SEPARATION ANXIETY
FROM THE TIME A FRIEND OF MINE ACQUIRED HIM IN 1999. SHE REALIZED THAT HER GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG NEKO, LOVED HER VERY MUCH -- IN FACT PROBABLY A LITTLE TOO MUCH, ’HIS JOB, IN HIS MIND, WAS TO BE GLUED TO HER AT ALL TIMES. WHEN SHE WOULD LEAVE FROM WORK, HE WOULD START BARKING, HOWLING AND CARRYING ON, WHICH ANNOYED HER NEIGHBORS. SHE ASKED A FRIEND TO COME BY TO PLAY WITH AND WALK HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. THAT WORKED FOR THE COUPLE OF HOURS THAT SHE WAS THERE, BUT HE WOULD GO RIGHT BACK AT HOWLING AND BARKING UNTIL I RETURNED HOME. SHE WAS AT HER WIT’S END.
NEKO WAS HARDLY THE ONLY DOG WITH AN AVERSION TO SOLITUDE. LIKE OTHER GSD’S AND OTHER DOGS, HE SUFFERED FROM SEPARATION ANXIETY: A CONDITION THAT TORMENTS DOGS AND AGGRAVATES OWNERS.
WHAT IS SEPARATION ANXIETY?
KATHERINE HOUPT, V.M.D., PH.D., AND A PROFESSOR OF ANIMALS BEHAVIOR AT NEW YORK’S CORNELL UNIVERSITY, DEFINES THE CONDITION AS “A BEHAVIOR THAT IS MANIFESTED IN THE ABSENCE OF A SIGNIFICANT OTHER, USUALLY THE OWNER. IN THE ABSENCE OF THE OWNER, THE DOG WILL SHOW ANXIETY. HE’LL PACE, BARK, MAYBE TEAR THE PLACE APART!”
OTHER HALLMARKS OF SERPARATION ANXIETY INCLUDE HOUSETRAINING ACCIDENTS, REFUSAL TO EAT, EXCESSIVE SALIVATION AND OVERLY ENTHUSIASTIC GREETINGS TO A RETURNING OWNER. STILL OTHER DOGS WILL WORK FRANTICALLY TO ESCAPE FROM THE PLACE IN WHICH THEY ARE CONFINED IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE DEPARTING OWNER. THEY’LL BLOODY THEIR PAWS, DAMAGE THEIR CRATES, AND ATTEMPT TO CHEW THROUGH DOORS AND DRYWALL. IN ANY CASE, THE DOG EXHIBIT’S THE ANXIOUS BEHAVIOR SHORTLY AFTER THE OWNER LEAVES -- CERTAINLY WITHIN THE FIRST HALF HOUR.
UNFORTUNATELY, SOME DOGS ARE AT GREATER RISK OF DEVELOPING SEPARATION ANXIETY THAN OTHERS. MANY EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT A DOG WHOSE BOND WITH AN IMPORTANT INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN DISRUPTED IN A TRAUMATIC WAY IS MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP THE CONDITION THAN OTHER DOGS ARE. A PUPPY WHO’S BEEN WEANED TOO EARLY AND SHIPPED TO A PET STORE FROM A PUPPY MILL IS AT A HIGHER RISK FOR DEVELOPING SEPARATION ANXIETY THAN A PUPPY WHO’S ALLOWED TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS NEEDED WITH HIS MOTHER AND LITTERMATES. THE SAME CAN BE TRUE OF A DOG WHO’S BEEN ABANDONED OR RELINQUISHED BY AN OWNER.
SOMETIMES AN OWNER’S LIFESTYLE CAN BOOST THE ODDS THAT A DOG WILL DEVELOP SEPARATION ANXIETY. AN EXAMPLE MIGHT BE A DOG WHOSE OWNER IS HOME DURING THE SUMMER BUT RETURNS TO WORK IN THE FALL. YOUNG DOGS WHO ARE LEFT ALONE TOO OFTEN OR TOO LONG -- FOR EXAMPLE, A PUPPY LEFT ALONE IN A BACKYARD FOR HOURS AT A TIME -- ALSO MIGHT BECOME PHOBIC ABOUT BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR OWNERS WHEN THEY ARE ALLOWED INSIDE THE HOUSE.
