Dogs are social animals and form strong attachments to dogs and people. Some dogs are so dependent on their owners, that they become very stressed when left alone. Signs of separation anxiety are only seen when the dog is left alone or prevented from being close to the owner (such as at night). The dog is in a high state of anxiety and needs to do something to reduce tension. People suffering from tension might go for a run, have a drink or chew their fingernails. Dogs do doggy things such as:
  • excessive barking
  • chewing, digging or licking
  • hyperactivity (pacing)
  • urination or defecation (often diarrhea)

The dog is not doing these things for spite, out of boredom or due to a lack of obedience. He is doing them to decrease his stress level. Most of the destructive behavior occurs shortly after the owner’s departure when the dog’s anxiety level is the highest. Treatment of this problem requires loosening the bond between owner and pet, so the dog can tolerate the owner’s absence without anxiety. This is often very hard for the owners, because they love being with their pets.

TREATMENT OF SEPARATION ANXIETY

1. Exercise your dog with a fast walk on leash for at least a half-hour once a day to expend some of his energy. It is also quality time that does not involve touching.

2. Everyone in the family should totally ignore the dog 15-20 minutes before leaving the house and 20 minutes after returning home. This helps to reduce the pet’s excitement level and the amount tension he feels when he finds himself alone.

3. Give the dog a special item to chew only when left alone. Small holes drilled in a hard nylon bone and stuffed with cheese is one treat that works well. Buster cubes and Kongs are other toys that can be filled with treats.

4. Think about the things you do when you go out for the day (and the dog destroys things), compared to the things you do when you go outside for short periods such as to do laundry or get the mail (and the dog doesn’t get upset). Try mixing up the cues, such as by taking the keys all the time or getting a coat on a half hour before you go, so that he isn’t as attuned to a pattern. 

5. Training the dog to follow commands such as sit, down, stay and heel will help to re-establish a more appropriate relationship with the pet. 

6. If the above is not working alone, the person the dog is most attached to should totally ignore the dog for a couple of weeks. While this is very difficult, it will reduce your dog’s dependence on you. This means totally ignoring the dog as if he doesn’t exist, with no eye contact or touching

7. Anti anxiety drugs may be used in association with retraining but will not cure the problem alone.

WHAT DOES NOT WORK:

1. Getting a pet for your pet. Many people think that another animal will keep their dog from being lonely while they are out. But having company does not effect the excessively tight bond between you and your dog or the distress he feels when you are gone.

2. Punishment. Dogs do not make the association between making a mess and being punished for it later. They cannot reason that if they don’t make a mess they will not be punished. The guilty look is because they know you are angry, but not why you are angry.

3. Confining the dog. Locking the dog in a kennel may protect the house but he must redirect his energies somewhere and may hurt himself. While a kennel or crate training is a good idea, it must be done in combination with the above steps.