Dog separation anxiety

ALMOST a third of owners (30%) in the North West say their dog has developed at least one new problem behaviour during lockdown, according to new research released today by Dogs Trust.

The charity is issuing advice to owners to help them manage their dog’s behaviour and is asking them to act now, to help their dogs adjust to when they return to work.

The UK’s largest dog welfare charity, which has a rehoming centre in Merseyside and Manchester has issued the first results from research investigating the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on dogs and their owners.

The charity surveyed over 6,000 dog owners in May this year, including dog owners in the North West about the impact of the coronavirus crisis on their dog.

Those who took part were asked about their dog’s routines, walks, enrichment and time spent alone during and before lockdown.

Almost a quarter of owners in the North West (24%) reported that their dogs routine had changed a lot, including having less walks – as owners stuck to Government guidance – and being less likely to be allowed to run offlead. Worryingly almost a third of dog owners (30%) in the area reported that their dog showed at least one new problem behaviour during lockdown.

Behaviour problems are easier to prevent than treat, so Dogs Trust is encouraging owners to take steps now to change the tale and ensure problems don’t develop when things return towards normal.

The risk of dogs developing separation anxiety is an urgent concern raised by the charity. This is particularly the case for puppies, who may never have had experience of being left home alone during the lockdown. Suddenly leaving these pups alone once we go back to our ‘new normal’ lives is very likely to lead to separation anxiety.

Preventing separation anxiety is much easier than treating it.

If you have a dog who is used to being left alone, make sure you maintain their ability to cope with this by introducing periods of separation during the day when you are in the house (eg behind a baby gate whilst you are working from home) and try and sometimes leave your dog at home when you go out for essential trips.

The early month of a dog’s life are critical in learning about all aspects of normal family life. This includes being left alone: if pups are not taught this is a normal and positive part of life, they will become anxious about it. Teaching pups to be relaxed when left takes a bit of time and patience at the start but prevents serious problems later in life that are much more difficult to treat.

Build up the amount of time a pup is separated from family members very gradually and associate it with something positive, such as a long-lasting treat.

Monitor how the pup responds, and shorten the time left if they show any signs of anxiety.