THE SAID, SOME DOGS WHO BARK, WHINE OR ARE DESTRUCTIVE WHEN LEFT ALONE MAY NOT HAVE FULL FLEDGE SEPARATION ANXIETY. I CALL WHAT MOST OF THESE DOGS HAVE “SEPARATION INTOLERANCE.” NINETY PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO CONTACT ME AND SAY THAT THEIR DOG HAS SEPARATION ANXIETY ARE MISDIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. A DOG WHO WHIMPERS FOR FIVE MINUTES AFTER YOU LEAVE, CHEWS A PILLOW AND THEN SETTLES DOWN FOR THE REST OF THE DAY DOESN’T HAVE SEPARATION ANXIETY. DOGS ARE OFTEN GIVEN TOO MUCH HOUSEHOLD FREEDOM TOO QUICKLY, AND WHILE THE RESULT CAN BE EXPENSIVE HOUSEHOLD DAMAGE, THE PROBLEM IS USUALLY INCOMPLETE TRAINING OR BOREDOM OR BOTH, NOT SEPARATION ANXIETY.
WHAT TO DO
ALTHOUGH TREATING A DOG WITH SEPARATION ISSUES CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING, IT’S NOT IMPOSSIBLE. HERE’S WHAT EXPERTS SUGGEST YOU DO TO HELP YOUR DOG BETTER DEAL WITH SOLITUDE.
1. DESENSITIZE: TREATING SEPARATION ANXIETY GENERALLY STARTS BY ACCLIMATING YOUR DOG TO BEING BY HIMSELF FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME INITIALLY, THEN GRADUALLY FOR LONGER PERIODS. TEACH YOUR DOG TO SIT AND STAY, AND TO HOLD THE SIT AFTER YOU LEAVE THE ROOM. START BY LEAVING THE ROOM FOR ONLY A MINUTE OR SO, THEN WORK UP TO AS LONG AS A HALF HOUR.
2. MAKE DEPARTURES POSITIVE: HELPING YOUR DOG ASSOCIATE YOUR DEPARTURES WITH POSITIVE OCCURRENCES CAN GO A LONG WAY TOWARD EASING HIS ANXIETY. EXPERTS SUGGEST GIVING HIM A FOOD STUFFED TOY IMMEDIATELY BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE. CHANCES ARE YOUR DOG WILL BE SO BUSY FERRETING OUT THE GOODIES THAT HE’LL FORGET TO BE UPSET ABOUT BEING LEFT ALONE.
3. ENRICH THE ENVIRONMENT: JUST AS GIVING YOUR DOG A FOOD-STUFFED TOY CAN DISTRACT HIM FROM HIS ANXIETY, SO CAN GIVING HIM A MORE INTERESTING PLACE TO BE WHILE HE’S ALONE. SOME DOGS DO WELL WHEN THEY’RE IN A ROOM WITH A LARGE WINDOW FROM WHICH THEY CAN WATCH BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE FROLIC. OTHERS RESPOND TO HEARING A RECORDING OF YOUR VOICE OR ELEVATOR MUSIC. STILL OTHERS RELAX WHEN THEY HEAR THE SOUND OF A TELEVISION OR RADIO ON LOW.
4. ENCOURAGE CALM BEHAVIOR: FOREGO HIGHLY EMOTIONAL GOODBYES AND HELLOS. LEAVE THE DOG WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING TO HIM AND COME HOME WITHOUT GREETING HIM FOR 10 MINUTES OR SO -- KEEP DEPARTURES AND HOMECOMINGS VERY LOW KEY.
5. VARY YOUR PREDEPARTURE ROUTINE: EXPERTS SUGGEST NOT USING THE SAME PHRASE OR ENGAGING IN THE SAME ACTIVITIES EACH TIME YOU LEAVE HOME. THE REASON: YOUR DOG WILL CONNECT SUCH PHRASES AND BEHAVIOR WITH YOUR IMPENDING DEPARTURE, WHICH IN TURN WILL TRIGGER HIS ANXIETY. INSTEAD, DON’T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR LEAVING. IN ADDITION, VARY YOUR PREDEPARTURE ROUTINE: IF, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU ALWAYS PUT ON LIPSTICK RIGHT BEFORE YOU LEAVE, TRY PUTTING IT ON IN YOUR CAR INSTEAD.
