Dog Separation Anxiety

What is Dog Separation Anxiety?

Separation Anxiety in dogs is not uncommon, due to the fact that they are instinctually pack animals. This simply means that your canine companion is a very social animal, and thrives in a “pack” environment. Due to this need for social interaction, many dogs can become distressed or anxious when you leave the house, or force them to be alone for any significant amount of time.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of separation anxiety can often be hard to pick up, as many pet owners just put it down to being “over excited” or “they just missed me”, however what your pet does when you’re not around can be a serious problem, not just for your dog, but also for your neighbours. However on the flip side, many dog owners misdiagnose their canine companions with separation anxiety, when their behaviour is simply reacting to stimuli in a natural way. Some common signs of Separation Anxiety are:

Destructiveness

Excessive barking
Digging
Pacing back and forth
House-soiling
Hyperactivity at your return or departure
Digging

What can you do to reduce these destructive behaviours?

There are a number of behavioural modification practices or medical products that that can be utilised to reduce your dogs stress levels when you, the pack leader, come and go throughout the day, however these are dependant on your dogs response to treatment. Some good behavioural modification methods are:

01

Exercise your dog for around 20 – 30 minutes before you leave. A tired dog has less energy to spend on barking and ruining furniture.

02

A few minutes before you leave, give your dog an engaging toy filled with peanut butter, or a big bone to chew on. This may take your dogs mind off the fact that you are leaving.

03

Make your departures and arrivals as calm and non-eventful as possible. If your dog is over excited upon your return, ignore him until he calms down.

04

Consider booking your dog into Doggy Day Care or leaving him with a family member or friend.

05

Go through the actions of departure, without actually leaving. For example, pick up your car keys and put on your coat, but then relax on the couch instead of leaving.

What do I do if my dog suffers from separation anxiety?

Our veterinarians at Sydney Animal Hospitals will give your four legged friend a full clinical checkup, including blood tests, to rule out any underlying clinical causes for your dogs behaviour. This is necessary due to the fact that occasionally illnesses such as arthritis and diabetes are responsible for your canine companions distressing behaviour.

7 Sydney Animal Hospital Locations Across Sydney

Sydney Animal Hospitals have 7 locations across Sydney for your convenience

Newtown

Open 7 Days

69-73 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville NSW 2043

(02) 9519 4111

Inner West

Open 7 Days

1A Northumberland Ave, Stanmore NSW 2048

(02)9516 1466

Norwest

Open 7 Days

Unit 8/1-3 Celebration Drive Bella Vista NSW 2153

(02) 8883 0411

Kellyville

Open 7 Days

106 Windsor Rd, Kellyville NSW 215

(02)8883 0533

Baulkham Hills

Open 7 Days

472 Windsor Rd, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153

(02) 9157 5557

Newport

Open 7 Days

1 Palm Rd (Corner of Barrenjoey Rd), Newport, NSW 2106

(02) 9997 4609

Avalon

Open 7 Days

710 Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach NSW 2107

(02) 9918 0833

7 Sydney Animal Hospital Locations Across Sydney

Sydney Animal Hospitals have 7 locations across Sydney for your convenience

Newtown

Open 7 Days

69-73 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville NSW 2043

Inner West

Open 7 Days

1A Northumberland Ave, Stanmore NSW 2048

Norwest

Open 7 Days

Unit 8/1-3 Celebration Drive Bella Vista NSW 2153

Kellyville

Open 7 Days

106 Windsor Rd, Kellyville NSW 2155

Baulkham Hills

Open 7 Days

472 Windsor Rd, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153

Newport

Open 7 Days

1 Palm Rd (Corner of Barrenjoey Rd), Newport, NSW 2106

Avalon

Open 7 Days

710 Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach NSW 2107

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