SEPARATION ANXIETY
Nicholas H. Dodman, BVMS, DACVA, DACVB
Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine
Behavior Clinic
200 Westboro Road
North Grafton, MA 01536
Dogs are social animals and form strong attachments to other dogs and to people. The dog's first experience with separation anxiety is when the pup is separated from its mother and littermates. New owners expect their puppy to be restless the first few nights he spends in his new home. In later life, problems arise when a dependent dog has a strong attachment to one person. The owners are kindly people who spend a lot of time with their dog; they allow it to follow them around the house, and appreciate the excited welcome the dog gives them when they return home. Unwanted behavior often starts when the owner's schedule changes so that the dog is left alone more frequently, or at different times, than he is used to.
Signs of separation anxiety are only seen in the owner's absence, or when the dog is prevented from being close to the owner (for example, at night). The dog is in a high state of anxiety or conflict because he wants to be with the owner and is prevented from doing so. Dogs, like people, cannot stay in a high state of anxiety for long, and must do something to reduce the tension. While you or I might have a relaxing bath, go for a run, or have a drink, the dog can only do "doggy" things to reduce tension. Things dogs do to reduce tension include:
• chewing, digging or licking, which cause destruction in the home
• hyperactivity (pacing)
• reduced activity levels, depression, loss of appetite
• urination or defecation
• diarrhea, vomiting or constipation
• aggression when the owner leaves (mouthing, growling, nipping)
It is important to realize that the dog is not doing these things to get even with you for leaving him, out of boredom or due to lack of obedience. Consider instead that his dependence on you is so great that he becomes anxious when you leave. He must relieve this tension, and his methods of doing so may cause considerable damage. Also consider that, no matter how flattering his constant attention to you may seem, it is not fair to the dog to allow him to be so stressed by your absence that he must respond with one of these unwanted behaviors.
TREATMENT OF SEPARATION ANXIETY - What NOT to do
1. Many people wonder about getting a pet for their pet, so the dog won't be lonely while they are out. This does not work because the excessively tight bonding is between you and your dog, not between another animal and your dog. Having company has no effect on the distress your dog feels when you leave.
2. Punishment does not work. Dogs do not make the association between making a mess and being punished for it at a later time. They also cannot reason that if they don't make a mess in the future, they won't be punished. Even though your dog may look "guilty" when you come home to a mess, he has learned that when you are present and a mess exists, he is in trouble. If someone who had never scolded your dog went into your house, and a mess was present, the dog would not look guilty.
3. Tying the dog to chewed objects, or painting them with hot sauce may stop him from chewing them. However, the tension he feels will be redirected elsewhere.
TREATMENT OF SEPARATION ANXIETY - INDEPENDENCE TRAINING
The principle of this retraining method is to teach your dog to “stand on its own four feet” when you are present with the express intention that your dog’s newfound confidence will spill over into times when you are away. Use obedience training to instill confidence in your dog. The exercises are geared toward distancing your dog from you. You need to make your dog more independent by reducing the bond between you and your dog to a more normal level. Decreasing the bond is the hardest thing for most owners to accept. We all acquire dogs because we want a strong relationship with them, but you need to accept that the anxiety your dog feels in your absence is destructive to it. Essential components of this program are as follows:
1. EXERCISE
Your dog should have 15-20 minutes of sustained aerobic exercise once, preferably twice per day. It is preferable to exercise your dog before you leave. Fetching a ball is good exercise as is going for a brisk walk or run on leash. Even if your dog has a large yard to run in all day, the aerobic exercise will be beneficial since most dogs will not tire themselves left to their own devices. Exercise helps dissipate anxiety as well as providing constructive interaction between you and your companion. It is best to allow your dog 15-20 minutes to calm down before you depart.
2. INDEPENDENCE TRAINING
a. Your dog should receive less attention in general while retraining. Your dog can be with you, but you should reduce the amount of time you pet your dog and speak to him/her. Your dog should not be allowed to receive attention when it demands it from you. Every time your dog gets attention when he/she whines or nudges you helps to foster dependence on you for comfort and likewise increases anxiety in your absence. Do not speak to your dog to comfort it if it is behaving anxiously. This will only reinforce the behavior. Only give your dog attention when it is sitting or lying calmly. You want to reward positive behavior and ignore negative behavior.
b. Obedience train for 10 minutes twice daily. You will use these commands for the Independence Training technique described below. Train control and quiescence by teaching come, sit, stay and down-stay. The goal is to achieve a 20 minute down-stay. Train for food rewards at the beginning, but later vary food, touch and voice praise. Give the dog a reward every time he performs when you are first teaching a command, but as he gets better at it, reward the behavior intermittently. This makes the response less easily forgotten.
c. Once your dog has learned the basic obedience commands you can train it to perform long down stays while you progressively move farther away. First train your dog to “down-stay” on a mat or dog bed. Initially reward your dog every 10 seconds he lies still, then every 20, 30 and so on. Later you will want to institute intermittent rewards. Every time your dog breaks the stay, attach a no-reward mark (AH! AH!) on the misbehavior and escort him/her back to the mat. Your dog will soon learn that if it breaks the stay, it will be put back, but if it stays put, a reward is in the offing. Once your dog performs a reliable “down-stay” when you are in the room, begin to ask for this behavior as you gradually distance yourself. First, make your dog “down-stay” while you are in the room, but otherwise occupied. Next ask your dog to stay when you are out of the room, but nearby. Gradually increase the distance and time you are away from your dog until it can remain in a down-stay for 20-30 minutes in your absence.