6. CONTROL YOUR OWN FEELINGS: WHEN DEALING WITH A DOG WHO HAS SEPARATION ANXIETY, OWNERS NEED TO CONTROL THEIR OWN EMOTIONS. IF OWNERS ARE NERVOUS AND UPSET ABOUT LEAVING, THEY WILL FEED THE DOG THEIR FEARS SO THAT THEY WILL FEED THE DOG THEIR FEARS SO THAT HE WILL BE MORE UPSET.
7. START BASIC TRAINING: AN ANXIOUS DOG NEEDS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN HIS OWNER. TAKING THE TIME TO TEACH YOUR DOG SOME BASIC OBEDIENCE MOVES CAN DO A LOT TO DEFLATE HIS ANXIETY AND BUILD HIS SELF-ASSURANCE.
8. UP THE EXERCISE: A DOG WHO’S HAD SOME STRENUOUS EXERCISE BEFORE HIS OWNER DEPARTS IS LIKELY TO BE TOO TIRED TO BE UPSET OVER THAT DEPARTURE. CONSIDER BOOK-ENDING EXERCISE BEFORE LEAVING FOR WORK AND AFTER RETURNING HOME. A TIRED DOG IS (A HAPPY DOG WHICH IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SAYINGS!)
9. CONSIDER DOGGIE DAYCARE: IF YOUR DOG HATES BEING ALONE, DOGGIE DAYCARE IS A NO-BRAINER WAY TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. INSTEAD OF PINING FOR YOU AND DESTROYING YOUR DOMICILE YOU DOG WILL SPEND THE DAY PLAYING WITH OTHER DOGS AND PEOPLE, GETTING PLENTY OF EXERCISE, AND BEING CALM IN THE EVENING.
10. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX: SOMETIMES, AN ANXIOUS DOG WHO DOESN’T RESPOND TO CONVENTIONAL REMEDIES MIGHT BENEFIT FROM AN UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH TO SOLVING HIS PROBLEM. SOME OWNERS REPORT GOOD RESULTS FROM CONSULTING WITH AN ANIMAL COMMUNICATOR; A DIRECTORY OF PRACTITIONERS IS AVAILABLE ON COMMUNICATOR PENELOPE SMITH’S WEBSITE AT WWW.ANIMALTALK.NET/CONSULTLIST.HTM. OTHER OWNERS FIND THAT THEIR DOGS BENEFIT FROM BEING ADMINISTERED A CALMING HERB OR FLOWER ESSENCE. AN ESPECIALLY POPULAR ESSENCES AVAILABLE FROM BACH FLOWER ESSENCES AT WWW.BACHFLOWER.COM I ALSO USE A LOT OF THEIR PRODUCTS FOR DIFFERENT ISSUES AND I’VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS!
IF ALL ELSE FAILS, GET HELP. SOME DOGS EXPERIENCE SUCH SEVERE ANXIETY THAT NONE OF THE ABOVE MEASURES WORK. WHEN THE DOG IS TO THE POINT THAT HE’S HURT HIMSELF -- BROKEN TEETH OR NAILS TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM THE CRATE -- I REFER THE OWNER TO A VETERINARY BEHAVIORIST. A VET BEHAVIORIST AN PRESCRIBE MEDICATION AND MONITOR ITS USAGE. A LIST OF ACCREDITED VETERINARY BEHAVIORISTS IS AVAILABLE FROM THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF VETERINARY BEHAVIORIST AT WWW.DACVB.ORG/ABOUT_US/DIPLOMATES_COPY_1
BE UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENT. SERPARATION ANXIETY CAN BE DIFFICULT TO TREAT, BUT DOING SO MAY BE EASIER IF YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR DOG IS NOT BEHAVING THIS WAY IN ORDER TO SPITE YOU OR TO PUNISH YOU FOR LEAVING HIM A LONE. HE IS TRULY AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU ARE NOT WITH HIM. THIS FEAR OFTEN RESULTS FROM TRAUMA THAT OCCURRED LONG BEFORE HE CAME INTO YOUR LIFE. LOVE YOUR DOG AND HELP HIM BY GIVING HIM THE UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENCE THAT HE NEEDS AND DESERVES.
LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE
MY GIRLFRIEND BELIEVES THAT HER OWN BEHAVIOR WAS PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR NEKO’S SEPARATION ANXIETY. AT FIRST SHE WAS TELLING HIM TO GUARD THE HOUSE AND THAT SHE WOULD BE BACK IN A FEW HOURS. SHE THINKS PART OF THE ANXIETY WAS DUE TO MY BODY LANGUAGE AND TONE OF VOICE.
WHEN ROTATING TOYS AND HAVING A FRIEND VISIT NEKO MIDDAY PROVED INEFFECTIVE AT CURBING THE DOG’S FRANTIC BARKING AND HOWLING. SHE REACHED FOR UNCONVENTIONAL HELP: SHE CONSULTED AN ANIMAL COMMUNICATOR. SHE TOLD HER THAT HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE SKY AND THAT IT WOULD HURT ME. THE NOISE WAS FROM A NEARBY U.S. ARMY BASE IN COLORADO PLAYING WAR GAMES.
THAT INFORMATION PROMPTED MY GIRLFRIEND TO USE RESCUE REMEDY TO EASE HER DOG’S APPREHENSIVENESS. HE SETTLED DOWN AND BECAME RELAXED DURING THE DAY. TODAY, MY FRIEND WORKS AS A DOG TRAINER, AND PART OF HER WORK INVOLVES HELPING CLIENTS WHOSE DOGS SUFFER FROM SEPARATION ANXIETY. SHE STARTS WITH THE BASICS, SUCH AS GIVE THEM TOYS AND ROTATE THEM EACH DAY, USE TOYS THAT YOU CAN PUT TREATS IN AND THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK FOR. SHE ALSO ADVISES THAT CLIENTS NOT TELL THEIR DOGS THAT THEY’RE LEAVING, BECAUSE DOGS CONNECT THE TONE OF VOICE BEING USED WITH THE OWNER’S ACTUALLY LEAVING -- WHICH WILL TRIGGER THE ANXIETY AND ITS MANIFESTATIONS. OTHER STEPS SHE SUGGESTS INCLUDE LEAVING A RADIO TURNED ON FOR DISTRACTION, AND USING ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS. MY GIRLFRIEND NOW OWNS A GSD NAMED CHAOS --AND SAYS THAT GSD OWNERS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF VELCRO BEHAVIOR FROM THIS BREED. SHE HAS NOT GONE TO THE BATHROOM ALONE SINCE 1999. YOU SHOULDN’T EXPECT TO IF YOU OWN A GSD! SEVERE CASES SOME DOGS HAVE SUCH SEVERE CASES OF SEPARATION ANXIETY THAT MEDICATION IS NEEDED TO HELP THEM RELAX ENOUGH TO RESPOND TH TRAINING AND BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION. FORTUNATELY, TWO REMEDIES ARE AVAILABLE TO SUCH DOGS WITH A PERCEPTION FROM A VETERINARIAN. CLOMICALM, THE TRADE NAME FOR CLOMIPRAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, IS A TABLET THAT CAN BE GIVEN ONCE OR TWICE A DAY, DEPENDING ON THE DOSAGE PRESCRIBED BY A VETERINARIAN. THE PRODUCT WAS THE FIRST TO BE APPROVED BY THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION FOR TREATING SEPARATION ANXIETY. IT IS MANUFACTURED BY NOVARTIS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.CLOMICALM.NOVARTIS.US RECONCILE, THE TRADE NAME FOR FLUOXETINE HYDROCHLORIDE, IS A CHEWABLE, FLAVORED TABLET GIVEN TO THE AFFECTED DOG ONCE A DAY. THE PRODUCT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR USE IN TREATING CANINE SEPARATION ANXIETY BY THE FDA, AND IS MANUFACTURED BY ELI LILLY AND COMPANY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.RECONCILE.COM TO CRATE OR NOT TO CRATE IF YOUR DOG;S SEPARATION ANXIETY CAUSES HER TO DESTROY ITEMS IN YOUR HOME, YOU MIGHT