With people heading back to the office, pets may suffer separation anxiety. Here's what to watch for
Original article nola.com
By: Traci Howerton
My dog, Stewie, is my shadow. He has to be in the same room with me at all times. If he loses sight of me, he will run around the house looking in every room until he finds me. I think it is safe to say that Stewie suffers from a mild case of separation anxiety.
I say mild because he is not destructive when I leave him home alone, and his behavior doesn’t warrant any concern. However, this is not the case for all pet owners with dogs that suffer from this condition.
Separation anxiety is a disorder that causes a dog to panic at the idea of being left home alone. The distress a dog feels when left alone can be so overwhelming that he can become destructive, break out of his kennel, pace, bark constantly, salivate, and may even relieve himself in the home when he is otherwise housebroken.
Separation anxiety can be stressful for both dogs and owners since it can be a tough condition to overcome. The anxiety and stress of being alone usually set in immediately after the owner leaves, so regardless of whether you are gone for just a short period or all day, the dog still has the same reaction.
Does my dog have it?
Following are a few behaviors that may help you decide whether your dog is suffering from separation-related distress. When you're not home:
Does the dog panic when he is alone?
Do the neighbors complain about hearing barking, howling, or constant whining?
Does the dog damage furniture, doors, curtains, blinds, kennels, or other items?
Does housetraining go out the window?
Why do some dogs have it?
While there is not a single definitive reason, many things can be looked at as possible triggers for separation anxiety, including:
An underlying medical condition.
Environmental changes such as the death of an owner or another pet coming into the household, a move to a new home, or the addition of a baby.
A change in routine due to a job change that takes the owner away for longer periods of time, more crate time, etc.
For example, a pet owner has been working from home for the last year due to COVID-19 and now goes back to the office full time. The family dog may have gotten used to his best friend being around during the day, and the change in routine could cause newfound distress in a pet that was fine being home alone prior to the pandemic.
How to reduce it
Reducing or stopping separation anxiety takes lots of patience, work, and commitment by the owner. If separation anxiety is the root of unwanted behaviors, there are some things you can do to help reduce the anxiety.
Shake up the morning routine. Dogs are smart creatures. They watch what is happening in the morning, and they know the activities that signal you are about to leave. Trying doing these same activities at different times throughout the day, but then don’t actually leave.
After a few weeks of the dog seeing these activities, he may no longer associate them as a sign that you are heading out the door. This may ease some of the anxiety.
Don’t make hellos and goodbyes a big production. Nothing is better than sloppy dog kisses and big tail wags when we walk through the door, but making a big deal out of leaving and coming home may actually contribute to a dog’s anxiety.
Reward calm behavior. Just as we give rewards for housetraining and learning new commands, if the family dog decides to go curl up in his bed on his own, or is being a couch potato on a Sunday afternoon, reward this calm and peaceful behavior with attention or a treat.
Try dog daycare. If DIY remedies do not help curtail the situation, consider sending your pup to doggy daycare during the day.
Consider a friend for Fido. If your pup is an only dog, sometimes all it takes is another four-legged companion to keep him company to reduce the stress of being alone.
Talk to a vet. Severe cases of separation anxiety can cause some dogs to not only destroy your belongings but can also create a situation where they pose a danger to themselves. Extreme cases may require the professional help of a behaviorist or medication.