Sep Anx 2Does your dog exhibit signs of anxiety as you grab your car keys, put on your shoes, or put on your jacket?  Have you arrived home to discover your dog has chewed the door, torn blinds, or eaten the door frame?

If so, he may have a case of separation anxiety. sep anx 3

Some dogs acclimate to a lonerish life style from 9am-5am, while many do not.

Think about it.  Dogs, like coyotes or wolves, are innate pack animals.  They are the survivors of many generations of pack animals, animals who were wholly dependent upon the pack to hunt, sleep, protect territory, fend off predators, and raise little ones.

sep anx 4Imagine a coyote who fancied himself an individualist, an outsider, one who bucked the system and gave a proverbial middle finger to the security of his pack in exchange for a life of solitude.sep anx photo

How long would this coyote survive?  At what frequency would he successfully reproduce?   And with no females around, what are the statistical chances he’ll pass his loner life style to the next generation?

Slim to none.

Nina Ottoson Toy

How will you know if your dog has separation anxiety (sep anx), he may vocalize during your departure, destroy doorways, window sills, exits, or any threshold as a means of getting back to you.  This should NOT be confused with random destruction like chewing the sofa, rummaging through trash, or eating your remote control.  This is not sep anx, it is simply because it feels good to chew and you are not present to intercept him.

SEP ANX DOGS WILL CHEW SPECIFICALLY TO GET TO YOU.

If this sounds like your dog, start with the following 5 solutions:

  • Keep exits  & arrivals low key.  Avoid melodramatic greetings.  Take off your shoes and get yourself a snack before engaging with your pup.

 

  • Mental Stimulation.  Give your dog something mentally stimulating to do before you leave. Think kong wobblers or a puzzle toy by Nina Ottoson.

 

  • Room with a view.  Give him a perching place to watch passersby.

 

  • No Crating.  If your dog illegitimately has separation anxiety, do not place him in a crate as it may intensify this anxiety.   You’ve just given him one more obstacle to get past in order to find you.

 

  • Get him a Buddy.   This solution is most successful with dogs who bond with other dogs.  Before committing to a new family member, consider fostering a dog from your local human society.  The more compatible your dog is with the other dog, the greater your chances at success.