Separation anxiety in dogs

Your dog is nice and calm when he's by your side. But when you go away, your return is accompanied by a picture of desolation: sofas devoured, floors soiled by urine and faeces, and neighbors exhausted by noise pollution. This can't go on!

The dog «cut off from the world»

Despite the friendship that binds us to our canine friends, we sometimes find it impossible to give them all the attention and time they need. Indeed, the obligations of daily life can force us to regularly leave the dog alone at home for several hours at a time. But dogs are sociable animals who love company, and some animals find it hard to be “cut off” from the world all day long. This can lead to damage to furniture, scratching at doors, soiling and barking. In addition, the departure and return of the owner are frequently accompanied by heightened excitement, soiling and barking. Finally, dogs left alone may self-mutilate, for example by licking, usually the paws. Inflammatory skin lesions then appear. Behind all these behaviors lies a state of anxiety.

Hyperattachment

In addition to the discomfort associated with loneliness, dogs can suffer from a behavioral disorder known as hyperattachment. The special, reassuring bond that unites a puppy to its mother can be transposed to the owner who takes in the puppy when adopting it. Indeed, the puppy is soothed by this new person who takes care of him and feeds him. This situation is normal at first, but the puppy must gradually detach himself from the master. If this detachment doesn't take place, the dog follows the person wherever he goes, and displays anxious behaviors of soiling and destruction when he doesn't have access to the reassuring person. To avoid this phenomenon, you need to encourage the puppy's contact with several people rather than just one, and clearly show the newcomer his place in the family hierarchy (he eats after you, he has his own place to sleep, etc.).

Solutions

Treating anxiety involves behavioral therapy. When you're at home, interact with your dog only when you've decided to do so. Your dog should not be the one to initiate interactions, games and contacts. Don't let your dog follow you everywhere, and forbid him access to certain rooms in the house. In the half-hour before you leave, ignore your dog. It's also a good idea to handle your dog's keys and coat at times that don't coincide with your departure. When you return, don't pay any attention to the dog until it has calmed down. If the dog has done damage, don't punish it. Clean up after him. In some cases, these behavioral measures are not enough, and the dog needs to be given specific medication. There are also small electric devices that diffuse soothing pheromones.