If you have a Velcro dog, does that automatically mean they are at risk for separation anxiety? It would make a lot of sense to think that. I mean, if you can’t walk from one room to another without your dog following you, that she must completely fall apart when you’re gone and she’s left alone. Right?
You might be surprised to learn that a study from 2001 looked ar risk factors associated with separation anxiety and it found that high percentages of dogs without separation anxiety do these “Velcro” dog behaviors like shadowing, but don’t have separation anxiety. My own dog, BooBoo, was the most Velcro dog I have ever met but happy snoozed when I left the house. My husband marveled “how does she not have separation anxiety?” and it’s because shadowing or over-attachment wasn’t found to be a reliable diagnostic criteria for separation anxiety. In that study, 64% of dogs had “moderate to severe” following of owner but didn’t have separation anxiety. Those same non-SA dogs also had percentages of increased greeting behaviors, and signs of being upset at owners putting shoes on or sound of keys.
But they didn’t have separation anxiety.
I will often have clients concerned that their dog is a Velcro dog, as if your dog wanting to be close to you and hang out and taking peace and comfort being near you is a bad thing! I remind them that dogs are social creatures – they want to be near us, which is why dogs who get relegated to living outside often are so unhappy and can develop behavioral issues.
When we talk about separation anxiety and look to figure out if a dog actually has separation anxiety, let’s be sure to focus on the real indicators that matter, not the red herrings, like your dog wanting to spy on you when you potty. So what should we be focusing on?
Let’s take note of more reliable indicators of separation anxiety:
- vocalization
- housebreaking accidents when alone (when otherwise housebroken)
- destruction (including exit-points)
- physical changes in the dog like refusal to eat, drooling, panting, vomiting and self-injury
These symptoms are much more reliable indicators of separation anxiety, And when we’ve confirmed that’s the issue, then we can work on helping the dog learn to be more comfortable with absences using a systematic desensitization process. We don’t focus on getting the dog to stop barking – we need to focus on helping them feel comfortable being left alone and when we do that, the barking goes away on its own.
And please, do not take any advice that encourages you to across the board ignore your dog for being prosocial. I doubt you got a dog to ignore them. Absolutely obedience and manners are important and I’m not saying pay attention to a dog who is demand barking for dinner but a down-stay on a mat will not cure your dog’s separation anxiety and neither will ignoring them if they want to snuggle with you.
When your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, it is completely normal to want to do everything you can to help give them relief and try to help them. A quick internet search will turn up a wealth of recommendations for seemingly quick fixes however for dogs with true separation anxiety, it isn’t uncommon for those not be effective.
Quick fixes may be quick, but they are rarely a long-term solution.
I have compiled five of the most common suggestions found online that will not help your dog’s separation anxiety, and discuss how they could even make it worse and also discuss how we can actually help give you and your dog some relief. Don’t you both deserve that?
If you and your dog are struggling with separation anxiety, I can help. Set up your assessment today. Or pick up my self-paced Separation Anxiety Foundations course.
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Happy training!
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