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Do you know what your dog feels when he/she is home alone?
No one knows for sure what dogs feel when they are left home alone. However, although science has not yet devised a device that can encode the thoughts of dogs so that we can translate them into our language, we can interpret it. And, of course, we very correctly intuit that these companion animals do not have a very good time when they are left alone. In fact, more than one furry friend would want to hang the ‘Stay home’ sign and force us to stay with them, since they need to be in company.
To understand how our furry companions feel when we close the door and bolt, ¡HOLA! spoke with Ixone Capataz, a veterinarian at AniCura San Fermín Veterinary Hospital. The expert also gives us clues about what behaviors we can consider more alarming and require veterinary attention, as well as what we can do to reduce the anxiety caused by our absence.
What do dogs feel when they are home alone?
Dogs (and animals in general) are not able to distinguish time as such, they distinguish day from night, but not the concept of “time”. When we leave home, they don‘t know if it’s for a minute or forever. Generally, over time, they get used to us always coming home. There are dogs that are more attached than others to the company of humans, and that manage worse the fact of being separated from them and not knowing when they will return. Which can cause separation anxiety, which is a fairly frequent ethological (behavioral) consultation in the daily clinic. Anxiety causes dogs to suffer ”nervous breakdowns” when their owners leave home and this can translate into urination and defecation anywhere (except puppies), vomiting, excessive drooling, damage to the house, continuous barking that could possibly annoy the neighbors, etc.
Is it normal for them to manifest this separation anxiety?
Feeling fear and restlessness can be normal, but when we talk about anxiety itself it is something that the animal cannot control and that should be treated if it does not disappear in a reasonable time, since the animal suffers. If an owner detects that their pet suffers from anxiety or thinks it may suffer, they should contact their veterinarian and make a consultation. Sometimes the “treatment” is simpler than others, but you should always try to make that anxiety disappear, because it goes against the wellbeing of the animal.
Can we do something to decrease their anxiety?
It depends a lot on each case and each animal, and the most important thing is to detect that there is a problem to be able to go to the vet and that they can help us. One very important thing, and one that is often overlooked, is that anxiety does not begin when we have already left the house, but rather before. Dogs are able to understand “anticipation signals.” These are things we do unconsciously before leaving the house (putting on our shoes, taking our keys, packing our purse, putting on our coat ...). When a dog has already detected these signals and we perform them, his anxiety begins, increasing when he confirms that these signals, indeed, indicate that we are going to leave. By the time we leave, the dog has been anxious for a long time. Working on these signs of anticipation is usually a fundamental step to eliminate separation anxiety, for that it is convenient to observe what signs of anticipation we perform, write them down, and perform them at other times of the day where we are not going to leave the house. For example, putting on our shoes and sitting on the couch. Making noise with the keys and not leaving the house, etc.
A partner can help you!
On many occasions yes, a partner can help you! As long as that other partner is to your liking, of course. This makes them feel less alone and helps alleviate separation anxiety in some cases. For example, we can try to adopt another dog to keep him/ her company or even try to get the dog used to living with a cat.
What behaviors are most alarming?
Damages at home often alarm the owner a lot, just like when the barking is so intense that the neighbors complain. Regarding the health of the animal, and understanding that any behavior caused by anxiety is bad, vomiting and self-mutilation are usually the most worrying. Vomiting because it is prolonged in time can cause chronic problems at the digestive level, and self-mutilation because the animal infringes itself (they can bite a limb without stopping, pull hair, bite their tail until they become wounded, etc.).
Are there any tricks or games that we can help the dog relax?
Yes. Working on the anticipation signals is usually a key point and quite easy to do, although you have to be consistent. There are also many “interactive” toys that can be filled with food that the dog takes a long time to get out of them, this sometimes helps them focus on something other than just that we are gone. Working on visual cues when we leave and return can also be a measure to take, for example, tie a handkerchief on the door when we leave, and remove it immediately upon arrival. Although this measure must be worked very carefully because it can become another sign of anticipation.
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