Needs a Title
COVID dogs gained separation anxiety because owners started to go back to work once the COVID pandemic ended. According to the Canine Health Foundation, 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%)” (American Kennel Club) of dogs experience separation anxiety in their lifetime. According to ScienceDirect,“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. According to the authors of the article, Critical Period in the Social Development of Dogs, 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.” (Kimberly Brown). In the research article Early Life Experiences and Exercise Associate with Canine Anxieties on Plos One, puppies that are not exposed to different environments, people, or other animals may become more fearful and anxious in situations, especially when left alone. ScienceDirect states, “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. According to the author of an AVMA Publication, in the article Review of epidemiological, pathological, genetic, and epigenetic factors that may contribute to the development of separation anxiety in dogs, it is stated that “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. Sara Swanson, author of the report The effects of socialization on dogs states, “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.
According to ScienceDirect, “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. Linn Mari Storegen wrote Genetic Studies of Canine Anxiety, whihc expressed, “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 ScienceDirect, “… 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
Amat, M., Borchelt, P. L., Cannas, S., Clark, G. I., Col, R., Doring, D., … Bradshaw, J. W. S. (2020). Problematic behaviors in companion dogs: A survey of their prevalence and associated factors. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787820300903?casa_token=JcaIT3f3h9AAAAAA%3A4D9VKZztPWTE4EOPOeC5RhIsqUQ4aXBhF-6VVGOb3TW1kl91xXlPNelL16EXZZvl_SP3sFjqdRs
Appleby, D., McGreevy, P. D., Palestrini, C., Parthasarathy, V., Rugbjerg, H., Sherman, B., … Horwitz, D. F. (2014). A descriptive study of 215 dogs diagnosed with separation anxiety. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159114001890
Borchelt, P. L., McCrave, E. A., Wright, J. C., Appleby, D., Voith, V. L., Clark, G. I., … Houpt, K. A. (2008). Canine anxieties and phobias: An update on separation anxiety and noise aversions. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195561608001125
Brown, K. D. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/brown_kimberly_d_201305_ms.pdf
Meneses, T., Robinson, J., Rose, J., Vernick, J., & Overall, K. L. (2021). Review of epidemiological, pathological, genetic, and epigenetic factors that may contribute to the development of separation anxiety in dogs. Retrieved from https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/259/10/javma.20.08.0462.xml
Overall, K. L. (n.d.). Relieving a dog’s separation anxiety | whole dog journal – dogica. Retrieved from http://www.dogica.com/training-dog/free-download/Relieving-a-Dogs-Separation-Anxiety-Whole-Dog-Jour.pdf
Storengen, L. M. (n.d.). Genetic studies of canine anxiety . Retrieved from https://nmbu.brage.unit.no/nmbu-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/2447789/2016-51_Linn%20Mari%20Storengen_(BasAm).pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Swanson, S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://krex.k-state.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/25ae812d-aaf5-45ef-965f-2f72b020a8ad/content
Tiira, K., & Lohi, H. (n.d.). Early life experiences and exercise associate with canine anxieties. Retrieved from https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0141907
Why does my dog follow me everywhere? : Happy pup manor: Doodle dog boarder barrington. (2024). Retrieved from https://happypupmanor.com/why-does-my-dog-follow-me-everywhere/#:~:text=Separation%20Anxiety:%20A%20Deeper%20Issue.%20In%20some,as%20a%20means%20to%20alleviate%20their%20anxiety
Counterintuitive Fall 2024 
imaginary.persona, I usually read as far as I can into an essay without commenting until I run into something that needs attention. When that happens in the first paragraph, I will usually spend as much time as needed there, sometimes not reading much farther. With luck, the advice I offer about the early work will apply also to later paragraphs. I’ll let you know, as I proceed, which is the case in your essay.
—If you’ve identified COVID dogs in your first essay as dogs adopted during the COVID lockdowns, the term was fine THERE.
—Here, though, you can’t assume your reader has read the Definition Argument. The essays have to stand alone. So: repeat your definition here. It takes only a few words: dogs adopted during the COVID lockdowns. After THAT, you can call them COVID dogs and everyone will understand.
—You say “gained” as if separation anxiety were desirable. You’d never say someone “gained” dementia. You’d say she “suffers” dementia or “was stricken” with dementia.
—I don’t see how the commonness of “separation anxiety” in dogs helps your argument. Frankly, your claims would be more persuasive if diagnosed anxiety (and prescriptions to treat it) were UNCOMMON in dogs but exacerbated by the COVID crisis.
—The dogs don’t “experience destructive behaviors.” The furniture and the bed linens EXPERIENCE destruction. The dogs DESTROY things.
—when separated from their owners ESPECIALLY when separation is RARE? Or especially when separation is PROLONGED? Or when separation is a NEW EXPERIENCE?
—I disagree. It’s important to know THE CAUSE of separation anxiety in your hypothetical world. But the fact that it’s not unusual in dogs in their lifetimes is irrelevant to your argument.
—What your AKC citation DOES SUPPORT is the foundational claim that the condition DOES EXIST and is RECOGNIZED to exist. In other words, you’re not making it up to suit your argument.
—Rephrase to eliminate the CAUSAL part of your claim.
—Again, if fearfulness is exhibited by nearly 1/3 of dogs, you’ll have a HARDER time, not an EASIER time, concluding that separation anxiety is the cause.
—If your quotation requires two ellipses AND a parenthetical percentage, you’ll probably get more impact with a paraphrase.
—Something along the lines of: The ScienceDirect study demonstrates that nearly a third of all dog owners (27.9%) report fearfulness as a problematic dog behavior.
—But, again, classifying anxiety and fearfulness as common in pet dogs makes it HARDER for you to pinpoint the CAUSE of their psychological state.
I’ll read the rest of your essay now, i.p., for grading purposes, but I won’t provide further feedback until I hear from you again.
Make some improvements, or ask clarifying questions, and let’s speed up the Feedback process. Is this the sort of help you seek?
I couldn’t get past the second paragraph without asking a question. You say:
This is a classic example of “Just Passed Scenic Views.”
You haven’t told us WHY THE EVIDENCE MATTERS. There’s a lot of detail in this paragraph, but readers will not know what to do with it. Several questions will be competing for their attention:
You don’t clarify your reasoning anywhere in the paragraph, so readers are left to draw their own conclusions or DELAY INDEFINITELY understanding why you told them about puppy experiences.
YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR READERS drawing their own conclusions. Tell them what the evidence MEANS FIRST. Then provide the evidence.
Two more things before I go:
Sex comes into play with separation anxiety in dogs as ScienceDirect
—I think you mean GENDER. Whether the dog is male or female, not whether it has sex.
Separation anxiety in dogs is a condition with multiple factors, including early life experiences, etc.
—This is the OPPOSITE of what you want to demonstrate.
—The more way SA can be explained, the harder it will be for you to claim that “bonding during COVID followed by separation after COVID” is the cause.