d. Discourage your dog from following you around the house or clinging to you on the couch. If your dog trails after you or drapes itself across your lap, take your dog gently by the collar or training lead and escort it to a nearby rest area, such as a dog bed. Instruct your dog to lie down and stay. Use a specific command such as “go lie down” and take your dog to its designated spot. In the initial stages of training you may need to take your dog to its bed several times and you may even need to hook a leash in the area. Remember to praise your dog for compliance. Of course, your dog needs to accept the praise without breaking the stay.
e. Once your dog has learned to become less clingy, it should become accustomed to being separated from you when you are home and awake for varying lengths of time and at different times of day. Put up child gates to deny your dog access into the room in which you are doing something (i.e. reading, watching television, cooking etc.). Instruct your dog to lie down and stay on a dog bed or mat which is outside of the room you are in. You can give your dog an extended-release food treat or toy to keep it distracted. If your dog whines or does something else to try to get your attention, it is extremely important that you ignore it. You should ONLY give your dog attention if it is being relaxed. Once your dog is able to tolerate being separated from you by a child gate, you can graduate to shutting the door to the room so your dog cannot see you.
f. Do not allow your dog to sleep in bed with you as this only fosters dependence. In fact, it is best if your dog is not even allowed to sleep in your bedroom. First you need to train your dog to sleep in his own bed on the floor in your room. You may have to take your dog to its bed several times before it gets the message you really want it to sleep in its own bed. Remember to reward your dog with praise or a food treat for remaining in its bed. If your dog will not follow instructions, you need to tie it to a fixture in the room with a four-foot leash. Alternatively, you could train your dog to enjoy sleeping in a crate to prevent unwanted excursions. Do not use a crate if it causes more anxiety and distress for your dog. For some dogs, crates can exacerbate separation anxiety. Once your dog will tolerate sleeping in its own bed in your room you should move its bed outside your room and use a child gate or barrier to keep your dog out. Gradually move your dog’s bed by means of a mobile barrier or child gate which is incrementally relocated to oblige the dog to sleep closer to, and eventually where it is left when you are separated from him/her during the day.
g. Many owners erroneously feel that if separation is so stressful, then they should spend more time with their dog before they leave. Unfortunately this often exacerbates the condition. In fact, everyone in the family should completely ignore the dog for 15-20 minutes before leaving the house (after you give your dog its bone) and for at least 20 minutes on returning home. This evens out the emotional roller coaster ride that these dogs otherwise experience with overly emotional departures and exuberant greetings from owners when they return home. When your departures and returns generate less anxiety and excitement, your dog will begin to feel less tension in your absence.
h. Make a tape recording of normal household sounds when you are home and play the tape for your dog when you are away.
3. COUNTERCONDITIONING
Give your dog an acceptable item to chew, such as a long lasting food treat only when you go out. We want your dog to associate this special treat with your departure. Treats to try include hollow bones stuffed with peanut butter or soft cheese, drilled out nylon bones or hollow rubber chew toys such as Kong toys similarly enhanced. The added food treat helps train attachment to the bone. Give the bone to your dog before you give your dog any cues that you are about to leave, about 15 minutes before you go out.
4. RANDOM CUES
Make a list of the things that you do before you go out for the day (and the destruction occurs) and the things you do before you go out for a short time (and no destruction occurs). Then mix up the cues. For example, if your dog is fine when you go downstairs to do the laundry, try taking the laundry basket with you when you go out to work. If your dog becomes anxious and begins to follow you around the house when you put on your coat or pick up your keys, do these things when you are not really leaving. Put on your coat and watch television or pick up your keys and go to another room. Open and close doors while you are home and do not intend to leave. Enter and exit through various doors when you are leaving or returning. When you really are leaving, try not to give the cues. Leave your coat in the car; put your keys in the car before you leave.
5. GAMES
Play tug-o-war games with your dog and let it win. This builds confidence. If your dog starts to growl, you may have gone too far and it may be time to back off from this approach.
6. DIET
We have seen a decrease in some fear and anxiety based conditions when some dogs are switched from a high protein, high energy food to a low protein (16-22%) all natural diet (no artificial preservatives). Nature’s Recipe Lamb and Rice is a good choice. We recommend trying a low protein diet for a trial period of 2-4 weeks to see if it makes a difference in your dog’s condition.
7. MEDICATION
Medication is usually used in conjunction with the above treatment strategies and is generally helpful. Traditionally antidepressants like amitriptyline (Elavil) and clomipramine (Anafranil) are used, but fluoxetine (Prozac) has recently shown itself to be a real winner for the treatment of separation anxiety. Critical to the success of medication is the correct dose, given for an appropriate period of time, at least 4-6 weeks in the case of an antidepressant.
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