How can you tell if your dog has separation anxiety or if they are just having fun when you are away from home? In my experience, both issues display similar symptoms. I found an article released by American Kennel Club that helps clarify between the two.
I have worked with a lot of dogs over the years who were thought to have separation anxiety, but in reality, they were just misbehaving when the owner wasn’t home. With the end of Covid on the horizon, a lot of dog owners will be returning back to work and leaving their furry ones home alone. Before Covid, separation anxiety cases were not as common, but as owners are going back to work there has been a major surge. The oh-so-fun-loving sweet pup has turned into a bull in a china shop when you leave the house. There is nothing more aggravating than coming home to pillow stuffing spread throughout the house! But is it truly separation anxiety? There are a couple of different ways to tell. Some signs of anxiety might be in the realm of pacing, clinginess, whining, excessive barking, panting, licking, etc. Another more subtle sign would be your pup just becoming restless as you start to get ready for the day. The list goes on, but you get the idea. These types of behaviors can start as soon as your alarm goes off, in a worst-case scenario.
You might be saying to yourself, “Well, my dog does a lot of those things. Does that mean my dog has anxiety?” The answer is maybe, but still most likely not. I have learned a modified way to best tell the difference between true separation anxiety & just a bored dog from Dr. Ian Dunbar. It is as simple as using a webcam, or a few of them, mounted around the house. If you don’t have enough, then place the ones you do have in the areas where your pup spends most of its time. We want to be able to watch the pup’s behavior and it is even better if you can record it.
Here is the first example: As you are getting ready for the day, your pup starts running in circles and letting out a bark every once in a while. When you leave, you pat your pup on the head and walk out the door. Your pup runs up to the window and watches you drive off in the distance. Then the party starts!! Trash cans getting knocked over, with the contents examined, munched on, and strewn throughout the house; pillows being shredded, shoes getting chewed on, the list goes on – not to mention the multiple spots of urine and feces! However, you’ll see that after playing (aka wreaking havoc) for a while, the pup will lay down and take a nap. They will usually sleep until about 30 to 60 minutes before you get back home. Then pup will start getting excited again because they know you will be returning soon. The down time is what is important because a dog that has true separation anxiety will not have down time.
Now for example #2: The anxiety starts from the time you start to get ready for the day, until you get back home.Your dog may hypersalivate, tremble all over, pace, or a myriad of other things! To put the feeling in perspective, imagine yourself twenty stories high enclosed in a see-through box with no clothes on, while giving a speech with spiders crawling all over you! This is what it feels like for a dog with anxiety issues. Although most of the behavior issues can be trained out of the dog, when it is a true separation anxiety, training only manages the behavior. In some cases your vet might even prescribe a medication to help them relax.
There you have it. If you have any questions about your dog’s behavior, contact a Professional Dog Trainer. (TDForeverHomeTraining.com) We can help you figure out if your pup has true Separation Anxiety or if they are just throwing a party for their neighborhood friends while you are away working!!
