Separation Anxiety In Dogs - What Can You Do To Help Relieve It?

If you live with a dog suffering from separation anxiety, please read this article and take from it whatever might help you help your dog.

Anyone who has dealt with a dog experiencing separation anxiety knows how devastating it is.  Much has been written about it and there are definitely ways to help lessen your dog's extreme anxiety, but I feel it is important to keep emphasizing the fact that you and your dog shouldn't have to suffer forever from this.

One of my dogs, Maia, came into my life with this condition.  Lucky for me, she has a fairly minor case involving mostly barking, but some dogs will literally tear up a house if left alone for any length of time.

It seems to be the case that most separation anxiety is found to be prevalent in dogs who have been adopted from a noisy shelter or have been totally deprived of any attention or moved from one home to another. Something else that might cause separation anxiety is when there is a traumatic event in a dog's life while by itself, such as a an earthquake or even taunting and teasing by neighborhood kids throwing objects at your dog.  This kind of horrifying event will then be connected with being left alone and could show up as separation anxiety.

Here are some signs a dog might exhibit if suffering from separation anxiety:

1.  barking when left alone
2.  scratching at door frames, window frames or walls
3.  defacing furniture or other items in the house
4.  eliminating in the house even though they are house-broke
5.  pacing or running through the house

If left outside, they may even find a way out of an “escape-proof” yard.

Dogs are pack animals and enjoy the company of other animals, whether it is people, other dogs or even another species.  However, when a dog suffers from this condition of overwhelming anxiety of being abandoned, it does not always help that there is another dog or buddy left with the dog who is suffering.  Sometimes the sense of abandonment over-rides any other substitute for the missing person, such as a companion dog.

Don't throw in the towel on your dog if he suffers from separation anxiety.  Although it takes time and patience, you can help lessen the overwhelming anxiety.

One of the best ways to help your dog is to exercise her every day, especially when you know you will be leaving her home alone.

Then, set aside a chunk of time to work with your dog whenever you can.  You can start out by working entirely within your home.  If your dog panics at being away from you at all, start by entering a room without your dog and closing the door.  Wait just a few seconds and then calmly come out and continue moving throughout the house shutting a door between you and your dog until she starts relaxing.  If she is whining, barking or scratching at the door, try to ignore her as you continue with this exercise.  If at all possible, try to time when you open the door with the second or two your dog is calm or quiet, rewarding that behavior by reuniting with her.

Once you see some positive results from working inside, try going outside for a brief period of time, leaving your dog inside.  Keep the time you are gone to a minimum and do not make a big deal over it., even if you see a lot of progress in your dog's behavior.  The temptation would be to really praise your dog for being quiet, but that may cause her to regress because you would be making a big deal over her progress.  Ultimately you want to have your dog totally at ease with you leaving her by herself for any length of time.   As you see a positive change in your dog, stay away for longer periods of time.

You should never get in an excited state when leaving your dog.  You can say some kind of phrase every time, such as “I’ll be back”, and maybe leave a treat for your dog as you leave, but make it as uneventful a departure as you can.

I would not recommend giving your dog a sedative, mainly because there are times when sedatives can have side effects and maybe even make your dog worse.

There are, however, tools you can use in conjunction with the training method.  One of those is the Thundershirt Anxiety Treatment Wrap.  Another is the Original Anxiety Wrap. Both of these are a type of shirt fitting snugly around a dog to exert deep touch pressure on the nervous system, creating a calmness.  The anxiety wrap for dogs may not totally banish the anxiety in your dog, but it should significantly lessen it if used with the training.

Try to have some patience with your super anxious dog.  If you would like more help, seek out a trainer or dog behaviorist in your area.

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