Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I know if my dog has separation anxiety?
A. If you are seeing some of the following, your dog may be experiencing separation anxiety.
- Excessive barking, whining, crying, and howling
- Chewing or destroying floors, walls, and doors–particularly around entrances
- Frantic attempts to escape, sometimes to the point of self-harm
- Accidents in the house (especially when the dog is otherwise house trained
- Getting anxious well before you leave your home
- Licking, panting, salivating, drooling, freezing, withdrawing, wide eyes, tucked tail, cowering, whining, low-level crying, hiding, trembling/shaking, pinned-back ears, pacing
Q. Won’t my dog just get used to my absences after a while?
A: No, not if your dog truly has separation anxiety. Dogs with separation anxiety are worried that their important person is leaving and we cannot verbally communicate to them that they will be fine. We know they are safe, but they do not feel safe. So we slowly get them used to your absences so they can learn that they truly are safe when alone.
Q. Will you be coming to my house for in-person dog training sessions?
A: Bringing the trainer into your home environment is not necessary and is actually not helpful for treating separation anxiety. Because the dog exhibits the behavior when left alone, we need to practice our separation anxiety set-ups with the dog left alone. This means we rely on technology and cameras to view our dog’s behavior and make adjustments to the training plan in the app.
Q. How long will I need to work with a separation anxiety trainer to see results?
A: All dogs are individuals so their response to the exercises and speed at which they progress is also individual. Applying an evidenced-based practice such as desensitization, means that you will be on the best path moving forward with your training. Slow and steady progress is what we are after.
Q: When do I practice my departure routines?
A: The benefit of working remotely with a certified separation anxiety trainer is that training practices can be rehearsed at home whenever convenient for you. We don’t need our schedules to align for you to get results.
Q. Do I really have to find a dog sitter and never leave them alone during the training program?
A: Yes. The most important thing we can do for dogs who struggle with separation anxiety is to make them feel safe. We know that training at the dog’s pace is what works.
Q: Does my dog need behavior medication to help with their anxiety?
A: There are a huge range of options to help anxious dogs, including behavior medications such as SSRIs, benzodiazepines and more. Medication is often helpful for dogs who show hyper attachment to their guardians.
Q. I don’t want to give my dog medication. I’d rather wait to see if training works first. Why is medication suggested?
A: Separation anxiety is a panic disorder and the dog cannot control their behavior. Meds help the dog’s brain move out of constant anxiety and into the learning zone. We know that the top three things that we know work to help dogs are dedicated training at the dog’s pace, medication, and exercise. It can take time to find the right drug or combination of medications for an individual dog, so working with a vet who has experience with behavior medications or a vet behaviorist is going to be very important for you and your dog.
Q. Will medication change my dog’s personality?
A: The goal is to help your dog relax, but not be sedated. We aren’t looking for a dog zombie! Medications can help bring out who your dog truly is rather than continuing to be anxious.
“The right medication at the right dose allows the dog to flourish. So it actually brings out the best of the dog’s personality. It won’t create some flat shell of a dog. The dog will still be happy, probably happier. The dog will still be joyful, probably more joyful because the worry is taken away…instead of being dogs who can’t take their eyes off their human, they become dogs who can finally start to decompress.” ~Julie Naismith, Subthreshold Training
Q. What is the difference between separation anxiety and isolation distress?
A: Some dogs panic when left all alone. Some dogs panic when a specific person leaves. Some dogs just need anyone there with them – human or animal. Separation anxiety is a panic disorder that impacts some dogs and is very serious.
Q. Should I get a second dog to keep my dog with separation anxiety company?
A: We don’t recommend getting a second dog to help your current dog with separation anxiety. It doesn’t usually help, unfortunately.
Q. Can I just put my dog in their crate while I’m gone?
A: Confinement can exacerbate a dog’s separation anxiety, so it is not suggested as a way to help them. Some dogs will try to chew their way out of the crate, injuring themselves in the process. Some dogs will destroy the crate.
Q. Someone told me to just give my dog a stuffed Kong when I leave. Is that okay?
A: We don’t recommend using food/chews/puzzles/bones at all when doing separation anxiety training. Some dogs will not eat and/or drink when their person leaves. Some dogs will eat the food in the Kong, but then panic when finished because they realize their person is gone. Some dogs will recognize a Kong as something stressful, since they can predict that it’s a precursor to being left alone. We recommend giving your dog food-based activities when you are home for enrichment and to help promote relaxation overall, but not for specialized separation training.
Q: What can I do about my dog’s excessive barking problem?
A: Excessive barking or vocalizing can be a symptom of separation anxiety. Often dogs with separation-related behavior problems can exhibit all sorts of problem behavior such as barking, inappropriate elimination, destructiveness, chewing and more.
Q. Is it okay to use a shock collar/bark collar/citronella collar or anti-bark device to stop my dog from barking, crying, or howling when I leave?
A: Separation anxiety is a panic disorder and the dog cannot control their behavior when they panic. Barking and crying is your dog communicating that they are distressed. Punishing a dog and causing them pain for communicating will exacerbate their panic and will not help them feel safe. Our goal is to help your dog learn that they are safe when you leave, not to mask the symptoms. We do not advocate for the use of electronic collars under any circumstances.
