Back to School: Identifying Separation Anxiety
August 20, 2009 by Paris and John
Filed under Tips, Training
This week we’ve been talking about reducing your dog’s separation anxiety as your family leaves the lazy days of summer and returns to school. We’ve discussed reducing separation anxiety, preventing boredom in your dog, and preparing your dog’s “home.”
But, in spite of all the back to school preparations, are you still worried that your dog might suffer separation anxiety when everyone heads back to school? And, if he does, how will you identify it?
Today’s tip comes from PurinaCare® Pet Health Insurance, experts on the signs of post-summer separation anxiety in dogs as well as cats. PurinaCare® points out a wide range of abnormal behaviors as families return to school and work. Keep an eye out for these signs of separation anxiety in your dog:
- Hyper-salivation or drooling
- Soiling the pet owner’s belongings
- Chewing or scratching at doors or crate
- Non-stop howling, barking, meowing
- Compulsive grooming or licking
- Tearing up furniture or pushing items off counters
“Dogs are naturally social animals and especially sensitive to loneliness this time of year. The family fills the role of “the pack” and in their absence; dogs can feel abandoned and become quite destructive, says Dr. Bill Craig, DVM, Chief Medical and Underwriting Director of PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance. “Teaching dogs that their owners will return and the ‘pack’ will be reunited is the key to alleviating the stress of post-summer separation anxiety.”
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