{"id":21193,"date":"2022-08-17T06:27:25","date_gmt":"2022-08-17T12:27:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/?p=21193"},"modified":"2022-08-17T06:27:36","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T12:27:36","slug":"how-to-know-if-your-dog-has-separation-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/pet-parenting\/how-to-know-if-your-dog-has-separation-anxiety","title":{"rendered":"How to Tell If Your Dog Has Separation Anxiety – Top Signs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dog separation anxiety can be tough to deal with. If you can diagnose it early and know how to treat it, it can be manageable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your dog gets agitated when you leave the house and come home to a house full of destruction — could it be dog separation anxiety? It really depends. Figuring out if your dog has separation anxiety involves analyzing the situation and observing it over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will also need to have an understanding of what qualifies as separation anxiety. Let\u2019s take a deeper dive into this common condition in pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Definition of Canine Separation Anxiety<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Separation anxiety<\/a> in dogs is an expression of their distress when they are separated from you. The emotion behind the separation anxiety is usually fear of being without you or abandonment. It typically develops when the dog forms a very tight attachment to a guardian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dogs will display various symptoms when they are emotionally distressed in your absence, and we\u2019ll cover some of that in a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s focus on what could cause canine separation anxiety so pet parents new and old can understand how to take steps towards preventing and treating it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Causes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some dogs may develop separation anxiety while others won\u2019t. It depends a lot on the dogs\u2019 personality as well as how they were raised. It is possible for a multi-pet household to only have one or two affected by this condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Change<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Dogs thrive on routine and a set schedule, so it\u2019s easy to imagine that a big change can throw them off. A move to a new home, a sudden change in the guardian, or changes to family members (a new birth, death, welcoming another pet, etc.) can all make the dog feel stressed and trigger separation anxiety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if your dog was fine when you left the house before the change happened, you could have yourself a very different dog after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Separation anxiety can also develop at any stage in your dog\u2019s life. Just because you have had a very well-behaved dog in his younger years and prime, old age can also bring anxiety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trauma<\/strong>tic event<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Trauma causes separation anxiety. Previous experience of being abandoned can also cause separation anxiety to take root in your dog. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dogs are very similar to humans in the way that we attribute our experiences now to the past. In your dog\u2019s mind, if it happened once, it can maybe happen again. While you know that you wouldn\u2019t abandon your dog, it\u2019s very difficult to communicate that to him when he is more afraid of you leaving than anything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It takes time, patience, rewards, and repetition to curb this issue, but it can be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Your Dog Was Raised<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Your dog may not have suffered from any trauma or experienced big life changes, but why does he seem to react poorly to you leaving the house? We mentioned that the personality of the dog also has a hand in separation anxiety development, but the way you raised your pooch does as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do we mean? Well, if your dog has never had or been taught about \u201calone time\u201d, then there is a big chance he won\u2019t be receptive when the house is empty. If you constantly reward your dog\u2019s need for attention throughout his lifetime, then there is also a good possibility he won\u2019t cope well without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signs of Separation Anxiety<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What does separation anxiety in a dog look like? Is it similar to separation anxiety in a child? Common behaviors include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n