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SeparAtion Anxiety
By Frania Shelley-Grielen. All rights reserved.
Separation Anxiety in dogs, is characterized by behaviors indicating severe distress when apart from an owner or other a dog is attached to. Separation Anxiety is one of the most common issues, second after aggression, owners list when seeking professional help or rehoming dogs. Reactions include excessive vocalizations, destructiveness (especially at points of exit such as doors or crate doors and walls), rearranging objects, inappropriate elimination, depression, restlessness, self-mutilation and more. Because these behaviors are mostly happening when a care giver is not home, not seeing evidence that they have occurred, does not rule out the dog that suffers in shut down silence. Research notes apartment dwellers are more likely to report this problem, possibly due to neighbor proximity alerting them to an event a more distant homeowner may not be made aware of. While we know, separation anxiety affected a good number of dogs pre-pandemic, it will no doubt affect an even greater number, as more dogs who have never been home alone, end up there. What is so important to remember, is that separation anxiety points to extreme anguish in the emotional state of the animal. These dogs are absolutely beside themselves and much of what we see in their behavior is how they are coping with their overwhelming panic and anxiety over being left alone.
Classic approaches to treating separation anxiety are limiting owner absence, removing punishment and behavior modification with counter conditioning (creating good associations with the bad thing) and desensitization (increasing exposure through minimal increases in duration or decreasing distance to the bad thing) while under threshold (the amount of time with or next to the bad thing which is not stressful or not so bad ). The challenge with working with separation anxiety, aside from not leaving the dog alone, is timing formation of positive associations close enough to threshold (in this case, the point where being left alone or knowing they will be left alone evokes a phobic reaction) and not exceeding threshold in duration. When anxiety does takes over, the brain is flooded with stress chemicals and learning or relaxation is not possible. Periods of time left alone in the desensitizing process have to be measured for the individual and counter conditioning has to occur with the dog under threshold so that anxiety cannot take over in either phase. This means when to offer reinforcers and desensitizing periods can be counted in seconds and minutes depending on the dog. It also means that there is no small a period kept under threshold that is not a big enough accomplishment to build on.
For maximum success, knowing how to tackle Separation Anxiety and determining threshold is the first step. Looking at the research on applying behavior modification approaches can yield a wealth of information and can be inspiring in keeping owners on track and motivated with protocols of baby steps and consistency.
Generic plans offer guidelines to start from, tailoring for the individual dog in treatments with specifics of duration, rewards and more can increase desired results. A study by Blackwell, Casey, et al. compared a generic treatment plan with a customized plan. Owners of 56% of the dogs in the generic plan reported significant improvement, while an additional 25% said the dogs showed slight improvement. All of the dogs in the customized plan were reported to have improved. As any owner or separation anxiety dog would tell you, we should not diminish improvements for those dogs no matter which group they are in. Still, we all want to do better for our dogs the more we look at the research, the more inspiration we can take that efforts, even simple and haphazard ones, can be rewarded.
Scientists, Takeuchi, Houpt, et al., looked at treatment outcomes and owner compliance with 52 dogs seen at the Cornell University Animal Behavior Clinic for separation anxiety. Owners given less than five instructions were found to be the most likely to follow them. Removing punishment, increasing exercise and provisioning a chew toy (the study doesn't specify but a stuffed with delicousness chew toy seems most appropriate) when leaving were the most implemented directives. According to the owners, 62% of the dogs improved.
Another study, done in 2011 by Butler, Sargisson, et al. looked at a small number (eight) of separation anxiety dogs where owners were instructed to leave dogs in isolation with food treats 3-4 times per day. Starting with five-minute segments, increments were increased by five minutes until 30-90 minutes was achieved without phobic reactions. Food was to be provided immediately before leaving and on return. Leaving dogs alone otherwise was discouraged, as was punishment. Exercise was instructed for at least 15 minutes daily. Results showed six of the eight dogs improving even as compliance was uneven. Food (3 dogs), praise and toys (2 dogs), exercise (5 dogs), no exercise (3 dogs), punishment ceased for all dogs save for two who had never been punished (although the plan called for ignoring a dog and withholding food for 30 minutes on arriving when evidence, such as defecation, rearranging, etc. was found showing the dog had been distressed). The researchers concluded “systematic desensitization was a consistent factor in the improvement of separation related problem behavior” and “The consistency with which systematic desensitization was applied did not predict the speed of progress or final success.”
