Most dog owners during the COVID-19 quarantine have spent a great deal of time at home with their dogs. We bet your dog received a lot more attention during these months. Before 2020, your dog was in a habit of being alone a good part of the day while the kids were at school and you were at work. So, if you have already gone back to your normal routine or soon will and are in the planning stages of getting back out into the world, your dog is going to experience being alone again which they haven’t seen in months or if they are a puppy, they’ve never experienced at all.
What they may experience when this happens is separation anxiety. What is separation anxiety? It’s a very deep fear and dislike of being alone. It can show itself by your dog demonstrating new and different behavioral issues. Common complaints pet parents have is that new, disruptive, and destructive behavior when their dog is left alone.
You might see things like intense chewing, digging, barking, pacing, panting excessively, trembling, changes in appetite and sleep, howling, pooping in the house as well as unwanted indoor urination. Some dogs may even try to escape the portion of the home where they are left whether it be going to the front door and scratching, breaking down a gate, or even trying to play the great escape from a crate.
Wondering why some dogs develop separation anxiety? The experts really don’t know; however, it seems that many dogs who have been adopted from shelters exhibit this behavior while those kept by a family since a puppy do not. This may be caused because a shelter dog has emotions tied to memories of being alone without a permanent family. This new, agitated behavior can occur when a dog is bonded to a specific person or a group of people and the unknown fear is that they are never coming back. They feel abandoned. This can happen when there is a new change in the family schedule, moving to a new home, or a change in who’s living at the house; either a new member or losing a current member.
One of the first places to look for help would be to rule out any medical problems with your veterinarian. A urinary tract infection or even issues with the bladder can cause pooping and or urination. They’re also a number of medications that can contribute to agitation or change in behavior as well. Once you rule out any medical problems it’s time to come up with a plan if your dog does develop separation anxiety.
Of course, we need to mention another good solution would be adding a dog daycare routine to your dog’s life. Obviously, that includes Best Friends Fur Ever which offers a new daytime structure, socialization, exercise, stimulation, as well as contact with additional, loving, human caretakers. 60% of our clients over the past 16 years have used our daycare services for overcoming separation anxiety. Most clients establish a routine of at least 2-3 days per week because of the calmness and focus that lasts into the evening after a day in a playgroup.
Another stimulating choice would be to enroll your dog in training, either in a parent and puppy class or one-on-one individualized training with experienced, certified trainers. We offer multiple training options for puppies as well as older dogs. This offers a new routine, works on foundational skills and basic commands, will stimulate physical and mental growth, as well a daily exercise routine.
Other ideas to help with separation anxiety when your fur baby is not at Best Friends Fur Ever include:
- One tip is to create a word or a phrase that lets your dog know that you’ll be back. Something as simple as “I’ll be back, I’ll be back, I’ll be back” repeated several times each time you leave so a mental connection is made that registers that your leaving is not forever.
- Another tip would be to leave your dog with recently worn clothing, a blanket, or a pillow that smells like you. This produces a calming effect, and your scent lingers to remind them of you and often brings that a natural calmness.
- If being alone causes that agitation, you can associate it with something good or something the dog likes. Examples may be a puzzle game filled with treats, a stuffed frozen Kong, a favorite toy, or a favorite snack or meal.
- An additional tip would be to graduate your time out of the house. Maybe it begins for a 10-minute period, followed by a 20-minute period, followed by an hour, and then two hours. As you work your way up with time out of the house, your dog gets adjusted to being alone for long periods of time.
- You may also have the opportunity with the new flexible work schedules we are all experiencing, to bring your dog into the office with you at times. When the weather permits and it’s not too hot or too cold, you may wish to take your dog on errands with you so they learn the car is more than just for going to the vet.
- And in some cases, medications may help with separation anxiety but always consult with your vet before giving your dog any type of over-the-counter medication or requesting a prescription.
We also would be remiss if we didn’t mention not to punish your dog for the anxious behavior. They are going through possibly an emotional and physical display of distress. Any kind of reprimand or punishment could possibly make it worse.
It may take time for your dog to unlearn stress responses when you leave the house so, please be patient as your try these tips. In the meantime, we recommend making the most of your time together. Quality time like long walks together, playing in the yard or going to a dog park, or roughhousing at home as a family with your best friend is truly the best medicine for loneliness.