Signs of Separation Anxiety

• 1). Watch for increasingly destructive behavior when you are gone. This might include excessive chewing and digging. Obvious scratching near doors is a strong sign that your pet is trying to escape to reduce its anxiety.
  
  
• 2). Ask neighbors if they hear barking and whining when your dog is alone. Set up a video camera -- or use a sound-activated tape recorder -- to see and hear the extent of its anxiety.
  
  
• 3). Monitor how often your dog has accidents in the house. Anxious dogs are prone to bladder and bowel control problems.
  
  
• 4). Pay attention to your dog's behavior as you get ready to leave. Pacing, drooling and shaking are signs it is anticipating the fear it feels when alone.
  
  

Counterconditioning Program

• 1). Act relaxed and quiet when you leave the house, and when you come home. Dogs with separation anxiety are easily excited, and overdoing attention right before or right after a separation will only reinforce their unhealthy attachment.
  
  
• 2). Don't punish your dog if it has an accident, or chews up a prized possession while you are out. It will learn to fear your anger when you come home.
  
  
• 3). Train your dog to be happy when you leave. Think about your behaviors that trigger its anxiety -- turning off the TV, grabbing your coat, picking up your keys -- and work on desensitizing these triggers. For example, pick up your keys, but don't leave. Later, put on your coat; wear it around the house instead of going out the door. Your pet should eventually learn that the trigger behaviors do not always mean it will be left alone.
  
  
• 4). Condition your pet to associate something good with your leaving. Fill a hollow dog toy with a favorite treat. Let your dog work on it while you jiggle your keys. Put the keys down again and take the toy away. Give it back to your dog a little later. Pick up your keys again. Repeat this combination until your dog associates the sound of keys with getting a treat.
  
  

Medications and Other Helps

• 1). Check with your veterinarian about using medications -- such as clomipramine, fluoxetine and diazepam -- to calm your pet as you work on counterconditioning.
  
  
• 2). Hire a dog sitter. Some dogs with separation anxiety just need a warm body at home. They do fine with someone else's attention.
  
  
• 3). Try doggy day care. Your dog will not have time to be lonely, and will benefit from a day of exercise.
  
  
• 4). Teach your dog independence. Don't let it follow you from room to room. Teach a "stay" command, followed by a treat. Leave the room for a few seconds, and then come back and praise your dog. Gradually increase the time you are out of the room.