What Exactly Is Separation Anxiety in Dogs And How Do I Deal With It?
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Separation anxiety in dogs is fairly common and occurs when a dog becomes isolated from his pack. Not all dogs fret when separated from their pack; some are stronger than others and can cope quite well on their own - they may simply curl up in their crate or bed and go to sleep. Others however, simply can't bear to be left alone, even for a few minutes. If your Cocker Spaniel suffers from separation anxiety he may become anxious, seriously unhappy, or distressed when left alone for any length of time - even if you are at home, in another part of the house. If your Cocker usually follows you around the house all day, (even to the toilet!) and greets you like a crazed Tasmanian Devil on your return, despite the fact that you've only been gone a minute, chances are he's suffering from separation anxiety. This problem can cause stress in both dogs and their owners; it is an unwanted behaviour and should be addressed as soon as you witness the signs. An owner's inability to manage their dogs separation anxiety is one of the main reasons why many dogs and puppies end up in a Cocker Spaniel rescue or adoption centre. Before we look at typical symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs, let's have a look at some of the common causes:  Causes of Separation Anxiety in Dogs Boredom will increase separation anxiety in dogs. Too much attention from an owner during the day. Poor socialization skills can result in separation anxiety in dogs and puppies, making them over-dependent on their owners. Confining your Cocker Spaniel for too long can cause him anxiety. It's best if your dog is not confined for longer than 5 hours maximum. If you do confine him, make sure he has access to plenty of fresh drinking water and is safe and warm. Owner behaviour - making a fuss before leaving and on return will tend to over-excite your Cocker Spaniel. Under trained and disobedient dog - sometimes the problem may not be separation anxiety but simply your dog behaving badly. If you dog is misbehaving, try retraining him and be sure to correct him every time he misbehaves. Mistreatment in a 'past life' may be at the root of separation anxiety in dogs, particularly if he was an abandoned dog or came from a rescue centre. In the rescue centre he would have been used to having other dogs and their carers around him. Once adopted, he suddenly finds himself in a loving home, but is sometimes left on his own. Being alone is alien to him, he may worry that you won't return. This can cause your dog great distress. Genetics - your dog may simply be 'wired' that way.  Symptoms Of Separation Anxiety In Dogs There are many symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs as follows: Barking, Whining and Pacing If your dog whines while you're absent, it's probably because he doesn't know when, or if, you are going to return. He won't know where you are and may even think you're not coming back. This could make him feel frightened, unhappy and alone and may have the effect of panicking him, resulting in his barking or whining, which is a common symptom of separation anxiety in dogs. Your Cocker Spaniel may pace back and forth if he becomes stressed and anxious. Some dogs may begin barking as their owners are trying to leave the house and may continue barking until they return. Other dogs may not bark at all, that is, until a visitor comes to the front door and triggers the dog's barking which may continue until the owner returns home. Our Cocker Spaniel, Max, barks when the postman arrives but once he's posted his letters and moved on, Max stops barking. We don't really have a problem with that - he's turning out to be quite a good guard dog - at least, behind closed doors! Dog barking is not good for your dog, your or your neighbours sanity - dog barking can be a real problem! It should be addressed quickly. In the short term, you might like to consider using a dog barking collar, however, it's best if you address the actual problem of your dogs separation anxiety. Digging or Scratching Digging or scratching at floors, walls, or doors, is a classic sign of separation anxiety in dogs. If your Cocker Spaniel emulates digging, it's because he's trying to escape (literally dig his way out) to re-unite himself with his pack. If the scratching and digging action is frantic it can result in not only severe damage to your home, but also to torn and bleeding claws. Inappropriate Chewing Serious separation anxiety in dogs may be displayed as inappropriate chewing behaviours. Anxious dogs will chew practically anything - shoes, edges of carpets and rugs, cupboard doors, the sofa, curtains, blinds, etc., - in fact, they can easily destroy your home if left alone in this state for a couple of hours. If your dog suffers separation anxiety, and to minimise damage to your home, you can confine him to one room - perhaps a utility room or the kitchen, but make sure he's warm and safe, and has access to fresh drinking water. Defecating, Urinating, and Vomiting Separation anxiety in dogs may sometimes result in your dog defecating and urinating and, if he's really distressed, it may cause him to vomit. Not quite the welcome you had in mind, is it? Severe excitement You may have approached your house stealthily; you may be standing quietly outside your front door, house-keys in hand, but as soon as that key enters the lock your dog will be at the door before you know it! Just hearing you outside the door may be enough to set him off digging, scratching, barking, whining, or spinning with uncontrollable excitement. He may also repeatedly jump up at you - even if he's well-trained and wouldn't normally jump up. He may dash around the room like a crazed Tasmanian Devil! This type of over-excited behaviour could last for several minutes. Refuses Eat Or Drink Your Cocker Spaniel may even refuse to eat or drink in your absence as a protest to being left alone. None of the above-mentioned behaviours are normal. They are all common symptom of separation anxiety in dogs and should be remedied immediately. You should never punish your dog for anxious behaviour - he can't help it - instead, you might like to try some of the remedies for dogs separation anxiety, we recommend on the following page. It's important to stress that if your dog is also anxious or distressed when you are present, this is not separation anxiety but may be an indication of an underlying illness, in which case we recommend you take your pet to the vet immediately. If, on the other hand, your dog is suffering severe separation anxiety, or you don't seem to be making any progress, we recommend you consider consulting a qualified dog behaviour therapist.
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