Does My Dog Have Separation Anxiety?

Canine separation anxiety is clinically defined as physical or behavioral signs of distress exhibited by a dog when separated from the owner. Dogs with separation anxiety display consistent, intensive destruction, elimination, vocalization, salivation, and other biological signs of distress, and often injure themselves while attempting to escape from a crate or room (1). The signs of distress usually appear when the owner begins the usual departure routine (getting the car keys, putting on a coat, dressing for work), become most severe within 15 to 20 minutes after the owner’s departure, and typically continue until the owner returns. The key points in the definition are that the behaviors occur:

•  Only, and consistently, when separated from the owner
•  Are intensive (dogs with separation anxiety have been known to destroy an entire room and everything in it during their owner’s absence)
•  Begin before or immediately after the owner’s departure

Dogs who misbehave in their owner’s absence are not necessarily suffering from separation anxiety. They may simply be bored, inadequately trained, or have been left alone far too long to be expected to quietly relax and behave. The dog who relaxes for four hours after the owner leaves for work, then chews on a sofa and poops on the carpet, is not suffering from separation anxiety. The best tool for determining if your dog has separation anxiety is a video camera. Recording your dog’s behavior during your absence will tell you when the behavior starts and how long it lasts. Also, from observing the video, a behavior specialist can tell if your dog’s behavior was due to boredom or emotional distress.

Separation anxiety can usually be resolved by behavior modification (of both the owner and the dog). In some cases pharmacological intervention is needed to take the edge off the dog’s anxiety so that the behavior modification will be successful. If you suspect your dog has separation anxiety, there is an excellent booklet you can purchase through almost any online bookseller: I’ll Be Home Soon! by Dr. Patricia McConnell. This booklet will help you determine if your dog’s behavior is a boredom/training issue or separation anxiety, and provides a simple to follow behavior modification plan. If you still need help, contact your veterinarian and a behavior specialist.

(1) Overall, Karen L. (1997). Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals. Mosby, Inc., 1997, St. Louis, Missouri.

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