Separation Anxiety in Dogs as the Covid-19 Lockdown Eases

When the Covid-19 lockdown began, our pets were elated about us spending so much time at home - extra attention and extra cuddles, what’s not to love! However, as lockdown eases and many of us begin to return to work, many professionals and dog owners alike are concerned about your furry friends developing separation anxiety. It is now more important than ever for pet owners to understand what separation anxiety in dogs is and how it can affect their furry friends.

What is separation anxiety in dogs and what causes it?

Separation anxiety in dogs works in the same way as it does for us humans. This manifests itself in dogs as distress, behavioural issues and sometimes barking. Dogs can experience this at any age, but it is often more prevalent in puppies and older dogs. Separation anxiety often is as a result of owners leaving their dogs home alone and can have a long-term effect on your dog’s health. It can also be a result of a change in guardians, house or routine.

How do I know if my dog is suffering from separation anxiety?

Signs of separation anxiety can vary between dogs, however, these are some of the most common signs.

• Barking and Howling - This is a very common sign amongst most dogs with separation anxiety. They will often bark or howl when owners aren’t around, but this will not necessarily occur when owners are present.
• Destructive Behaviours - If you often come back home to a messy house when your dog has been left alone, this can be a sign of separation anxiety. Anxious dogs will often seek to destroy things such as door frames, cushions, table legs and miscellaneous objects around the house as these things are generally easily accessible to our furry friends. This is dangerous as your dog can injure themselves whilst engaging in this behaviour.
• Going to the toilet inside or in unusual places - Dogs may urinate or defecate in unusual places as a result of separation anxiety. This is an extreme effect of anxiety and does not occur in all dogs.

How can I stop my dog from experiencing separation anxiety?

Experts don’t quite understand why some dogs experience separation anxiety and why some don’t, but there are a couple of things that you can do to help ease your dog’s anxiety.

• Dog Toys - When you leave the house, place lots of toys around to help keep your dog occupied. If your dog’s mind is stimulated then this may help relieve their anxiety.
• Create a routine - Getting your dog back into a routine can help to relieve your dog’s anxiety. Dogs like routine as they sense regular occurrences in our lives and when this changes, it can throw them off and result in separation anxiety. This also teaches your dog new behaviours as they will learn what to do when you aren’t at home.
• Remain calm when leaving and returning home - This could be an important step in relieving your dog’s anxiety symptoms. By reducing the ‘fuss’ around the times when you are leaving and arriving home again, this also trains your dog to not notice you leaving so much.
• Complete ‘test-runs’ - If your dog is experiencing separation anxiety, you should try to complete ‘test-runs’ where you gradually increase the amount of time that you leave them alone. This will teach your dog behaviors where they understand that they don’t have to panic whenever you leave the house.
• Arrange for a family member to pop in - If you can, arrange for a family member or friend to pop into your home once a day whilst you are out at work. This helps to reduce the time that your dog is alone and can also help when trying to build up the amount of time that you are separated.

Four Legged Friends Petcare offers dog walking and day care services that can be extremely beneficial for easing your dog’s separation anxiety. If you would like more information on our services or how we can accommodate your dog’s needs, please get in touch with us today.