Separation Anxiety

    When separated from their owner or family members, the dog gets extremely anxious and shows distress behaviour(s), such as excess vocalisation, destruction or soiling the house (despite being potty trained). They may also shake, shiver, pace, salivate, refuse to eat or become restless, quiet or withdrawn.   
    Although this behaviour typically shows up each time the owner or family member leaves, it can also happen selectively, such as departure for work.
    As such, most dogs with Separation Anxiety will attempt to stick closely to their owner or family member by following them around, resulting in them rarely spending time on their own.

NOTE: The above-mentioned destructive behaviours may not be indicative of distress, such as soiling the house if the owner is away that exceeds the time they can hold it in, or howling in response to a stimuli outside of the home.

The behaviours can also be indicative of other issues, so it is important to check in with your vet to rule out any health issues first, then review your dog’s history with a vet or behaviourist before attributing Separation Anxiety as the primary or sole cause of the behaviour.

    Through proper socialisation and training as a puppy, Separation Anxiety can be prevented, as they would experience scheduled times to be alone in their beds or safe spaces.
    However, there are other environmental factors that can still trigger Separation Anxiety despite your best efforts, such as changes in household members, changes in schedules, moving houses or cities, or spending time in a dog boarding facility.

    Since the contexts and causes of Separation Anxiety differ for each case, our lead trainer will work closely together with you to understand the issue before designing an appropriate treatment plan for your dog.