Home Alone Syndrome by Bob Maida

Dog separation anxiety is often misunderstood. True clinical separation anxiety is not common. Dogs do undergo stress and anxiety in response to the owner leaving the dog home alone, in other words when the dog is separated from the pack. Home alone issues is probably
a better term. Dogs need to be properly conditioned to being left alone. Otherwise, behaviors such as barking, destructiveness, escape attempts,
 and even housebreaking accidents may occur. Giving a dog too much or the wrong type of attention can lead to stress-induced behaviors.

 Examples include:     

• Petting the dog too much for merely existing

• Allowing the dog to sleep in your bed before behavior issues are resolved

• Playing with and petting with the dog when they demand it

• Petting to calm the dog down when it is agitated, scared, stressed, angry, etc.

• Enthusiastically or emotionally greeting the dog upon awakening or arriving home

These actions can make the dog too dependent and create neediness. This neediness cannot be fulfilled when the dog is alone. It can create a psychological, emotional 'withdrawl' reaction. If the dog is experiencing stress when left alone, it will do things that he/she should not do. It is important to keep a balance, so that the dog does not feel as alone when you are gone. Below are some suggestions for easing the dog’s stress. It is imperative that a dog receives positive, quality attention.

Dogs are social creatures and need play time. It is important that the owner set the beginning and end time for the game. The dog should not demand that the game be played. Have a specific fetch toy and take it out only when it is time to play. If a dog is good for 6 fetches, stop at 4. Gradually add a repetition on each day until the dog will do 3 dozen back and forth. Put the toy away when the game is over. This will ensure that the dog stays motivated and doesn’t lose or destroy the toy. Have chew toys for the dog when not playing. Do not play fetch with dog's chew toys as that’ll reinforce the dog demanding play at the wrong times. Controlling when to and what to play with, will put you in the role of leader as well as prevent dominance issues.

Diet, walks, and the home environment also play a role in preventing the dog's stress:

Feed the dog twice per day. This will satisfy the dog as well as prevent possible mood swings due to low blood sugar.

Calmly walk the dog once or twice a day for 30 minutes. On the walks, you can also include some basic obedience training.

After the walk, play a bit of fetch.

Take tiny soft treats and lure the pup/dog to sits and downs. This also encourages the dog to keep their focus on you and learn to  'earn' their keep. ( Treats are ok for a start but they need to be eventually faded out and the dog work for your approval with treats as a random bonus.)

Enroll in a dog obedience class to best learn how to do this.

In the home environment when dog’s alone, be sure to leave the radio on. It'll buffer outside noises and make the house seem less empty. Stick to an easy listening station so as not to excite the dog. Also leave a light on if it will be getting dark. Lastly, maintain a calm presence around the dog the last 30 minutes before you leave the house so as not to excite the dog and possibly induce anxiety. These are all preventive measures. If you cannot resolve separation problems, seek professional help.

Bob Maida has over 40 yrs experience teaching dogs and their owners in the Bronx, Long Island's North Shore, Lower Hudson Valley & Westchester County, New York and Northern New Jersey www.dogtrainingbybobmaida.com