Again, removing punishment, limiting owner absence and increasing exercise are pretty universal. It is not uncommon to also see plans which introduce unwitting or negative punishment such as ignoring a dog on leaving and arriving. With a dog who is anxious to the point of panic over owner presence, this can be counterproductive and add to anxiety. Scientists Amat, Camps, et al. write on offering just the opposite in their paper on predictability and contextual fear in separation anxiety dogs. “Predictability is one of the main psychological factors that modulate the stress response” and “we recommend increasing the predictability of the owner’s departure”. (continues below)

Other approaches to treating separation anxiety include pharmaceuticals which are rarely if ever 100% effective, difficult to calibrate dosing and can have severe side-effects that are reported (not to mention inherent difficulties in observation and monitoring complications of side effects in species that cannot communicate directly to us). A study on Fluoxetine (sold under the name of Reconcile for dogs or Prozac for humans) showed 42% improvement in medicated dogs undergoing a behavior modification plan at the same time. Side effects in 45% of the medicated dogs was “calm/lethargy/depression”, “anorexia/decreased appetite” was even more common, with reduction in dosing required in 20 of the dogs to reduce vomiting and anorexia. Three serious adverse effects of seizure were seen in the medicated dogs. With this study, while there are definite side effects from medication studied, it is difficult to tease out the effects of the medication separate from the behavior plan. Or to know if that plan decreased or contributed to stress. The study plan consisted of: ignoring the dog when home should the dog initiate contact, keeping the dog in a sit, down or stay at a distance, giving departure cues at times other than departure, ignoring the dog for 20 minutes before and when leaving, ignoring the dog on return and when the dog had initiated contact. Punishment was to be avoided and a food toy was recommended on leaving (which was to be taken away on owner return).
This does not mean that it is impossible to get a benefit from drugs just that extreme caution and monitoring should be used. We need to additionally know even when drugs are recommended by veterinarians, those recommendation include pairing them with behavior modification. We also need to know that good behavior plans make as much a difference as bad ones.
Another key aspect to behavior modification, which can be overlooked in conventional treatments, is targeting the anxiety on multiple levels to treat the whole dog. We already know that research shows increasing exercise and removing punishment helps separation anxiety dogs but there’s more. Here is where good force free training and structure building, impulse control and reactivity exercises like hand feeding one meal a day with “off” and “take it” kick in. When we talk training we need to remember this needs to include reinforcing the good behaviors we see when they occur whether we ask for them or not. We are very much on our game in redirecting and often oblivious for those naturally occurring behaviors we want to see more of. Even lying quietly by your side deserves praise and reward. Key note for an anxious dog. Also, where we can help the dog to be less anxious overall by doing more dog things- such as those natural behaviors that are intrinsically satisfying like chewing one meal a day out of a food puzzle (not a slow feeder which can induce frustration) and getting to exercise the dog’s most important satisfying sensory process by allowing for sniffing everything on a walk.
Because predictability is so vital to managing the stress response, I like to say "good bye" and "see you later" to a dog when leaving. And because we do not want to punish or ignore the positive emotional response of either dog or owner being happy to see each other again, to acknowledge and channel excitement on arrival with saying hello and asking them to get their favorite toy. I add schedules as another way to offer comfort and control to the separation anxiety dog. Feeding, walking and interactive play routinely on schedule can help relieve frustration and anxiety and provides the dog with control over some of the most wonderful things in life – fun times with owners.
To start working on training for reducing separation anxiety, departure cues are an excellent place to begin. After a walk that allows for maximum sniffing opportunities and a good chew toy, begin breaking down how comfortable your dog is when you are getting ready to leave home. This will also include that desensitizing and counter conditioning but will be broken down with pausing between each stage of the process you go through when you get ready to leave. We may not give much thought to the process when we get ready to leave or know how much of it is automatic for us but every move is monitored by our hypervigilant separation anxiety dogs.
Start paying close attention to what is happening with your dog when you begin to think about leaving and the motions you make as you prepare to do so. Can you stand up to get ready to leave, walk to the coat closet, pick up your briefcase, look for your keys without your dog alerting and stressing? Being able to recognize stress signals in your dog can help to establish the difference between under threshold, approaching threshold and over threshold. If you see signs of stress such as:
- Lip licking (not around food)
- yawning and blinking (not when tired)
- panting
- furrowed brows
- eyes hardening or whites of the eyes
- tensing facial muscles
- turning head away
- turning body away
- ears back
- standing crouched, tail tucked under
- stiffening up
Your dog is reacting emotionally to stress. How long did it take before you saw that first sign of stress? Was there a second sign? What were you doing when you saw these stress signals? This is where keeping time and noting movements comes in. Once you are able to determine the time period the dog remains calm and at what stage of the leaving process this is paired with, you have a baseline to begin to work from. While you can get the dog more used to or desensitize the steps of your leaving and pair them with good things or counter condition, the key to relieving separation anxiety is desensitizing and counter conditioning to owner absence.