THINK THAT KEEPING HER IN A CRATE WHENEVER YOU’RE GONE WILL SAVE YOUR STUFF FROM THE RAVAGES OF HER ANXIETY. BUT IS CRATING SUCH A DOG A GOOD IDEA? IT DEPENDS IN THE DOG. SONE DOGS WITH SEPARATION ANXIETY TAKE COMFORT IN A CRATE WHILE OTHERS FIGHT THE CRATE HORRIBLY. A GOOD WAY TO DETERMINE WHETHER CRATING WILL WORK FOR YOUR ANXIOUS DOG IS TO WATCH HOW SHE BEHAVES WHEN YOU’RE HOME. IF SHE RETREATS TO HER CRATE ON HER OWN, CHANCES ARE THAT SHE’LL FIND THE CRATE TO BE A SAFE PLACE TO HANG OUT WHILE YOU’RE AWAY -- ESPECIALLY IF YOU GIVE HER AN INTERACTIVE TOY TO PLAY WITH WHILE SHE’S THERE. IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, YOUR DOG DOES NOWHERE NEAR THE CRATE WHEN YOU’RE HOME -- AND DOES WHATEVER IT TAKES TO STAY IN THE SAME ROOM WITH YOU -- OTHER REMEDIES MIGHT WORK BETTER. BUT NO MATTER WHERE IN YOUR HOUSE YOUR DOG STAYS WHILE YOU’RE AWAY, MAKE SURE YOU DOG-PROOF YOUR HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. PUT THE TV REMOTE OUT OF HER REACH, STASH YOUR SHOES INTO YOUR CLOSETS (AND CLOSE THE DOORS!), AND PUT WASTE BASKETS OUT OF THE WAY SO THAT SHE CAN’T PERFORM ANY INDOOR DUMPSTER-DIVING. LOOK AT THE ROOM FROM A CANINE PERSPECTIVE AND PICK UP ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BECOME A TARGET. OUNCE OF PREVENTION THE BEST CURE FOR MANY MALADIES IS TO NOT ACQUIRE THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT CAN SEPARATION ANXIETY BE PREVENTED? MANY EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT THEY ANSWER IS “YES” IF PREVENTIVE EFFORTS OCCUR DURING PUPPYHOOD. A VITAL PART OF RAISING PUPPIES IT TEACHING THEM THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE ATTACHED TO YOU ALL THE TIME. HERE’S HOW YOUR DOG OR PUPPY FROM BECOMING AN ADULT WITH SEPARATION ANXIETY. INDEPENDENCE ENCOURAGEMENT A VELCRO DOG MAY MAKE YOU FEEL LOVED AND NEEDED, BUT THAT DOG MAY PANIC IF SHE;S LEFT ALONE. DON’T INSIST THAT YOUR DOG GO EVERYWHERE WITH YOU IN THE HOUSE. ATTENTION ANYONE? PUPPIES CRAVE ATTENTION AND AFFECTION FROM THEIR CAREGIVERS. BY SPENDING LOTS OF TIME WITH YOUR NEW PUPPY NOW, YOU’LL HELP HER DEVELOP THE SECURITY SHE NEEDS TO KEEP FROM BEING ANXIOUS WHILE YOU’RE NOT AROUND. DIALED-DOWN DEPARTURE (and arrivals) A DOG DOESN’T NEED PROLONGED, EMOTIONAL GOODBYES AND HELLOS TO FEEL LOVED. IN THE LONG RUN YOUR PUPPY WILL FARE BETTER WITH A LOW-KEY FAREWELL AND AN EQUALLY MATTER-OF-FACT GREETING. BEDTIME BUDDIES WELL, NOT QUITE IN THE SAME BED, BUT BRINGING HER CRATE INTO YOUR ROOM AND KEEPING IT NEAR YOU (WITH THE PUPPY INSIDE THE CRATE) WILL GIVE YOUR PUPPY A PROLONGED PERIOD WITH YOUR SCENT AND HELP HER REALIZE SHE’S NOT ALONE. THE REALIZATION MAY REDUCE ANY ANXIETY SHE MIGHT FEEL, WHICH IN TURN COULD DECREASE THE NIGHTTIME VOCALIZING THAT MANY NEW PUPPIES ENGAGE IN. SWELL SMELLS IF YOUR PUPPY CONTINUES TO CRY DURING THE NIGHT, BRING HER CRATE NEAR YOUR BED, AND DROP YOUR FINGERS DOWN IN FRONT OF THE CRATE FOR HER TO SNIFF. A REASSURING WHIFF OF YOUR SCENT MAY HELP HER TO RELAX.