Back to Work-Separation Anxiety
Ontario reopens! We have all been enjoying a little outing, stepping into a mall and having a little drink on the patio this past weekend. As we celebrate getting a bit of “normal” back, you may be thinking of going back to the office or wondering what September is going to look like for the children.
“Why are you leaving me?” Are we ready for this face?
And what would it be like for your pup? Who is so used to spending every single moment with your family… I mean, EVERYONE in the family… suddenly is left behind all by themselves. Are we ready for this?
Separation anxiety is discussed often by dog owners, especially now as pandemic pups are awaiting to enter the real world of… well, simply people not being home. Some of us (me) didn’t even go out grocery shopping! According to a new study, 70% of dogs have anxiety. Some may not be as obvious, some may hide it better… but that is a huge number of dogs with anxiety! Dr. Karen Becker states:
“Findings published in Scientific Reports, evaluated nearly 14,000 dogs, the largest-ever study on canine temperaments, and found that nearly three-quarters of the pets showed at least one anxiety-related behavior!
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Signs of separation anxiety
Let’s talk about some of the obvious behaviours you may see with separation anxiety. It may include persistent barking, destructive behaviour to a point you had no sofa when you came home, having accidents with dogs perfectly house-trained, trying to escape from the house by scratching and eating the doorknob, frantically pacing back and forth, or simply not being able to relax (and sleep) while you are away from home. But every dog is different, so your dog may decide to do something more unique to show their anxiety while you are away from home.
BABY STEPS- Okay, let’s face it. I did not get a puppy during the pandemic, but if I did, I am not sure if I’d be okay being away from my dog for hours. So baby steps. If you haven’t already done so, summer is a great time to practice leaving the pup at home for just a few minutes at a time, then half an hour, and maybe build it up to a couple of hours. Try going grocery for a while, maybe take one child at a time, date night for yourself and hubby instead of everyone gone at once! The key is to do it in baby steps so that everyone will slowly get accustomed to “being away”.
CRATE TRAINING- if you talk to a professional dog trainer, you already know that crate training is not just for puppies and for house training. For some dogs, it is a safe place, their own comfortable area where they can go to while their people are away or to calm down during fearful events such as thunderstorms or fireworks. Crate training can also be useful when the dog has some degree of separation anxiety.
Mirabel loves sleeping like this in the crate!
Associating “you leaving home = good things to come” can help dogs settle in the crate nicely, like giving them a special frozen Kong to eat/chew. Maria Huntoon, certified canine behaviour consultant talks about how chewing on Kong toy can promote relaxation.
“one of the best ways to help your dog enjoy when you leave, learn to love his crate, learn to settle when you are being sedentary, and develop good house manners is by taking his need to chew out productively through a stuffed frozen Kong. This amazing vessel provides positive reinforcement for laying calmly and focusing on something other than you or the other items in your home. ”
She also shares some of the frozen Kong recipes you can try here. I normally make a big batch on the days I have time and keep them in the freezer. As Maria Huntoon mentions in her blog, you always want to try these types of training while you are home first. I also like food puzzle-like Toppl by West Paws to stuff goodies in, so that my dog is mentally stimulated to figure out how to get the food out. Licking and chewing not only keep their mind busy, but it also releases endorphin, “feel-good” chemicals. Dr. Katie Woodley, the natural pet doctor mentions that when the endorphin is released, dogs can relax faster while they may be experiencing anxiety.
Toppl food puzzle from West Paws
You can stuff it with your dog’s favourite protein, sweet potato, cream cheese, banana or peanut butter and freeze!
FIRST, EXERCISE! a professional trainer will advise you to first, exercise your pup! Especially if they are worrisome when you leave home, tiring them out first is a good idea. Don’t rush their walks and let them sniff as much as they want! Let them lead the walk because sniffing makes them relaxed AND tired at the same time, which will naturally help them to relax at home while you are away.
