SEPARATION ANXIETY IN DOGS

by Glen · Published April 12, 2023 · Updated May 30, 2024

Many dogs experience separation anxiety with their owners and many of these owners don’t know what to do or where to find the right help to treat this issue. It is important to do your research and find an experienced positive reinforcement dog trainer as there are numerous unqualified trainers out there who use “old school” outdated methods that no longer hold up which is proven through the many well researched science-based articles that have been published.

First and foremost, we must determine what causes your dog’s distress and come up with a solid behavioural modification plan. Knowing your dogs past can also help, but it’s more important to focus on what causes/triggers it now.

If your dog is under distress while you’re away it can be tough for some dogs as they can injure themselves through self mutilation or destructive behaviour.

Some questions I always have for clients dealing with separation anxiety are as follows: Are you planning on crating your dog?

Placing them in a room? Or do you plan to give your dog more space in your home?

Going back to your dog’s triggers-

Does your dog get triggered when a specific individual leaves or when everyone in the household leaves?

We must create a positive experience with these triggers. To do this, we would slowly start building up the duration where you can leave your dog. This process will take time.

In some cases, having someone come and watch your dog while you’re out (someone they know) can help and prevent them from seeing you leave. There are many steps and not every dog is the same so adjusting the plan depending on the dog can vary.

The bottom line is, getting the right help with a well-versed & educated dog behaviourist who uses positive reinforcement is key. Be patient, as separation anxiety cannot be fixed over night (even if some trainers promise they can fix this fast). Remember: there are no quick fixes for behavioural problems!