Do you feel like your dog is always sad when he leaves the house? There is a reason. Alexandra Bassett, a dog trainer and animal behaviorist, quoted in BestLife, explains that “all dogs are born with a series of survival instincts”, including that of being in a pack.
Therefore, as “survival in nature requires staying together at all costs, pack instincts force the dog to watch you and follow you wherever you go – that’s why our dogs follow us from room to room”, he adds.
It is possible that these behaviors eventually cause dogs to begin to experience separation anxiety when they are away from their owners. “Just like a human having a severe panic attack, a dog with separation anxiety has difficulty calming down when the stress response kicks in.” There are signs that can help you identify this problem. Consult the list.
Signs of separation anxiety in dogs:
They have destructive behaviors. Generally, “dogs have a tendency to chew, lick excessively, or soil the house when they are anxious,” explains Josh Snead, the CEO of Rainwalk Pet Insurance;
They bark or howl excessively. “Excessive barking, whining, or howling when the owner leaves the house” are some of the most obvious signs of separation anxiety, says Melissa M. Brock, a veterinarian;
They get restless when you are about to leave the house. Look for body language cues such as a furrowed eyebrow, ears back or an upturned tail, advises Alexandra Bassett;
They drool more (or pant more) than usual. “Excessive drooling, panting or salivation [or] increased heart rate and breathing,” are some of the most common physical signs of separation anxiety, reveals Lindsay Butzer, another veterinarian;
They relieve themselves indoors, even when they are trained not to do so, warns Melissa M. Brock;
They start to self-mutilate. For example, in more serious cases, dogs may begin “licking or biting themselves excessively, causing skin lesions.”
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