Separation anxiety in large breed dogs
Dog separation anxiety: common in large breeds
You know the situation, you are living it. You have a young dog, who will soon be one year old. It has grown physically at an exponential rate! From a fun, huggable size to a big, boisterous preteen who loves to run, jump and chase. He is easily overly excitable and oblivious to his 60 pounds or more while playing in and out of the house. This is all good. The problem is when no one is home …
Even though he chose cage training, this dog does most of his destruction when the family is away during the day. It has chewed its way through kennels and destroyed clothing, shoes, and furniture while free and unattended. When the family returns, they find a hyperactive dog waiting for them and a destroyed house, which takes hours to clear the path from destruction.
This is a familiar scene to many dog owners. You take your dog to the vet to find out why he is behaving this way and they give him a diagnosis: separation anxiety. There are medications and behavior training that will help. But is it really a medical condition?
Sham separation anxiety versus true separation anxiety in dogs
Most of separation anxiety in dogs is actually simulated separation anxiety. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMS, 2012) stated that separation anxiety is the most common behavioral diagnosis in dogs up to 40% of the time. Veterinarians often refer their clients to canine behavior specialists for treatment. How do you distinguish between simulated and real separation anxiety? Can you tell the difference?
Separation anxiety appears similar in both scenarios; Mass destruction of clothing, furniture, garbage, food, dog supplies, and the home, only when you are away. Something like “who did all this?” “It was you?” “What happened here?” “Are you okay?” The next thing the owner does is clean everything, while the dog often feels good about the return of the owners and reassures him and settles quietly and quietly nearby.
The second scenario is similar with the massive destruction of clothing, furniture, junk food, and dog and household supplies. Upon returning home, the FIRST thing the owner does is ignore the dog and assess the disorder. Quietly and calmly, the owner cleans, the dog may be restless or may settle, he may find a private place to lie down. There may also be urination or feces throughout the house or in the cage or bed.
Owner as leader of the pack when there is real separation anxiety
The difference with the dog in stage two is many things that may appear the same at first glance. First of all, the owner is calm and assertive. The owner does not involve the dog too much before leaving or when returning. So the dog is not in a hyperactive state when interacting with the owner.
The dog on stage two made the same kind of mess but in a different way. The dog exhibits the same type of destructive behavior whenever the owner is removed from the environment, whether for a short or long time. Destruction is constant. EVERY TIME the owner leaves, destruction occurs.
The dog in this scenario also has different behaviors and symptoms than the dog in the first scenario. The dog is the second scenario that can bark incessantly the entire time the owner is away. Barking or whining, with high pitched howls are common. The barking and whining goes on and on and causes more annoyance to the neighbors. The dog may salivate excessively or yawn frequently.
A telling difference in scenario two is also that the dog temporarily loses voluntary bowel or bladder control in the crate or at home. The dog can also eat the feces. These behaviors and symptoms mentioned in scenario 2 describe true separation anxiety, as the dog’s fear of separation is almost to the point of a phobia and greatly interferes with his psychological well-being and his ability to cope with the situation. daily.
Signs of true separation anxiety in dogs
Treatment for all dogs with separation anxiety
If you have decided that your dog has simulated separation anxiety, it may be helpful to provide a more consistent routine with more exercise and mental simulation. Search for dog day care in your area or a local service like rover.com in Canada to find people in the community who can help with walks and dog care when you are away. Learn to set limits with your dog, but also look for fun ways to enjoy connecting with your dog and building a bond of trust, where you are clearly the boss!
Exercise and mental stimulation are also important in real cases of separation anxiety. Large dog breeds can be very intelligent and need a lot to do because they generally have a lot of energy and stamina. Also, try to find toys that provide long-term fun for your dog and help keep him busy while you are away. Some large breed dogs are aggressive chewers, so finding a safe and durable chew toy is great. You may also consider trying the puzzles for fun and brain teasers.