Separation anxiety in dogs is not fun for anybody. Not you or your family and certainly not your dog. But once you understand the causes of this behavior issue you realize it's far from rocket science, and there are proven ways to deal with the problem.

A broken screen door, yet it could be worse.

Before we get into specifics I'd like to put your mind at ease about behavior training. Dogs are not complex creatures and if you're consistent with the methods we'll discuss, you'll begin to see results in a matter of days. Keep it going and you could have the issue of separation anxiety resolved within a couple of weeks.

The most common signs of separation anxiety are excessive howling, incessant barking, urination and destructive behavior. If your dog is consistently howling or urinating the first concern is whether the animal is in physical discomfort. An examination by a veterinarian will disclose any problems that could cause the dog to do this. In the event there are no physical problems, you can begin to adopt one of the practices we're going to discuss. Have your dog examined first and if it's physically okay we can move on to dealing with separation anxiety.

The age of your dog has a lot to do with our approach. A dog at six or eight months is still a bit young to be left alone for long periods of time. An older dog that exhibits signs of anxiety when left alone has either been spoiled, or is simply bored and in need of stimulation. More about that in a minute but for now, in the event we're talking about a younger dog, you'll need to provide some companionship in order to reduce the loneliness that he or she is suffering. That, or bring the dog along with you during the day.

Scratching at doors and windows is typical
of an anxious dog.

Thinking the dog will outgrow this on its own is not the answer. We need to calm the dog and promote contentment and self-confidence. Otherwise, you could have more serious issues when your dog is fully-grown. So, don't leave your younger dog alone for extended periods of time. Short periods up to one or two hours are fine, as long as you remain calm when you leave, and also when you return. Even with an older dog, you want to communicate that it's not a big deal when you're away, so it's best to avoid making it a big deal when you come home.

This is a common mistake, since the dog is usually excited to see you at long last, and you want to offer reassurance. However, the dog needs to learn your temporary absence is part of the life style, and you can teach this. I'm going to show you a few ways to help the animal understand that you leave and come back.

One way to start communicating this is to go outside for a time, twenty to thirty minutes or until you hear the dog, then return and walk past the animal, without acknowledging its enthusiasm at your return. Ignore the dog until it settles down, then mildly reassure the dog. Wait a bit to allow the dog to calm completely and do this again. If you begin to see results after the third or fourth time, we're on the right track and you can extend the time you're out. You might even get in a trip to the corner store in a few days.

However, if you're outside for more than thirty minutes and the dog remains quiet, or is not particularly excited when you come back in, there's a good chance the anxiety sets in after several hours. If this is the case, there are a couple of things that could be the problem.

First, does your dog have his or her own space? If not, you need to establish a place that belongs to your dog alone. Dogs are den creatures and they can be content in this type of environment for long periods of time if necessary. If you've been considering your house as the dog's home, this is part of the problem and it must be corrected.

Many behavior experts preach the value of the crate. A doghouse is fine if it's the animal's exclusive territory. For the first week or so, make the idea of a house fun for your dog and reward with treats and praise. Hey pal, you have a den. Oh boy..!! Believe me, the dog will become secure in its house after a short time.

On the other hand, if your dog has a house, likes being in it, and still exhibits symptoms of separation anxiety, we need to talk about the other possibility. A lack of exercise.

Severe separation anxiety damage, WOW!

The amount of exercise your dog receives on a daily basis is important to the animal's well being. Working breeds and purebreds need to be exercised a minimum of one hour a day. Two hours is better, but not less than one hour a day by any means. A lack of exercise leads directly to boredom in working dogs, and this often translates to separation anxiety. If your dog is lacking exercise, it's up to you to see that this is corrected. You can devise fun things like dog training activities, and do these every morning and evening.

A young dog can find stimulation in a brisk walk, where an older dog might find a walk pretty boring. This is your responsibility as head of the pack, to lead your dog into exercising activities in the same way a pack leader encourages the pack to hunt. A community dog park is a great way to stimulate your dog, and being around other dogs will promote social interaction as well. Exercise your dog for at least two hours a day and I'll be surprised if it doesn't make a big difference in a matter of a week.

Finally, make sure the dog is well fed before you leave. A filling meal will send the dog to its house for a long snooze. Also, If you listen to music when you're home, leave some music or the television on for the dog while you're away. Makes sense, doesn't it?

Using your instincts like this will probably lead you to some answers, and that's what we're looking for. Remember, with this kind of training, you're learning about a particular animal - your animal - just as that animal is learning about a particular human - you. Every dog is unique and these methods need your personal touch to be completely effective. I'm just providing a template and the way you make it work is a story all its own.

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