Separation Anxiety In Dogs

PET CARE

- Rangnath Tamboli* and Saba Poonawala

While the words ‘separation anxiety in dogs’ are almost trending now, do you actually know what it is?

It is a behaviour in which a dog shows visible stress levels. These can be excessive barking when owner leaves and the dog is alone for some time, scratching the door to get out of the room, excessive and destructive chewing of objects around the dog, pooping and urination, excessive salivation and panting, and excessive whining.

Imagine a situation in which the dog is always used to be around its owner, and then one day the owner has to go out to the mall. The dog, in this case, goes crazy without having the owner in sight and begins to exhibit the above behaviour.

So what are the main reasons for separation anxiety?

1) The owner has always been around the dog and never taught the dog that being left alone is perfectly okay and normal. In such a case, in the absence of owner, the dog doesn’t know what to do and has a panic attack. The owner should always make going out ‘normal’.

2) A traumatic experience that the dog went through. Many abandoned dogs face separation anxiety. For example, if your dog ran out of the house and was luckily found after a few days, don’t be surprised if this dog faces separation anxiety. The next time, even if you go to another room, he may follow you and ensure that you’re always in his sight.