Many dogs can get anxious when separated from their owner or from another dog. They bark, howl, chew, dig or escape to cope with the distress of separation. Such barking often occurs just after the owner has left home and continues for extended periods where it may be accompanied with whining or howling.
Separation anxiety is found frequently in nervous or timid dogs, but also in dogs that are demanding their owner’s attention when home. It may also occur after sudden changes in the dog’s life such as moving home, a family member departing or a new baby arriving.
New changes to the dog’s routine should be introduced gradually.
This may include reducing the amount and type of attention the dog is receiving to help it adjust to a new routine brought about by any change in the owner’s lifestyle.
If the dog is placed in a new environment the old routine should be retained and the dog provided with familiar objects such as its feeding bowl and kennel.
The dog should not always be given attention on demand. For example, when it approaches its owner, the dog should be made to sit before being given attention.
When at home the dog should have varying periods of time separated from its owner. For example, in a different part of the room, in different rooms, or the dog being outside and the owner inside or vice a versa.
The owner should avoid going through the same routine each day prior leaving home. In the last half an hour before leaving, the dog should have minimal contact with its owner, and none immediately before to leaving.
To enable a dog to become used to periods of separation, the owner should leave home and return a short time later. They should then gradually increase the length of these separation periods.
The owner should give the dog minimal attention when returning home.
The dog should be provided with a comfortable, quiet and darkened area (inside or outside) to rest in. It should not be confined suddenly to an area it is unfamiliar with when left on its own.
The dog should be provided with chew toys, familiar objects, an article of the owners clothing and a radio left playing quietly.
Obtaining a second dog does not usually assist with this problem, as the first dog may be anxious about being separated from its owner and not other dogs.
Although a second dog may help with the boredom, be warned you don’t want to end up with double trouble in other behavioural problems like digging and chewing.
Dog obedience training is a must for this problem and if you are having little success then talk to your vet about a drug which enhances learning and reduces separation anxiety. This drug combined with training procedures will be very useful in difficult cases.
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