Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a common problem among young dogs, but it can appear at any time triggered by a change in household or family composition. Dogs with separation anxiety will cry in high pitched yips, like those a puppy would make to get his mother's attention, and may soil his crate or damage property, especially around the door his human left from. It is important to address this issue as soon as possible so that it doesn't become a habit or you risk extensive damage to your property and your dog may hurt himself in his panic.

If your dog is already in the throws of separation anxiety panic and you are scared he'll do serious harm to himself when you're not around, have him spend the day at doggie daycare or Camp BowWow for a week or two until you get this thing under control. Let your dog's caretakers know that separation anxiety is an issue so they don't make the matter worse by giving him extra attention during the day.

Start With The Basics

1. Have your dog checked out by the vet. There are many medical issues that can exacerbate behavioral problems.

2. Make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise. You may have to work in a morning walk. It's good for you. Alternatively, you could run him through some obedience practice first thing in the morning and get it out of the way.

3. Check your dog's food and make sure he's not getting sugars and simple carbs that could be making him extra jumpy. Do not share your morning donut or danish with your dog. You shouldn't be eating that stuff either. It goes without saying but caffeine should also not be on his menu.

Teach Your Dog to be Independant

Many small puppies develop hyper attachment and they may grow out of it by the time they are a year old. After all, the world is a very interesting place and you are just a boring human. Some, however, do not grow out of it. Hyper attachment is evident when your dog follows you around, watches you every minute, settles into your lap when you sit down and sleeps on your pillow at night. The more time your dog spends with you when you're around, the more he will miss you when you are gone. If this is your dog, ease him out of this habit. If this isn't your dog yet, follow these steps to make sure it never becomes you dog.

1. Do not let your dog sit on your lap every time you sit down. If he jumps up, tell him no and put him down by your feet. Praise him when he finally settles down. Once he's got this down, encourage him to settle further away. Provide him with a pillow or crate in the corner of the living room and teach him to lay there or place train him and encourage him to relax in his place when you're watching TV together, instead of on your lap.

2. If there are other people in the house or if you have friends that visit frequently, encourage them to help out with the dog's care, take him on walks and put him through his training. This will teach the dog that there are more cool people in the world than just you! Take your dog out to see other people and dogs as well and leave him with a friend once in awhile.

3. Make your dog do things on his own. Do not carry him outside, to his potty pad, crate or place. Teach him to go to his crate or place on command and take him outside on his leash. The more you do things for him and carry him around, the more dependant he will be on you and the worse it will be for him when you're not around.

4. Get your dog some toys he can play with without human intervention, like the Kong, the Twist & Treat, the Tug a Jug or an Intellibone. Give him the toy, tell him he's a good boy when he starts playing with it and then walk away. If he follows you, tell him no, bring him back to the toy and repeat. If this goes on for too long, just put the toy away and try again tomorrow and if that goes on for too long, you may need to try a different toy.

5. Don't let your dog sleep next to you. If you are absolutely heartbroken by the idea of making Rover sleep on the floor, or in another room, you can have him sleep at the foot of the bed, but it will be better for him in the long run if he has his own bed. You can put his bed in his crate and have him sleep there, or put his bed right next to yours. Then if you get lonely in the night you can reach out and pet him. If he's already sleeping in your bed, put his bed on your bed and let him sleep there for a few days before making the transition. Your dog's bed can be as simple as a pillow or a blanket or as elaborate as the GoPro Auxi Empire Series "Prince/Princess" Style Wrought Iron Pet Bed. Just makes sure it's in a cozy spot out of the way where you won't stagger over him when you get up for a drink in the night.

Create an Interesting and Relaxing Environment

A dog who is shut up in a cold dog pen with a cement floor and no toys every time you go away is going to be miserable and may associate you leaving with the sensation of boredom and discomfort. Make sure that your dog is comfortable with the place he will be left in, that it is warm and cozy and that there is plenty for him to do- besides eat the couch.

