Or Is It?
With regard to dogs, separation anxiety or S.A. is a psychological term used to describe behaviors presented due to a pet’s stress and anxiousness brought on by separation from that pet’s owner or caretaker.
The behaviors presented
Or Is It?
With regard to dogs, separation anxiety or S.A. is a psychological term used to describe behaviors presented due to a pet’s stress and anxiousness brought on by separation from that pet’s owner or caretaker.
The behaviors presented can be mild to severe. A severe case could be one where the dog cannot cope with her person being out of site at all, follows that person from room to room and falls apart if that person leaves them alone at home or sometimes alone in a car.
Some pups or newly adopted dogs may present mild S.A. behavior in their new home. As they become more comfortable in their new surroundings they learn to manage quite well without being their person’s shadow. A mild case that can become a more severe case could be a situation where the dog is fine as long as that person is somewhere within the home but when that person leaves the house, the dog’s anxiety level increases to a highly agitated state. Some dogs may cope well if their person leaves them for short periods rather than all day.
Professional Help May be in Order
There is quite a bit of information on separation anxiety online which may give you some guidance to assess your dog on your own. S.A. unfortunately is a common label given dogs that present certain behaviors usually in the absence of an owner. Just because your dog destroyed a pair of your favorite shoes when left alone, that particular act may not mean your dog suffers from S.A.. So, if the dog is misdiagnosed as other variables are not included in the total evaluation process and the owner opts out of professional help and behaviors become unmanageable, that dog unfortunately may find its way to a shelter.
A Few Behaviors That May Be Related to S.A.
The behaviors owners believe are due to S. A are usually barking, howling or whining heard when that owner is just outside of their home. Or upon returning home, the owner may see the dog has had accidents in the house or destroyed anything from a shoe or dog bed to chewing through drywall. The owner may even hear from neighbors, or by an anonymous note the dog has incessantly barked or howled for hours on end.
Is S.A. inherited, a trait more common in certain breeds, a behavior the dog developed before the new owner purchased or acquired the dog or something an owner inadvertently created? Pet parents who find it endearing to have an overly attached dog contribute to this problem.
For the answers, my suggestion is to talk with an experienced Veterinary Behaviorist or a trainer who is a behavior expert so you can get an accurate evaluation of the dog and an evaluation of your relationship with the dog. Otherwise someone could just slap a label on your dog and may make suggestions that either will not work or could exacerbate the problem.
Why is it imperative for a pet parent to get an accurate evaluation from a behavior expert? If an owner punishes their dog for behaviors that the dog presents due to stress and anxieties the condition usually worsens.
Your Vet may recommend medication to help calm the dog in your absence but if the Vet just throws a pill at the problem without referring you to a behavior expert you and your dog will most likely fall short of a successful outcome. The medication may take the edge off, but meds alone will not help the dog learn to cope with specific anxieties without the implementation of a sound behavioral modification plan that is monitored by a specialist. You may be able to find a Veterinary Behaviorists in your area who can not only prescribe medication but give you a specific behavioral modification plan and will closely monitor results.
No Quick Fixes
I have worked with S.A. cases for many years and find it incredibly rewarding to help dogs learn to cope with their environment and life in general. I am hopeful if your dog has been carefully evaluated by a behavior expert who finds the dog does suffer from separation anxiety, you have the patience to see it through with their help. There are no quick fixes. Improvement or total success will take as long as it takes with a proper diagnosis, treatment plan, tweaking the plan if necessary and your due diligence and love.
Should you parent a dog with separation anxiety I wish you good luck and patience.