Separation anxiety is greatly misunderstood and the internet is a wild place. Understandably, we all consult Dr.Google to understand and learn more when something goes wrong – especially when it comes to our dogs. Some of the information we read can be harmless while others can be quite detrimental to our dog and their progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our experience as specialists in separation anxiety has allowed us to observe a great number of dogs, many who had previous methods or products fail to help them. In this post, we will break down the most common to help prevent you from losing time, money and energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea behind this is not bad, but unfortunately it is rarely fruitful. We often believe that if we give our dog super interesting treats, they won\u2019t even notice that we left. This does work for dogs who are simply bored and need something to do. However, when our dog is experiencing a panic attack due to being alone, food is the last thing on their minds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The majority of my clients who have tried this method said it never worked and often the food was left untouched until their return. Even with high value treats such as bully sticks, cheese and even pieces of steak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we do have a dog who will eat the treats left behind, often will do so quickly then proceed to panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One client\u2019s dog even learned that the food toy predicted their departure and became afraid of it – refusing to eat out of it at unrelated moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are a great number of products available on the market that are often suggested to help or even treat separation anxiety. With this number growing as the years go by. Special treats, clothing, supplements, even crates and stuffed animals. It can feel tempting to try them out and I see the appeal. The hope that one simple product can put an end to your dog\u2019s alone time woes. I categorize these as \u201ccan\u2019t hurt\u201d and might <\/em>help. <\/em>But unfortunately, all I\u2019ve seen as an outcome of these products is burnt out clients who have tried everything they could find and in the process wasted a lot of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s put these \u201cfixes\u201d into perspective. If you have a phobia of spiders and I put you in a room with a tarantula – but, I spray a little lavender, give you a calming treat and a blanket, do you think this would cure you? The spider makes you fear for your life – just as your dog does when they are alone. No comfort items can fix that amount of fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Does too much space make anxiety worse? We might see their pacing and running from window to window as too much space for them to survey and protect. What goes on in their heads is not always clear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, In my experience, confinement often makes anxiety worse. Even if it\u2019s being closed into a room or worse, the crate. While a crate can be a useful tool for puppy training and house training, it\u2019s not a suitable tool for separation anxiety. If you have tried using the crate, you may have noticed that your dog\u2019s symptoms got worse like increased barking, salivating and defecating. Some dogs even go to the extreme of hurting themselves trying to escape. At most, a crate or confinement would only prevent certain destructive behaviours but in this case, the crate would only serve as a solution to the destruction and not the separation anxiety itself – with the risk of harming themself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If we ignore it, they\u2019ll get over it, right? Actually, no. The more experience our dog has with their fear, the longer it will take for us to undo. Dogs don\u2019t have the big brains that we do that allow us to think rationally. We know that we always come back, they should certainly notice too but they don\u2019t. The risk of hoping they get over it far outweighs the probability of it happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Separation anxiety is the fear of being alone, so we think that getting a second dog should help. Well, not really. In the majority of cases, a second dog (or any other type of animal companion) does not help. If you heard of it helping a neighbour’s dog, they are the exception, not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A second dog should only be added to your household if you really want a second dog – not as a fix for separation anxiety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n True story: My first client, before we started working together, brought home a second dog for their first dog who was experiencing separation anxiety. Turns out they were sisters from the same litter! And both dogs had separation anxiety. While it does make the case a bit more complex by having to now monitor two dogs\u2019 anxiety levels instead of one – both dogs made great progress!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing to do is to get your dog checked by a veterinarian. A dog will make very little progress if they are also battling underlying medical issues. Sensitive tummies, itchy skin and irritated ears can all contribute to their general anxiety so it\u2019s important to get this checked out and dealt with ASAP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Medication is also a possibility and worth opening up the dialogue to understand options with your veterinarian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Managing absences to prevent further escalation and experience with their fear is the next important step. Hiring a dog sitter or an appropriate doggy daycare so your dog is not left alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then introduce alone time training. This is done based on what your dog is currently comfortable with and slowly increasing the amount of time you are away. There are often many factors to consider when training and a professional, certified separation anxiety team can help get you started and put you on the right track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember that separation anxiety is not a lost cause and is treatable with the right interventions. If you feel overwhelmed, you are not alone and we are here to help! <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Book a consultation here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Happy training!<\/p>\n\n\n\n3- Crates and Confinement<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4- They\u2019ll grow out of it<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5- Getting another dog will help<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
So how do I help my dog with separation anxiety? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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