Separation Distress
As a professional dog trainer, we are unable to make a diagnosis of Separation Anxiety – however, we may recommend you consult a veterinarian or veterinary behaviourist.
The term Separation Distress is often used to describe any problem behaviour that arises in the owner’s absence. This is often purely descriptive in that it describes what happens rather than identifying the specific cause.
It is often useful if you the owner, can video the behavior of the pet when left. This helps to identify both the cause and the emotional state of the pet accurately.
Some reasons that an animal may not cope when left alone include
Over dependence upon an owner for emotional support
The dog may have experienced a fear-provoking incident or even (an example may be a thunderstorm) that initially occurred when the owner wasn’t present
It may also relate to the stress of confinement or barrier frustration.
Whatever the cause, behaviour modification is usually required for long-term resolution of the problem.
Some patients will benefit from the use of behaviour medications – you will need to consult with your veterinarian regarding these.
Pheromones may also help. Adaptil (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) is available as a collar, spray or plug in diffuser. Feliway (Feline Facial Pheromone) is available as a spray and plug in diffuser.
If your pet is at risk of or has hurt himself than a consultation with a veterinary behaviourist is highly recommended.
Provide environmental enrichment including stimulating chew toys and food dispensing toys when left alone and also when you are home (otherwise the toy may become the predictor of your absence).
Praise and attention should be given when the dog is calm, relaxed or chewing appropriately, rather than when they are attention seeking.
The majority of the protocol below is from the BSAVA manual of canine and feline behavioural medicine.
Diminish distress on routine departures
Change how you interact with your dog
Rules for giving attention
Teach Calmness
Departure Training Exercises
Uncouple departure cues from departure.
1. Pick up your keys, coat, briefcase, hand bag – walk to the dog
2. DO NOT EXIT
3. Return items to their normal location and sit back down
4. Do not repeat until your dog is calm.
Behaviours to watch for and avoid during this exercise are
Counter-Conditioning or response substitute for departure
1. Ask your dog to sit and stay in the vicinity of the usual exit door
2. Take one or two steps away from him/her
3. Return to your dog and reward with food/praise for remaining still
4. Gradually increase the time and distance from the dog and toward the door
5. As compliance and performance increase, phase out food rewards (continue with praise).
6. When the sit and stay approaching the door is learnt, begin to open and close the door.
7. Step outside the door and return
Planned training departures
Do not begin until departure cues have become uncoupled from departure and no longer cause the dog to respond with anxiety (increase in respiratory rate, panting, agitation, pacing, whining)
Use a new safety signal, and only use this signal on planned departures, never on routine departures.
Initial departures must be very short (seconds up to 1 minute)
Departures must be like usual departures (take keys, bags, go to car etc).
Ignore your dog for 15 minutes prior to departure
Just before leaving use the new signal (could be music, a certain item etc)
Return within the designated time; do not be tempted to stay away longer
Ignore the dog for 10-15 minutes when you return
Only increase the length of absence if no pre-departure anxiety is seen and no excitement or anxiety on return is evident
Only repeat the planned training departures when the dog is calm; do not do more than 3 in a row.
Initial progress will probably be slow and will take time before the dog can be left for longer periods of time.
The dog must be calm both when you depart and when your return for this training to be successful.
Reference list and helpful books that you may wish to invest in.
DeMartini-Price, M. and Phairas, G. (n.d.). Treating separation anxiety in dogs. 1st ed.
Handelman, B., 2008. Canine behavior. 1st ed. Norwich, VT: Woof and Word Press.
Horwitz, D. and Mills, D., 2009. BSAVA manual of canine and feline behavioural medicine. 1st ed. Quedgeley, Gloucester [England]: British Small Animal Veterinary Association
Jacobs, D. (n.d.). Does my dog need Prozac?. 1st ed.
O'Heare, J. (2002). The canine separation anxiety workbook. 1st ed. Ottawa: Gentle Solutions.
Overall, K., 2013. Manual of clinical behavioral medicine for dogs and cats. 1st ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier
Wilde, N. (n.d.). Don't leave me!. 1st ed.
The term Separation Distress is often used to describe any problem behaviour that arises in the owner’s absence. This is often purely descriptive in that it describes what happens rather than identifying the specific cause.
It is often useful if you the owner, can video the behavior of the pet when left. This helps to identify both the cause and the emotional state of the pet accurately.
Some reasons that an animal may not cope when left alone include
Over dependence upon an owner for emotional support
- Treatment must focus on creating a more emotionally stable and independent dog.
The dog may have experienced a fear-provoking incident or even (an example may be a thunderstorm) that initially occurred when the owner wasn’t present
- The owners departure (and isolation) now comes to predict the possibility of further scary events (whether they occur or not)
It may also relate to the stress of confinement or barrier frustration.
