As your family returns to work and school, you can help your pets handle the transition.
Whenever Adam Lopuch would leave his house to pick up food, drive the baby to day care or mow the lawn, his Labrador retriever, Bella, would go nuts. She’d bark nonstop. She’d jump on the windowsill, sometimes scratching off the paint. She’d pant.
After Lopuch and his wife, Abbie, got some tips from a trainer, Bella’s separation anxiety eased a bit. Her twice-weekly trips to doggie day care have helped, too. But when Lopuch returns to the office in September following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, he’s worried about how Bella will react to his being gone on the days she’s at home.
“I’ve had a lot of anxiety about it,” Lopuch says.
He’s not alone. According to the American Pet Products Association, more than 11 million U.S. households got a new pet during the pandemic. A large number of these pets were dogs. Those pandemic pups have spent a lot of time with their humans, making them happier and closely bonded with their owners.
But all of that attention has come with a downside. “Many of these dogs have never learned independence,” says Dr. Amy Learn, an animal behaviorist with Animal Behavior Wellness Center in Richmond, Virginia. “They were never left home, so they may have become hyperattached to the humans in the household.”
Now, as pandemic restrictions ease and Americans return to work and school, the dogs will suddenly be home alone for the first time. And experts fear that sudden change could cause — or worsen — separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety in pets isn’t just sadness when their owners are away. It’s extreme distress and panic that could lead to all types of health issues and problematic behaviors. Signs of separation anxiety include:
• Excessive howling or barking
• Accidents in the house
• Chewing up furniture, shoes and other items
• Scratching windows and doors
• Pacing
• Salivating
• Attempting to escape, sometimes to the point where they harm themselves
These behaviors often begin when a dog sees its owner getting ready to leave by putting on shoes or picking up a wallet, and often continue for some time after the owner leaves, until the dog tires itself out or even until the owner returns.
How to Prevent and Ease Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Luckily, you can take some steps to help prepare your pup for daily separations and to ease the anxiety while you’re away.
• Give your dog lots of exercise and mental stimulation. Physically and mentally challenging your pup while you’re at home will increase its endorphins, making your dog more relaxed and less stressed when you leave.
• Begin your back-to-work routine ahead of time. Dogs thrive on routines, which give them a sense of stability and reduce their anxiety. The key is to start your family’s routine before you head back to the office or take the kids to school. Wake up at the proper time, get dressed and have breakfast. You could leave the house to exercise or run an errand at the time you’d usually leave for work. Do your best to feed, walk and play with your pup around the same times you will be occupied when you’re back in the office.
• Start with shorter absences and work your way up. Begin building your dog’s independence by spending increasing lengths of time in a different room from your pet while you’re at home. Then you can start to leave the house for longer and longer time periods, starting with five minutes and gradually increasing the time.
• Keep departures and returns drama-free. If you make a big deal about leaving, it will only make your pet nervous. So keep your departures short and simple — just smile and say, “I’ll be back!” The same goes for your returns.
• Be careful with departure cues. Your dog may begin to feel anxious when he sees certain signs that you’re preparing to leave. Try to do these things at times when you’re not leaving the house. If your dog starts to whine when you pick up your keys, for example, pick them up and put them down throughout the day. If he begins to pace when you put on your coat, wear it around the house for short time periods.
• Associate separations with positive experiences. Before you leave the house, hide little treats for your dog to find. You could also leave out a bone or some fun toys. Lopuch began to leave Bella in her crate with a peanut butter-filled Kong when he’d leave the house. Now she knows that when Dad leaves, it’s time for her favorite treat.
• Make your absences as comfortable as possible. Be sure your dog has easy access to her bed, blanket, favorite stuffed animal and food and water. Leave the house at a comfortable temperature and consider keeping a TV or radio on. You could also set up a camera system that will allow you to check on and talk to your pup remotely.
• Consider hiring a dog walker. Hiring someone to walk and play with your dog once or twice a day will mean he’s alone for shorter time periods, which could ease his anxiety a great deal.
If your dog’s separation anxiety persists or gets worse even after you’ve tried all of these suggestions, visit your veterinarian to make sure there’s nothing else going on. Your vet may recommend anti-anxiety medication or natural supplements, such as St. John’s wort and chamomile. You could also consult a veterinary behaviorist or professional trainer.
With a lot of love, patience and consistency, you can help your dog become calmer, happier and more independent.
Don’t Forget About Cats!
Cats may have a reputation for being independent and aloof, but the truth is that they can experience separation anxiety as well. In fact, a 2019 Oregon State University study found that cats have similar attachment styles to their humans as dogs and children do. Make sure to check for signs of separation anxiety in your felines when you head back to the office. Watch out for the following:
• Going to the bathroom outside of the litter box, especially on your bed.
• Excessive meowing, crying, yowling or other vocalizations.
• Destroying objects in your home.
• Excessive grooming.
• Wanting constant contact with you when you’re at home.
To prevent and ease separation anxiety in your cat, you can follow the same techniques as you would for dogs. You could also provide a perch or patio that will allow your cat to look out the window and a small shelter or nook for your kitty to hang out in. You might consider adopting another cat so the pair can keep each other company.
As with dogs, visit your veterinarian if your cat’s separation anxiety seems excessive. Your vet may recommend a special supplement, medication or pheromones to help with the anxiety, or connect you with an animal behaviorist if needed.
