Separation Anxiety in Dogs: Understanding and Coping St

Separation anxiety is an inappropriate, excessive, and impairing anxiety that occurs when a child is separated from their attachment figure. It is one of the most common emotional disorders among preschool children. However, dogs can also suffer from this condition.

Signs of Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Accidental Urination: Dogs may urinate inappropriately when left alone or separated from their owner.

Barking and Howling: A dog with separation anxiety may bark or howl continuously when left alone or separated from their owner.

Excessive Destruction: Also known as "destroying the house," dogs may chew on furniture when left alone, potentially causing harm to themselves, such as broken teeth, cut paws, or damaged nails.

Escape Attempts: Dogs with separation anxiety may try to escape from the room.

Abnormal Walking: Dogs may walk in a fixed pattern, pace back and forth, or walk in circles or straight lines.

Consumption of Feces: Some dogs may eat part of their own feces after defecating.

Why Do Dogs Develop Separation Anxiety?

Dogs can develop separation anxiety due to various reasons. Here are some common causes:

Sadness: Dogs, much like humans, can feel sadness when they lose someone they love. If they are suddenly separated from their closest person, they may feel a loss of dependence and sadness, which can lead to separation anxiety.

Owner's Misconduct: Many times, dogs develop separation anxiety due to the owner's behavior. It is possible that our own bad habits are the root cause of our dog's anxiety.

Even though our intentions as dog owners are good, our inappropriate ways of showing love can trigger emotional reactions in our pets. Therefore, it is important to show enough love and care for our dogs, and even when we have to leave them, we should make sure everything is in order, including their food, clothing, and shelter.

Inadequate Socialization: This essentially means inadequate socialization for dogs.

As dog owners, we sometimes become too attached to our little pets, becoming selfish and wanting them to belong only to us. We start to isolate them from the outside world, even from other dogs, and fail to give them enough personal space.

This lack of interaction with the outside world can make their world seem to revolve solely around their owner. Once the owner leaves, they may feel abandoned by the world.

How to Deal with Separation Anxiety

Leaving Quietly: Instead of saying goodbye with enthusiasm, calmly gather your belongings and leave. Avoid making it seem like a permanent goodbye with hugs and kisses. Remember, keep it lowkey!

Alternatively, you can simulate leaving scenarios at home to help your dog get used to your departure routine, such as packing a bag, picking up keys, or putting on shoes. When you return home, do so calmly without excessive affection.

Play Tired Before Resting: Dogs with no energy left will simply sleep, making it irrelevant whether you are home or not. Therefore, it is recommended to take your dog for walks, play with toys, throw frisbees, and engage in hideandseek to tire them out. Once they're exhausted, they will naturally go to sleep, and you'll be like an invisible presence to them.

Neglect When Necessary: When you return home and your dog is barking and whining, it may be helpful to ignore them for a while. Let them bark for a bit, and then reward them with a small treat when they calm down. This will teach them that good behavior is rewarded.

Tip: For more information on dog separation anxiety, click on "What is Dog Separation Anxiety?".