Introducing Separation Anxiety (SA) Part 1

 

First things first: What is SA?

That’s actually quite simple – but it explains so much more. SA is the behaviour of dogs who simply can’t tolerate being alone. Put in simple human terms, it’s a panic attack and just like humans, panic attacks can come in all shapes and sizes.  Some dogs will freeze; others bark, damage furniture damage crates or visit hell and damnation on your house. Every dog is different, but there’s one common factor in canine SA; inside their heads they are exploding with fear. Not naughty, not stubborn, not spiteful; they are scared and big time. Please remember this. No matter how bad you feel dealing with the fall out, they feel worse.

 

Why do dogs get SA?

There are quite a few potential causes for your dog’s SA but because they can’t tell us what’s going on, we have to figure it out. Here’ the most common causes:

• Genetics – some dogs are just wired into it.
• Maternal issues – either during pregnancy or the first two months under mum’s care, things didn’t go well.
• Poor socialisation – as pups, dogs don’t get to learn all the stuff they need to navigate the world.
• Trauma – this covers so many issues, but the basis is an experience which severely effected the dog. Examples are: Having to stay at the vets for some time, house move, re-homing (rescues), violence (human or canine), significant change in domestic circumstances, death of a close human or canine companion.

Did I cause my dog’s SA?

Well, if you abused him, possibly but if you abuse your dog, you wouldn’t be reading this so let’s strike that out.

A house move, vets experience. As shown above, yes these can be causes but ease up on yourself. NOBODY moves house for fun and if Rover has to go to the vet, then he has to go to the vet. Either of those or others may have triggered the SA, but you didn’t cause it. It’s just bad luck.

You will find keyboard warriors that tell you that excess love and affection, ‘spoiling’ the dog, letting her sleep on your bed will have caused your dog’s SA. Not one of these diagnostic heroes can ever tell you how they know this. (Apart from their aunty’ s neighbour’s dog who slept on the bed and got SA – so there’s the proof) The reason they can’t tell you why spoiling the dog causes SA is that there is not a shred of measures scientific evidence that this is the case.  So go cuddle your dog and let them sleep where you and they want.