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, about to be a year old soon. He has physically grown at an exponential rate! From a fun, huggable size to a big, woody pre-teen who loves to run, jump, and chase. He is easily aroused and unaware of his 60+ pound weight as he plays in and out of the house. All this is fine. The problem is when no one is home…
Even though he chose crate training, this dog does most of his destruction when the family is out for the day. He has chewed his way through kennels and destroyed clothing, shoes, and furniture as long as he is 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 of 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 you a diagnosis: separation anxiety. There are medications and behavioral training that will help. But is it really a medical condition?
Simulated separation anxiety versus real separation anxiety in dogs
Most 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 dog behavior specialists for treatment. How do you distinguish between simulated and real separation anxiety? Can you tell the difference?
Separation anxiety is similar in both scenarios; mass destruction of clothing, furniture, garbage, food, dog and household items, just when you’re not around. Something like “who did all this?” “It was you?” “What happened here?” “Are you okay?” The next thing the owner does is clean everything up, while the dog often feels good about the return of the owners and reassures him and settles quietly and calmly 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 mess. Quietly and calmly, the owner cleans up, the dog may be restless or calm down, you can find a private place to lie down. There may also be urine or feces throughout the house or in the cage or bed.
Owner as pack leader when true separation anxiety exists
The difference with the dog in scenario two are many things that at first glance may seem the same. 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 he interacts with the owner.
The dog in scenario two made the same kind of mess but in a different way. The dog exhibits the same type of destructive behavior every time the owner is removed from the environment, whether for a short time or a long time. The 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 in the second scenario may bark incessantly the entire time the owner is away. Barking or whimpering, with high-pitched howling, is common. The barking and whining are prolonged and cause more nuisance 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 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 reaches almost to the point of a phobia and greatly interferes with his psychological well-being and his ability to cope with life everyday.
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 him with a more consistent routine with more exercise and mental simulation. Search for dog daycares in your area or a local service like rover.com in Canada to find people in the community who can help with walks and take care of dogs when you’re away. Learn to set boundaries with your dog, but also find fun ways to enjoy connecting with your dog and building a bond of trust, where you’re 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’re away. Some large breed dogs are aggressive chewers, so finding a safe and durable chew toy is great! You may also consider trying puzzles for fun and mental simulation.