What is Pet Separation Anxiety?

Pet Separation Anxiety is an very common disorder for dogs that is defined as an extreme state of panic brought on when a dog is separated from its owner.  It works the same for dogs as it does in people.  In other words, these dogs DO NOT like to be left alone.  Having lived behind a neighbor who owned a Weimeranar, I can attest to the fact that these dogs absolutely go crazy when their owners leave.  This dog would go from being very nice and friendly when his owner was home to a complete crazed and out of control dog when she left, which unfortunately, was quite frequently.  This poor dog would howl incessantly until she came home.  I finally had to record the dog’s howling and play it back for the owner in order for her to see how awful the dog’s situation was.

I don’t think any dog, unless they are old or sick, likes to be left alone for very long.  Our dogs crave our attention and love, but there are actually some breeds that are worse than others.  The aforementioned Weimeranars as well as German Shepards, Airedales and Springer Spaniels are also prone to Pet Separation Anxiety. 

Another cause of Pet Separation Anxiety is from some of the dogs that are fostered or rescued from shelters.  The staff at these facilities try try their best to socialize with these animals, but many of them are so traumatized by being abandoned that it can take a long time for them to gain trust in their new owners.

Unfortunately, the Pet Separation Anxiety disorder can also lead to other bad habits, such as dog digging problems and dog chewing separation anxiety. 

There is good news though, with enough love and attention, these dogs and puppies can definitely overcome their extreme trauma and actually turn into wonderful pets.  A  fantastic resource for Pet Separation Anxiety as well as other dog depression signs can be found here.  Don’t give up on these wonderful pets!  There is hope and many of these dogs, and even more so the owners,  can be trained to be by themselves without going absolutely bonkers.