Home Alone Dogs

One of the most common behavior problems I see and treat is separation anxiety. One of the first steps, however, involves determining if the dog is really suffering from separation anxiety. Many of the behaviors people associate with separation anxiety are also those seen in dogs who are simply bored/under-stimulated. In addition, if the dog is a new addition to your home, the anxiety you are seeing could be transient, a by-product of the move to a new home environment with new rules, schedules, etc. Once the dog acclimates to its new home, the anxiety dissipates. This doesn't mean there aren't things an owner can do to make the transition easier, it just means that what they are seeing isn't separation anxiety and thus should not be treated as such.  So, how do you know if your pet is truly suffering from separation anxiety? That's where a certified animal behaviorist comes in. By collecting a detailed history on the dog and their behavior, a behaviorist can help you determine what is actually going on and how best to proceed with a treatment game plan. If it truly is a case of separation anxiety, then here is what you might expect in terms of treatment:

First, drug therapy and never leaving your dog alone are truly at the core of the solution. This is because one of the first steps in treating the problem is removing the dog from situations that cause the anxiety. For a lot of dogs with separation anxiety, I recommend daycare since at daycare (versus a dog walker, for example), they can interact with new humans and other dogs and be crated or confined only under supervision, and barking and destructive behavior are curbed and/or redirected, if they are occurring. This is so helpful to the process even if someone is home a lot of the time; it's important for the dogs to experience separation from the owner and have that go well. And for many dog owners with intense work schedules, daycare is the key to success.

Here is a general outline for the treatment of separation anxiety:

1. Never leave the dog home alone (even briefly until he has been taught calming techniques)
2. Crate train and/or x-pen train to build confidence when you are home (this helps curb the drooling, pacing, and destruction that so often occurs)
3. De-couple your departure cues (e.g. dress like you are leaving for work, but stay home; wear your pj's and leave the house for a few minutes)
4. Only give attention to the dog when he is calm and deferential (any anxious behavior is to be ignored).
5. Increase his mental AND physical exercise everyday
6. Drug therapy (I usually recommend having a conversation with your veterinarian about your options, and starting with either Clomicalm, Elavil, or Prozac). Sometimes Xanax is needed if there is a panic component to the behavior as well. There are also some holistic options as well that may be worth exploring in conjunction with more traditional options.

I understand that this all sounds incredibly overwhelming and frustrating. While separation anxiety is a completely treatable behavior problem, it is one of the more complicated as it requires diligence, patience, and time to correct. If your dog is experiencing anxiety when you leave the house, let me know. I would be happy to help!