Separation Anxiety Issues

One definition of separation anxiety is disruptive behavior that occurs when a dog is left alone as a distress response to separation from the person or persons to whom it is attached. Symptoms may include (but are not limited to):

• Pre-departure anxiety-anxiety level rises as the owner prepares to leave (panting, pacing, trembling)

• Refusal to eat (anorexic when owner is absent but will immediately eat upon their return)

• Excessive salivation

• Plaintive whining, barking or howling incessantly

• Urinating or defecating indoors

• Destruction of household property with tooth and nail (often harming themselves in the process)

• Escape behaviors (dog may destroy doors, windows, surrounding woodwork, may dig under fences, jump over fences, open gates)

You may

• want to read, "The Dog Who Loved Too Much" by Dr. Nicholas Dodman.

• and/or "I'll Be Home Soon" by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D.

• Try more exercise.

• Try the services of a behavior modification specialist (veterinarian) for help with behavior modification training.

• Try an antidepressant such as Clomicalm.