It is important to know what period of time exists for the individual dog to stay under threshold/not react/stress to being left or the idea of being left. The trick is to keep the duration time very short in the beginning while adding a positive event (food puzzles, long lasting chews, stuffed toys, etc. are good here) at the same time and build minute by minute from there. It helps to clock the amount of time and keep a log of this so you know how to progress in duration. And for those who can walk out the door before the separation anxiety begins, remote video options offer a wealth of information for establishing just how long a dog can be alone without being stressed. Whatever the amount of time, be it 30 seconds or 5 minutes, this is where you begin just under, or in this case 25 seconds or 4 minutes.
Remember:
- do not increase steps or durations in one day
- keep steps to less than five times a day
- allow for pauses or time between steps or durations
- vary durations - as in alternate with lesser time periods interspersed with longer under threshold duration periods
- create positive associations with food/play/praise before and after steps or durations.
A lot of separation anxiety plans include stationing or place exercises. Good if used correctly. Do NOT use this exercise before leaving or when coming home. You want to create the option the dog can choose on their own, not command it. This is never to be forced or a punishment. What I call the “go to bed” exercise needs to be practiced with loving encouragement to go to a wonderful and comfortable place to relax with good memories and things in it. Be close by to your dog’s bed (you may need one for each room). Offer high value items here, soft voiced encouragement, reinforcement and chew toys like bully sticks or pizzles. You are creating positive associations of a safe and cozy place to go to with the comfort of the people they love in sight of them. This helps to super power the association of this spot. Doing this exercise more often when you are without company makes it easier for the dog to recall the comfort of the spot when company does arrive or when they are eventually alone.
With any training, the more you do in a low distraction environment, the greater its power in a high distraction environment. (Work on increasing distance from the dog in his/her bed gradually. And alternate that with increasing duration. Never increase distance and duration at the same time or in the same day.)
While more research is needed, plush stuffed toys that emit a soothing beat, natural stress remedies that have also been clinically studied without deleterious side effects such as playing classical music and the use of supplements such as melatonin and valerian, can be considered add-in's.
Remember, with much of this work, we can push too fast in our hope for results. when things are not working, it is often by going backwards we get to go forward. Go back to the last step in the plan that was working and go from there. Attention to the right plan for your individual dog that includes limiting owner absence, removing punishment, desensitizing, counter conditioning, targeting anxiety on multiple levels by allowing for natural behaviors for the whole dog, increasing force free training with praise for the good stuff too - consistency and commitment to all this can be tall orders, but doing any plan starts with beginning them.
Baby steps.
References
Amat, M., Camps, T., Brech, S. L., & Manteca, X. (2014). Separation anxiety in dogs: The implications of predictability and contextual fear for behavioural treatment. Animal Welfare, 23(3), 263–266. https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.23.3.263
Blackwell, E., Casey, R. A., & Bradshaw, J. W. (2006). Controlled trial of behavioural therapy for separation-related disorders in dogs. The Veterinary Record, 158(16), 551–554. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.158.16.551
Butler, R., Sargisson, R.J., Elliffe, D. (2011). The efficacy of systematic desensitization for treating the separation-related problem behaviour of domestic dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 129, (2–4), 136-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2010.11.001.
Simpson, B. S., Landsberg, G. M., Reisner, I. R., Ciribassi, J. J., Horwitz, D., Houpt, K. A., Kroll, T. L., Luescher, A., Moffat, K. S., Douglass, G., Robertson-Plouch, C., Veenhuizen, M. F., Zimmerman, A., & Clark, T. P. (2007). Effects of reconcile (fluoxetine) chewable tablets plus behavior management for canine separation anxiety. Veterinary therapeutics : research in applied veterinary medicine, 8(1), 18–31.
Takeuchi, Y., Houpt, K. A., & Scarlett, J. M. (2000). Evaluation of treatments for separation anxiety in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 217(3), 342–345. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2000.217.342 , 158(16), 551–554. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.158.16.551
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