possible. We do this by making sure there is a safe space in the home where a dog can lie down, chew on his treats, and just feel relaxed. It’s not noisy or too warm (if it’s a hot summer!).

We can add some blankets or a T-shirt from an owner for the dog to feel even safer when they smell their owner’s scent. After all, dogs process the world they live in primarily through their sense of smell. This has to be introduced to a dog while the owner is in the house.

Another solution would be crate training. But, if a dog is scared of the crates or does not feel comfortable (maybe a dog is associating it with the vet station – I had that issue with a dog), then we should just pick a place in a room. 

The dog feels safe, what next? The key is to start small, like closing the door for a few seconds and when the dog calms down, awarding a dog with a treat.

We shouldn’t reward the dog when they are in their excited mode. That will only cause more issues. Next time we make the “separation by the door” longer. This process eventually includes the owner leaving the home. Every time the owner leaves, we tell them to make sure a dog has some comforting things, such as a blanket or a toy to focus on.

The treat-toys are the best. Like one of the puzzle toys where a dog has to do something to reach the treat. Another option is the Kong toy. These toys will keep the dog occupied for a while, making the alone time less stressful.

When the owner comes back, they mustn’t encourage the excitement their dog feels. The owner has to wait until the dog calms down, and then give a treat or pat or whatever else they want to do as a form of reward for the dog. This is really important!

Changing a dog’s behavior takes time. Be patient, consistent, and don’t get too stressed if nothing changes after the first week.

Final Thoughts

You can read all the books, hire a professional, ask a friend or just research on your own, but if you don’t stick to the rules you implemented, you won’t see results. Every time we want to alter the behavior of our pets, we need to be consistent. When it comes to separation anxiety, this doesn’t mean you have to leave and come back home at the same time. No, of course not! But, it does mean you have to not make a big deal out of it and NOT reward a dog when they are all excited. Also, don’t get angry at your dog when you come back home and they peed on the floor. What will that change? Routine makes a confident and happy dog. It’s not just knowing when the food will come, but also knowing “if I do that, I’ll get a reward!” And once again, I cannot stress enough how patience is equally important. 

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Cover photo by ©Haberdoedas