- Attempts to escape rather than to regain owner’s company
Whatever the cause, behaviour modification is usually required for long-term resolution of the problem.
- Change the pet-owner relationship
- Teach the pet to settle and relax
- Decrease the predictive value of pre-departure cues
- Change the leaving and return routine
Some patients will benefit from the use of behaviour medications – you will need to consult with your veterinarian regarding these.
Pheromones may also help. Adaptil (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) is available as a collar, spray or plug in diffuser. Feliway (Feline Facial Pheromone) is available as a spray and plug in diffuser.
If your pet is at risk of or has hurt himself than a consultation with a veterinary behaviourist is highly recommended.
Provide environmental enrichment including stimulating chew toys and food dispensing toys when left alone and also when you are home (otherwise the toy may become the predictor of your absence).
Praise and attention should be given when the dog is calm, relaxed or chewing appropriately, rather than when they are attention seeking.
The majority of the protocol below is from the BSAVA manual of canine and feline behavioural medicine.
Diminish distress on routine departures
- Leave your dog with several food enhanced/dispensing toys
- Mask your departure with other noises, use a different door or wear different clothing
- Keep departure and return low key – don’t make a fuss
- Do not make a fuss of your dog prior to your departure or on your return.
Change how you interact with your dog
Rules for giving attention
- Attention should be initiated by you and not the dog
- All attention should be earned by following a simple cue (Sit).
- Give your dog attention and reward for calm quiet behaviour
- Decrease and/or stop the dog from following you when you are home
- Avoid allowing your dog on your lap unless they have been invited
- DO NOT pay attention to pawing, leaning, whining, jumping etc, instead redirect them and focus on the calm behaviour that you are able to reward.
- Always have several scheduled interactions with your dog every day – they are social animals and need human attention and company. These interactions should include play, training, walks and affection.
Teach Calmness
- Train your dog to go to a location (mat, bed or crate)
- Teach him or her to settle and relax
- Use changes in respiratory rate to judge this (decrease), body posture (relaxed and comfortable – usually on one hip or side) and facial expression (relaxed ears, soft or closed eyes, relaxed mouth)
Departure Training Exercises
Uncouple departure cues from departure.
1. Pick up your keys, coat, briefcase, hand bag – walk to the dog
2. DO NOT EXIT
3. Return items to their normal location and sit back down
4. Do not repeat until your dog is calm.
Behaviours to watch for and avoid during this exercise are
- Increase in distress as the trigger is presented
- Inability to settle in between presentations
- Your dog following and watching you
Counter-Conditioning or response substitute for departure
1. Ask your dog to sit and stay in the vicinity of the usual exit door
2. Take one or two steps away from him/her
3. Return to your dog and reward with food/praise for remaining still
4. Gradually increase the time and distance from the dog and toward the door
5. As compliance and performance increase, phase out food rewards (continue with praise).
6. When the sit and stay approaching the door is learnt, begin to open and close the door.
7. Step outside the door and return
Planned training departures
Do not begin until departure cues have become uncoupled from departure and no longer cause the dog to respond with anxiety (increase in respiratory rate, panting, agitation, pacing, whining)
Use a new safety signal, and only use this signal on planned departures, never on routine departures.
Initial departures must be very short (seconds up to 1 minute)
Departures must be like usual departures (take keys, bags, go to car etc).
Ignore your dog for 15 minutes prior to departure
Just before leaving use the new signal (could be music, a certain item etc)
Return within the designated time; do not be tempted to stay away longer
Ignore the dog for 10-15 minutes when you return
Only increase the length of absence if no pre-departure anxiety is seen and no excitement or anxiety on return is evident
Only repeat the planned training departures when the dog is calm; do not do more than 3 in a row.
Initial progress will probably be slow and will take time before the dog can be left for longer periods of time.
The dog must be calm both when you depart and when your return for this training to be successful.
Reference list and helpful books that you may wish to invest in.
DeMartini-Price, M. and Phairas, G. (n.d.). Treating separation anxiety in dogs. 1st ed.
Handelman, B., 2008. Canine behavior. 1st ed. Norwich, VT: Woof and Word Press.
Horwitz, D. and Mills, D., 2009. BSAVA manual of canine and feline behavioural medicine. 1st ed. Quedgeley, Gloucester [England]: British Small Animal Veterinary Association
Jacobs, D. (n.d.). Does my dog need Prozac?. 1st ed.
O'Heare, J. (2002). The canine separation anxiety workbook. 1st ed. Ottawa: Gentle Solutions.
Overall, K., 2013. Manual of clinical behavioral medicine for dogs and cats. 1st ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier
Wilde, N. (n.d.). Don't leave me!. 1st ed.
