Separation Anxiety: Prevention is Key!
Pups with separation anxiety aren’t the only ones stressing when left home alone–watching this scenario is incredibly anxiety-inducing for their families, too. Pets are family, and it is so hard to watch them struggle when we have no choice but to go about our daily tasks and outings. While anxiety has a very strong genetic basis, there are some things that we can do to lay a good foundation for independence with the hope of reducing the incidence of separation anxiety going forward.
Pets who get an adequate amount of exercise and mental stimulation have lower levels of anxiety and behavioral problems in general. In addition to a few daily leash walks, pets should have time for off-leash play and activity and an opportunity to use their brains on a very regular basis. Food puzzles, toys, appropriate chewing, and training activities are great sources of mental stimulation. Some excellent training activities include target training and agility training.
Dogs are den creatures by nature, and most tend to feel more safe and secure in a confined space or crate when left alone. It is important to train them properly to be calm and comforted when confined, and this training should start as early as possible.
A slow and graduated approach is best. Start by confining your pet to a small area or crate for a short and defined amount of time, say 5-10 minutes, and engaging yourself in another activity while within your pet's sight. You can teach your pet a verbal cue such as "quiet time" to indicate that they should enter their confined space and you can provide distraction with food or a toy to promote calm.
The goal is to end the short session without seeing any signs of fear or anxiety from your pet. As they become more comfortable with being confined and ignored, you can gradually increase the length of these sessions. Once you reach 30 minutes without noting any signs of distress, you can try some time in another room and eventually work your way up to time out of the house altogether.
Has your dog ever nudged his bowl toward you right when the clock hits dinner time? Is your dog totally chill when you leave for work at the same time every morning, but goes into panic mode when she sees you headed out the door after dark for a holiday party? Dogs are creatures of habit and they thrive off of routine and predictability. They stay calm when they know what to expect. It is so helpful to establish a solid and predictable routine as early as possible.
This doesn’t mean that every day has to be exactly the same–start with the foundation of a solid routine and then train to build tolerance for less predictable departures. Gradually desensitize your dog to your departures and anything that she may associate with your departures, such as packing or jingling keys. Offer your dog positive reinforcement for calm behavior when faced with departure cues. If you need some support, establish a relationship with a trainer who uses positive reinforcement techniques, or consider an appointment with one of Clarendon Animal Care’s Licensed Veterinary Technicians, who offer behavior and training consults.
You may be unable to delay real and lengthy departures while you work on behavioral modification. Some dogs who haven’t yet built up a tolerance for departures may do best going to daycare or going to work with you in the meantime.
It is always helpful to video monitor your pet so that you can watch for signs of panic or distress that will indicate you need to slow things down with your training. Symptoms of separation anxiety to watch for include panting, pacing, circling, vocalizing, digging, drooling, urinating or defecating inappropriately, trying to escape, and destroying household items or furniture.
If you are seeing signs of separation anxiety in your pet, no matter how mild they may seem, contact your veterinarian for a consultation. A veterinarian can help create a specific plan based on your pet's needs and prescribe supplements or medications if needed. As always, ask your veterinarian’s advice before starting any over-the-counter supplements so that you can know they will be safe and effective.
Written by Dr. Laura Lockhart