Recognizing and Addressing Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Separation anxiety in dogs is a common yet challenging issue for many pet owners, but recognizing the signs and symptoms of separation anxiety can be difficult. Understanding and addressing this condition is crucial for the well-being of our dogs, but how do you know if your dog has separation anxiety?
This article will guide you through the signs and symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs, to help you understand if your dog has separation anxiety, and common signs to look out for to indicate that your dog is struggling being home alone.
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How Do I Know if My Dog has Separation Anxiety?
The signs and symptoms of dog separation anxiety, are generally problematic behaviors that only occur when you're gone, that have a negative emotion like fear driving the behavior. What I mean by that is that a dog who is bored and raids a bin or pulls the cushions off a sofa in your absence is likely bored, but they're not scared, anxious, or fearful of being home alone.
Common Signs of Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Let's look at some common behavioral signs typically seen in dogs with separation anxiety.
Excessive Barking or Howling
One of the most noticeable signs of separation anxiety is excessive barking or howling, particularly when the dog is left alone. This vocalization is a distress signal indicating their discomfort with being separated from their owner, but also fulfills a soothing behavior in many dogs too. Barking can be VERY self-reinforcing, so it actually feels good to do it.
Destructive Behavior
Dogs with separation anxiety often resort to destructive behaviors such as chewing furniture, digging at doors or windows, and tearing up household items. This behavior is usually an attempt to escape or cope with their stress, as displacement behavior.
Pacing or Restlessness
Continuous pacing or restlessness is another indicator of separation anxiety. Dogs may move back and forth in a fixed pattern, especially near doors or windows, showing their unease about their owner’s absence. Stressed dogs have a lot of adrenalin running through them, and so will struggle to sit still and/or relax.
Inappropriate Elimination
Urinating or defecating indoors despite being previously being house-trained is a common symptom of stress. We actually call it ‘stress related inappropriate urination' in the behavior field, and having a pee brings an enormous sense of relief to a dog.
Escaping or Attempting to Escape
Some dogs may attempt to escape from the house or yard, often injuring themselves in the process. This escape behavior is driven by their desperation to reunite with their owner, but it's also a displacement behavior, and the feeling of digging or scratching makes them feel better for a short term.
Dogs with separation anxiety have been known to cause huge amounts of damage to people's properties, but they have also injured themselves by digging and scratching so much they lose their claws or by becoming trapped or hurt trying to break out of crates or glass doors.
Excessive Drooling or Panting
Excessive drooling or panting can also indicate separation anxiety. These symptoms often accompany other stress behaviors and are signs of significant distress.
Not Eating
When a dog is anxious, their sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) is activated, preventing them from relaxing or eating, which suppresses their appetite. Many people are advised to leave food toys with their dogs when they leave to fix separation anxiety, but if only it were that easy! When dogs are stressed, they frequently will not eat and often refuse food until you return.
Recognizing Body Language Signs of Stress
In addition to the above behaviors, understanding your dog's body language can provide early indicators of stress. Signs include:
- Tucked Tail- It's thought a tucked tail may be a dog trying to cover their scent glands so that the pheromones secreted can not be smelt by predators! It also makes a dog smaller and less threatening.
- Ears Back – An appeasement behavior – a bit like ‘look how small and cute I can make myself look' to appear less threatening and reduce the chance of conflict
- Lip Licking – Often an early sign of discomfort or stress, dogs will lick their lips or smack their mouth – physiologically they may be feeling nauseous or it could be due to increased salivation
- Yawning – Dogs may yawn when they are feeling anxious, not just tired.
- Shaking or Trembling: – As adrenaline flows through the dog's system it causes the muscles to twitch as they ready themselves for action.
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs is the first step towards understanding what they are going through, and then helping them cope with their fears. By understanding the factors that contribute to this condition and being observant of your dog’s behavior and body language, you can take proactive steps to manage their anxiety.
Providing a stable routine, adequate socialization, and a safe environment can significantly improve your dog's well-being and reduce their separation anxiety, but it's often worth checking in with a professional like myself or another CSAT for help.
Learn more in the full guide to understanding dog separation anxiety or getting professional help for your dog's separation anxiety.