KEEP CALM, DOGS ARE WATCHING- If you are following my Instagram, you may have seen me with Mirable at our first herding class. We’ve all learnt from the trainers to be calm, (don’t get too excited or even angry-which can arouse pups), watch our body language, and being focused on our task while leash walking. As I watched some of the experienced handlers for herding, even a small dip on the shoulder, a tiny step in the wrong direction, or when they lost a bit of focus, it sent a mixed messages to the dogs. Dogs are watching us and feeling our energy.
When leaving your dog at home, don’t make it a big deal! I know it’s hard to leave your pup at home… but keep calm, you can massage your dog’s back gently and slowly, you can tell your dog you will be home soon, and leave them with yummy frozen treats. You are all set!
Is it your pup who’s anxious? Or is it us? They can sense our energy very well.
DOG CAMERA-I has never used the dog camera or apps but device such as Furbo can help you monitor your dog’s activity while you are gone to work. If your dog has anxiety, this is also a good way to know what he/she is up to, to discuss with your trainer. You can also come home on your lunch break if your dog is trying to destroy something or wanting to go outside for the washroom.
DOG WALKING SERVICE- There are many wonderful dog walking services available everywhere! Ideally, you have found one already if you are going back to work in September. As pandemic puppy numbers increase, so as the demand for spots for dog walking or doggie daycare. Having an idea of what you may want for your pup, and what they may enjoy (ie individual walk vs pack walk) would be a good start. Call several places to see if you are comfortable with the person/company looking after your fur baby. Trust your gut instinct on this! Even if your vet or friend recommended a certain person/company, make a decision on what you feel best for your pup. Here are some Pet Service companies in Oakville and Burlington area.
High fives for K9s Training *highly recommended by me! (program may be full at the moment)
Alex Izzo, the dog walker * is highly recommended by me! (contact for availability)
ESSENTIAL OILS- YES! I need to talk about essential oils, not only because I am an aromatherapist, but because it actually works! Many holistic/integrative veterinarians recommend the use of good quality essential oils for animals’ well-being. Plant power is amazing and there are many options, such as herbs, Chinese herbs, Bach flower remedies and homeopathy. The key is to look at the pet’s health and wellness “holistically” with a team of professionals working together.
The easiest way to incorporate essential oil is to diffuse a couple of drops in the water-based diffuser. Make sure you use the intermittent settings and in an open space. You can also make an easy-to-roll-on oil blend for calming and comforting your dog.
Calming Essential Oil Roller
10 ml essential oil roller bottles
1 drop of Lavender
1 drop of Roman Chamomile
1 drop of Copaiba
Fill the rest with coconut oil
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Apply the roller along the spine and massage the oil in, especially if you have a fury dog (like mine)*this recipe is for 40 lbs+ dog-consult your vet or aromatherapist for dogs smaller
Other calming oils you may want to try:
Vetiver
Frankincense
Peace
Adaptiv
Balance
Patchouli
Bergamot
Melissa
OMEGA 3 OILS- We all know many benefits of omega 3, 6 oils for us humans and for dogs, but according to Dr. Karen Becker, it is also beneficial for anxious pups.
“Research suggests that supplementing a mildly anxious dog’s diet with DHA and EPA can have anti-anxiety benefits.”
Researcher, Dr Ragen McGowan, found a significant reduction (up to 50%) in both behavioural and physiological signs of anxiety in dogs whose diets were supplemented with omega-3 rich fish oils.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a type of omega 3 oil, seems to have a key role in regulating our mood. DHA deficiency, impairs key neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, which are core to anxiety, cognitive decline and depression in dogs and people.
If you haven’t already, this may be time to add omega 3 oils to your list of supplements!
MAYBE YOUR NEIGHBOR IS WORKING FROM HOME?- since we all found out that many jobs could actually be done remotely, maybe your trusted neighbour will be working from home. You can always ask them if they would let your dog out or check up on them once in a while. Perhaps you can negotiate to work from home a couple of times a week, or bring the dog to work? It never hurt to ask.
**I am a certified animal aromatherapist, reiki and canine massage therapist but not a veterinarian nor a dog dietitian. I am simply sharing my findings and information from a holistic/ integrative veterinarian I trust, respect and follow. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to your veterinarian for further advice and assistance.