Separation-Related Behaviour (Separation Anxiety)

How you act towards your dog when both leaving and returning home can impact the propensity of your dog in developing separation anxiety.

 

Key Research: Remaining calm and relaxed when both leaving and returning home to your dog, will help to decrease the likelihood of separation anxiety = or any anxious or nervous behaviour being displayed by your dog – from being reinforced. Essentially, not fussing over or showing too much emotion towards your dog, will help make leaving and returning home less emotive and meaningful for your dog.

(Fiona Dale etal. Dec 2024. Cambridge University Press)

 

Key Takeaway: Being aware of your behaviour when around your dog can assist in either the prevention of, or limiting the ongoing development of separation related behaviour (separation anxiety) or anxiety in general.

Ultimately, you can use how you behave when around your dog to your dog’s advantage, in helping to both teach and encourage calm and relaxed behaviour. Conversely, any nervous or tense emotion that your dog picks up from you will only be counter productive in preventing or minimising separation anxiety. Rather, your dog is more likely to mimic the nervous energy he or she is sensing within you.

 

The importance of relaxation for your dog…

Key Research: Dogs who are experiencing separation problems are highly likely to be physically active and to vocalise once their owner/s have departed. In contrast, dogs who are not experiencing separation problems are mostly inactive while alone (lying resting or lying alert) without displaying any type of vocalisation. An inability to relax – or needing a long time to achieve relaxation when alone – appears to be a key determinant here in assessing the presence of separation problems in dogs. Equivalently, dogs who find it difficult to relax even upon owner return, is another key indicator of the existence of separation problems.

(Silbermamm, J & Ganslober, U. 2023. Animals 13, 3735)

Key Takeaway: Your dog’s propensity to be able to reach a state of relaxation is important here. If your dog is prone to separation anxiety, pay careful attention to his or her ability to generally achieve a state of relaxation, even when you are home. Taking deliberate steps to help teach your dog to relax, in different locations of your home and at various times through the day, will go some way towards assisting your dog to learn how to relax when alone. Of course, be cautious to not regularly leave your dog alone until he or she has benefited from other, effective, separation related behavioural treatments.

 

The sound your dog makes when alone can reflect how they are feeling.

Key Research: Different types of vocalisations that dogs make when alone, has been investigated in order to gain an understanding of how dogs are feeling when they make a particular sound. It has been reported that dogs who are afraid of being left alone whine much more often than dogs who do not experience separation anxiety. On the other hand, dogs who tend to bark when alone are more likely to be doing this out of frustration and boredom. In essence, the negative emotion of fearfulness is driving the whining behaviour of dogs who exhibit this vocalisation when alone.

(Pongracz, P; Lenkei, R; Marx, A; Farago, T. 2017. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 196, 61-68)

Key Takeaway: Be aware of the type of sound your dog makes when alone. This can help determine what behavioural treatment approach will best assist your dog. If they are simply bored and frustrated and subsequently barking quite a lot, then the treatment approach will be more associated with getting your dog involved with engaging activities before you leave, so as to induce both tiredness and contentment. A well as having some playful activities they can choose to do while alone. Fear based whining behaviour however, is quite complex, and will require a treatment approach that teaches predictability while also developing your dog’s confidence and resilience when left alone.

 

The location you leave your dog when alone can have an impact.

Key Research: Dogs who are (a) confined to an inside kennel/cage with the door closed, or (b) have only one room for access as opposed to several rooms in the home, or (c) more likely to be placed outside when the owner leaves – are much more likely to display separation behavioural problems. Especially with regard to the inside scenario’s, these equate with restricted movement and therefore only add to the dog’s discomfort. Equivalently, if separation from the owner is also combined with a sudden change in the dog’s environment, then this can have a negative impact on how your dog copes with the immediate situation.

(Silbermamm, J & Ganslober, U. 2023. Animals 13, 3735)

Key Takeaway: Allowing your dog to have a free range of movement when inside alone, will help remove any feelings of restriction and discomfort that can contribute to separation panic. In doing this, a kennel or cage can be a great location to become a safe place for your dog, but where access to other rooms are also provided. Teach your dog the ability to relax and enjoy this safe location, both when you are at home or going out. This can help offset the development of separation behavioural problems.

Confining your dog to outside when alone, may remove opportunities for them to withdraw and therefore contribute to them feeling insecure. Equivalently, Sudden or unexpected noises or other outside stimuli which cause them to adversely react, may only interfere with their ability to settle down and relax.