Treating separation anxiety in dogs

Second in a series

Treating separation anxiety in dogs

You drag yourself through the door, after a long day, and in your face is the wreckage inflicted by your desperate and repentant dog. How do you feel? Angry, sad, guilty? Why is this happening? Where did you go wrong? Your friends’ pets don’t trash the house when their people are at work or grocery shopping or just out for dinner. It’s expensive to repair and it’s frustrating. You are not alone. Separation anxiety is common.

If you and your lovely Shih Tzu moved into a cave in the wilderness he’d stay by your side, accompanying you on hunting and gathering expeditions. His genetic tendency for this miserable affliction wouldn’t even matter. Maybe you’ll sell your house and buy a spear and a big black kettle. On the other hand, if you two stay in the contrivance of your house, we’ll put modern medicine and learning theory to work.

Those 30-minute videos you shot after leaving home: one with your Shih Tzu crated and another with him loose inside: Did he freak-out faster in his crate? When free to roam his home, was he pacing and checking the door and windows? Where was he more agitated? Did his panic begin to wane? We can tailor treatment to his needs.

You can slowly teach your dog to abandon his escalating heebie jeebies as you get gussied up for work. Desensitization to predeparture cues means frequent handling of your keys, shoes and jacket, brushing your teeth or whatever triggers your pupster’s anxiety. Independence training can also make a difference. Give your good boy a loaded food toy and tether a few feet from your chair. When he’s relaxed, following lots of repetition, increase the distance until he’s calm, then anchor him such that he can see only a little of you, and then finally move him around a corner. Another method, graduated absences, will have you outside for progressively longer durations.

To make any difference, these well-founded methods must be repeated ad nauseum for months and then, for no apparent reason, the wheels can fall off. Don’t be discouraged. And don’t try one remedy or solution, and then another and another.

Next week: Find out what really works.

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For help with behavior problems, you can sign-up for a Zoom Group Conference on my website, drjeffnichol.com.

Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency-trained veterinary behaviorist in Albuquerque. He provides consultations by Zoom group and individually/in-person. Sign up for his weekly blog or post questions (drjeffnichol.com) or by US Post to 4000 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Albuq, NM 87109.