Pet parents with dogs who exhibit ‘bad’ behavior may wonder whether their dog is the victim of canine separation anxiety. It’s true that many dogs who display certain kinds of behavior are suffering from separation anxiety. Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell what’s causing the behavior, so it’s important to pay close attention in order to determine whether your pooch is truly suffering from anxiety.

Common Behaviors of Separation Anxiety

The following behaviors are some of the most common signs of separation anxiety. If your dog acts nervous when you’re about to leave (such as when you grab your keys, put on your shoes, etc.), he may be exhibiting anxious behavior. Often times, dogs who know their owners are about to leave will jump on them, follow them around, attempt to get out of the house also, or bark and cry. Another sign that you’re going through canine separation anxiety is if your dog is destroying things while you’re gone. You might notice that your shoes have been chewed up, parts of your house are destroyed, etc.

Other common behaviors of canine anxiety include self-mutilation from licking or chewing, barking and whining, attempting to escape the house, or following you around when you’re home.

How to Treat The Condition

If you’re fairly sure that your dog is exhibiting signs of anxiety disorder, it’s best to take him in for a visit with the vet. Often times, this can be corrected with behavior modification techniques that your vet can share with you. If the case is very severe, it’s possible that your vet will want to prescribe some medication for your dog – from anti-anxiety medication to anti-depression medication. A few simple behavior modification techniques can usually help, though.

First and foremost, help your pet see that there’s nothing to be worried about by going through your normal ‘leaving’ routine, walking outside for five minutes, and then coming back in. Repeat this process several times throughout the day. Each time you come back in, ignore your dog if he or she is exhibiting hyper behavior. Once he calms down, feel free to pet or show him affection. Gradually increase the time you stay outside so that eventually, the dog will see that you’re coming back and that they don’t have to be anxious.