1. If your dog is going to be left in a crate or pen, make sure he is used to it before you leave him alone for the first time (See my article on crate training). Teach him to go into it on command and use treats to encourage him to do so. He should have some special treats or bones that he only gets while he's there and it should be comfortable with enough space to turn around in.

2. Once you've got your dog playing independently, choose some toys he really likes and only let him have them when he's home alone. Stuffed animals are not good options because he can tear them up and chew on the stuffing. A Kong is a great option. Get creative. Fill it with all sorts of interesting surprises. You can even hang it from the ceiling to give him more of a challenge.

3. Give him a special treat that he only has when you're not around. It should be something that will last a bit, like a knuckle bone or a bully stick and it should not be something that he can pull chunks off and choke on like a rawhide.

4. If your dog regularly relaxes in front of the TV or listening to music, it may help to leave the radio or TV on. If he doesn't, it won't. He's not going to be fooled into thinking some one's home, but the background noise can be relaxing if he's used to it.

Desensitize.

1. Start out by leaving your dog alone for a few minutes at a time and then returning. Don't make a big deal out of leaving or coming back. Put him in the designated place, make sure he has water, give him his special toy and treat and walk out. Wait five minutes or so and come back. If your dog is freaking out, ignore him until he calms down and then casually release him from his crate or room. Ignore him for a few more minutes and then carry on as if nothing exciting happened. Repeat 3-4 times a day.

2. Desensitize your dog to the scents, sounds and activities that usually take place just before you leave so that these won't trigger a feeling of panic in him. Pick up your keys and put them in your pocket, then sit down instead of leaving. If you have a bell on your door, open it, walk out and turn around and walk back in, or just get rid of the bell. If you always make coffee in the morning before you leave, make some coffee in the afternoon.

3. If your dog is used to your morning routine and he probably starts to get upset long before you actually leave so that by the time you walk out the door he's ready to launch into full panic mode. Switch your routine up so that he's not already freaking out when you walk out the door and he'll be much easier to distract with a toy or a special treat. If your morning usually goes like: Shower, dressed, breakfast, shoes, keys, coat, Fido in the crate, out the door. switch it up so it goes- Dressed, coat, shoes, keys, crate, breakfast, out the door.

4. Do not make a big deal about your departure. Acting sad about leaving will lead your dog to believe there is something to be sad about. Just go, matter of fact, like it's the most natural and uninteresting thing in the world- which it is and should be. When you return, again don't make a big deal. Your dog should not get extra attention or treats when you walk in the door. You should ignore him for a few minutes while you settle in and then call him over and make him sit for his attention.

Better Living Through Chemistry

Some people find help for their dogs through pharmaceuticals. I always prefer to save these for a last resort but their use is preferable to your dog hurting himself in a panic. No drug is going to help in the absence of behavior modification and training, but they can be helpful tools.

One such drug is Clomicalm, which acts by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. These hormones are the same that are released to induce feelings of love and general coziness.

Another drug that is sometimes prescribed by vets is Reconcile. This is very similar to Prozac and has been reformulated to meet the requirements for your dog.

Both medications need a few weeks to "kick in" and provide reliable relief. During that time, you should be focusing on behavior modification. As with any drug, observe your dog closely the first few times he takes his medication to make sure there are no ill effects.

A more immediate option and one that is less invasive, is the use of Dog Appeasing Pheromone or D.A.P. This a chemical that mimics the scent of a mother dog that causes her pups to feel calm and secure. You can get it in a pump spray that you can apply to your dog's crate bedding or a plug-in diffuser that you can activate in the room your dog will be left in when you leave the house.

There are also many herbal aromatherapy remedies, such as Animals Apawthecary Tranquility Blend, Anxiety By HomeoPet, ReNew Life Healthy Calm for Dogs, and Nutri-Vet 63166 Pet-Ease Natural Calming Spray for Dogs but I can't comment on how well they work. Of course, I can't comment on how well the pharmaceuticals work either. If you've used any of these, please use the "comment" feature to let me and your fellow readers know about your experience with them.