Separation anxiety is the “adhd” of the dog world. As a trainer, its definitely the most wildly misdiagnosed issue in the dog world. A kid who would rather throw pencil erasers at the girl in front of him and bobs non stop in his seat doesn’t necessarily have a medical problem, and a dog who whines and paces when it hears a familiar car pull in the drive does not necessarily have separation anxiety.Being so frequently mislabeled causes those dogs (and children, who actually have a problem to get lost in the crowd and not taken seriously. So lets play a game…SA or not SA….
1) A ten-year-old terrier mix climbs up on her owner’s kitchen table every day to grab and then destroy mail the owner leaves there. SA or not SA?
Not.
My guess is that this little dog is having a blast tearing up the mail and that she considers it a delightful version of “environmental enrichment.” She is not stressed when doing this, quite the opposite – she is fulfilling her native drive to hunt for and then destroy things. This is opportunity, not Separation Anxiety.
Note: The human is showing signs of hardcore denial though. If your dog eats your mail every time you leave for a decade, don’t you think it might be a good idea to put the mail in a drawer or on a high shelf?
2) Six-month-old Labrador Retriever chews up house when owner is gone. He does this each and every time I leave the house! SA or not SA?
Probably not….It might be, but my guess is no,
Given the age and the breed. Labrador Retrievers are born to chew and often persist in chewing all sorts of things until two-years-old and beyond.
Add to that the six-months-old, when all pups are teething heavily. When teething, pups can become piranha-like in their attempts to relieve the pressure and pain in their mouths.
Combine these two factors and it’s a miracle the house is still standing. Crating is not just for housebreaking, it is also for keeping your dog safe as he matures. This owner is lucky that this chewing has not put her puppy in surgery – or worse. So before you label this puppy a problem, let’s just label it as Breed Normal Behavior plus Developmentally Normal Behavior plus Opportunity. A triple-threat!
3) My eight- year-old Dalmatian has been just fine until recently. After the holidays, she started tearing things up and now it is every time and more each time. Has she lost her mind? SA or not SA?
Probably.
She’s having an unfortunately common Separation Anxiety reaction to a major change in schedule. After you have been home with her over the holidays, she’s reacting to being alone again. The good news is that since she’s had no problems for so long, we can hope for a fast recovery once you set her up for success a bit.
4) My nine-week-old puppy cries whenever we are out of sight. Is this Separation Anxiety? SA or not SA?
Not.
This is Developmentally Normal behavior – just as a human toddler who holds his father’s hand tightly on a crowded street doesn’t have “agoraphobia”. It is normal for some toddlers to want to stick close to their parents just as it is normal for a young puppy to cry when you are out of sight.
5) Bosco, my Jack Russell Terrier, stands on the back of the couch and barks at anything and everything outside the front window – all day long. Help! SA or not SA?
Not.
Here Breed Normal meets Opportunity head on. Jack Russell Terriers generally love to bark and my guess is Bosco is amusing himself mightily. He isn’t the least bit “anxious”. Resolving this one may be as simple as blocking Bosco out of that room and therefore away from the couch. If he still persists at a different window, crate him when you are out.
6) My Beagle bays (a howling sort of bark) all day long when we are at work… SA or not SA?
Probably not.
Chances are good he’s having a lovely time barking, it is Breed Normal for Beagles. Maybe not wanted or desired, but 100% normal. Barking is a selected trait in Beagles, meaning all good Beagles like to bark as have all good Beagles before them. If you happen to have a Beagle who is not a barker – enjoy it. It’s not the norm. Now Beagles can certainly be taught not to bark all day long, but one who does may well be completely content doing so.
7) My beloved thirteen–year-old Lhasa Apso suddenly has separation problems. He seems okay on the weekends, but during the week we come home to a mess and he’s so clingy and anxious. SA or not SA?
Probably not.
Likely just a part of his decline. Old dogs can need to go out more often. If he starts to feel he can’t hold it any longer; that alone can upset some dogs who have been tidy their entire lives. The clue here is that he’s fine on the weekends. My guess is that at that time there are fewer and shorter periods alone and he can still handle that just fine, but during the work week? His bladder just ain’t what it used to be. This would be “Developmentally Normal” behavior and not Separation Anxiety, but it’s time for a full check up with his veterinarian and possibly a mid-day walker.
😎 My dog has horrible separation problems. She barks for ten or fifteen minutes every time I leave her! SA or not SA?
Not really.
Yes, she barks every time but the fact that she can quiet herself after only ten or fifteen minutes is excellent! There is more we can do to make her comfortable, but a dog who can do this is a dog I have high-hopes for quick improvement.
9) My beloved five year old German Shepherd Dog female has always been a skinny little thing and pretty calm. Recently she’s put on a lot of weight, which makes no sense because I haven’t changed her diet. She’s so anxious all the time, especially when we leave and she’s started being aggressive toward another dog in my house. SA or not SA?
Probably not.
This sounds medical, so your first stop: your veterinarian. Anytime an adult dog has a sudden change in weight or behavior – talk to the vet! Ask for a full thyroid panel to be sent out. This dog has some signs of what might be hypothyroidism. Dealing with that first (if it is present) will make managing these other behavior changes quicker and easier.
So did we trick you with any of these? Credit to a fellow trainer and behaviorist Sarah Wilson for the case studies
As for this adorable dog in this photo, she is called Shayla and has been waiting in our care for some 6 months for her perfect match! She does not have separation anxiety but is a touch on the quiet and nervous side with new situations.
-laura
