COVID dogs gained separation anxiety because owners started to go back to work once the COVID pandemic ended. Separation anxiety in dogs is a fairly common condition in dogs in which they experience behaviors that are destructive when separated from their owners. It is important to know the causes of separation anxiety since 10-20% (sometimes 30%) of dogs experience separation anxiety in their lifetime. “The main problematic behaviors reported for 345 dogs were … fearfulness (27.9%) …”

One of the causes of separation anxiety in dogs is negative experiences of socialization during the puppy stage. Dogs’ critical period of development is between five to fourteen weeks. “The socialization period is also the period when puppies learn how to handle stressful situations, such as meeting new dogs, going to novel environments and thunderstorms.”Puppies that are not exposed to different environments, people, or other animals may become more fearful and anxious in situations, especially when left alone.  “Canine separation anxiety is a behavioral disorder of dogs when left alone or separated from a significant person or persons.”

Experiences during the puppy stage that involve trauma or neglect can significantly contribute to the development of separation anxiety. Dogs that have been abandoned, surrendered to shelters, or rehomed multiple times often struggle with attachment issues and tend to become overly dependent on their new caregiver.“Dogs that were relinquished through shelters or rescues or abandoned at veterinary hospitals are more commonly reported with SA in some studies.”

Another factor in separation anxiety is a change in the dog’s environment or routine. Dogs form strong associations with the people in their lives, and anything that is to disrupt this can trigger separation anxiety in the dogs. “Since a dog can attach quickly to a person, they can also have anxiety when that person leaves, which can explain why dogs that have recently been adopted may exhibit separation anxiety when their new owner leaves.” Being separated from members that dogs are attached to can lead to separation anxiety,  “…severe distress experienced when an individual is distanced from other group members.” Common environmental changes that may cause separation anxiety include moving to a new home, “…due to the stress of a new environment or being taken away from its original owners,” or a change in the household composition, such as a new work routine that leads to more extended periods of time away from home. For instance, a dog may have been accustomed to a caregiver being home for long periods, but if that person suddenly starts working longer hours, the dog might feel abandoned or neglected. 

Training is a key factor in preventing separation anxiety. Dogs that have not been taught how to be left alone might develop a behavior of separation anxiety when faced with separation. Inadequate training can occur when a dog is not taught how to be independent. For example, if a dog is always allowed to follow their owner around the house, it may unintentionally reinforce the dog’s dependence, “In some cases, dogs may follow their owners due to separation anxiety. This can manifest as distress when separated from their owners, leading to constant following as a means to alleviate their anxiety.” This can make the dog more likely to become anxious when left alone, as they have never learned how to handle being alone in a calm and healthy manner.

Socialization also plays an important role in helping dogs become prepared in different situations. Dogs that are not socialized can become fearful of unfamiliar experiences, which can increase anxiety when faced with separation. “These fear-based behaviors, such as aggression and anxiety, have an ontological aspect where the potential for development for these behaviors can be linked to distress or lack of desensitization during primary social development.”  Dogs that have not been exposed to being left alone may feel more stressed when left alone without their owners presence, as they have not learned to cope with the unfamiliar feeling. 

“Dogs may also have a genetic predisposition to develop anxiety.” Genetics is another factor to be considered when trying to deduce the causes of separation anxiety in dogs. “The fear response is a normal and self-protecting behavior which can enable the dog to escape potential dangerous situations, but may, in some cases become inappropriate and negatively impact the dog’s welfare.” On a scientific note, certain glands can be stimulated which cause a bodily response to a perceived threat and therefore cause separation anxiety. “The sympathetic system releases adrenal steroids (noradrenaline and adrenaline) from the subcortical areas of the brain and adrenal gland, resulting in an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and vasoconstriction in internal organs.” Sex comes into play with separation anxiety in dogs as, “… found that male dogs outnumbered female dogs and that male dogs had higher probability of elevated levels of separation-related distress.”

In conclusion, separation anxiety in dogs is a condition with multiple factors, including early life experiences, genetics, environmental changes, and not enough training or socialization. Understanding the causes of separation anxiety is important for dealing with the condition since about 30% of dogs can face separation anxiety. 

References

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