Separation Anxiety
Excessive Barking

Some dogs are more prone to separation anxiety than others. I have made the experience that in general smaller dogs are more anxious to be left alone than larger ones. Be it that smaller dogs are probably more spoiled, or feel more insecure, studies reveal though that other reasons might come into play. Some of these are early separation from the bitch, deprivation of attachment early in life (puppies kept in pet shops or animal shelters), a sudden change of environment (new home, stay at a kennel), a change in owner’s lifestyle which results in a sudden end to constant contact with the animal, a long-term or permanent absence of a family member (divorce, death, child leaving home) or the addition of a new family member (baby, pet).

None of these circumstances would apply to my dog; he nevertheless went into a barking frenzy whenever I left the house. By following the steps below his anxiety is almost diminished, his behavior acceptable. Yes, there is still the occasional bark, but more to show me his annoyance for not being able to take one of his beloved car rides

Let me make one thing very clear - punishment and locking the dog into a kennel/crate does NOT help. You will scare the animal even more, and instead of barking it might resort to urinating, and destroying things.

Plan your departure! Gradually adjust the dog to being alone by exposing him to many short departures. Because the stress response occurs very shortly after the owner’s departure (within 20 - 30 minutes), the dog should only be left alone for very short intervals at first (seconds to minutes) to ensure the owner returns before the onset of anxiety. Before you increase your departure period make certain that the dog is not stressed. Watch the dog for signs of anxiety and ensure that the dog does not engage in an extended greeting. After the short departures have reached the 30-minute mark, the length of time the dog is left can be increased by larger increments. Once the dog can be left alone for 1 - 2 hours, it can usually be left for much longer periods without problems.

Don’t make a big deal out of your departure! Dogs normally sense when the owner is leaving, they pay close attention to getting dressed, grabbing the car or house key, a purse, etc. The dog will immediately try to convince you to be taken with you. Ignore the pleas and barks. If the case is very severe, just grab your key and sit down again. Let the dog lose interest, which will happen after a few minutes, and ignore him. Next you might want to take your purse or briefcase, sit down again when the dog starts showing sign of excitement. When you finally leave, don’t indulge in a lengthy farewell, just walk out the door. As described above, take short leaves and come back after a few minutes at the beginning.

Upon your return, even only after 3 - 5 minutes don’t pay any attention to the dog. Make this look like a perfectly normal occurrence, very uneventful so not to overstimulate the animal. No praises, no special attention.

Excessive attention upon departure and return increases the anxiety during separation and makes it harder for the dog to deal with it.

If the dog is used to background noises such as radio or TV, you can leave it on, but it is not necessary. Make sure though that your dog has some toys available for play, and as described in the previous article, some interactive toys, such as the Kong Toys, will help him to pass the time without boredom.

There are very few cases where anxiety is that drastic that the owner has to resort to medicating the dog. Be patient, your animal will NOT be perfect within a day or two, give it time. Anxiety is stressful and can’t be just “eliminated” in a few days. If your dog is not responding at all to proper training and his behavior worsens instead, check with your vet to see if temporary medication can help you solve the problem.