3 Causes of separation anxiety in dogs

It can be tough to care for a dog with separation anxiety.

Many owners try to train their dogs to handle being alone, but it doesn’t always work.

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There’s limited evidence to explain why our pets develop separation anxiety.

It’s believed that significant life changes or losses, especially in shelter-adopted dogs, can trigger separation anxiety.

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1. Moving

Dogs can develop separation anxiety even if their family or routine stays the same.

Moving to a new residence can trigger it because the unfamiliar place can make your dog anxious.

Being alone in a strange place, like when you go to work, can make your dog even more frightened.

So, moving to a new home might be a trigger for your dog.

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2. Change of routine

Dogs can be spontaneous, but they thrive on routines too.

If you suddenly change your schedule, like taking a new job with longer hours, your dog will notice and may not be pleased.

The bigger the change, the more it affects your dog. They like routines for meals, bathroom breaks, and your return home.

A sudden disruption in this pattern can make your dog anxious and potentially lead to separation anxiety.

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3. A new owner

A significant cause of separation anxiety in dogs is a change in ownership.

This is often seen in dogs surrendered to shelters and then adopted into new families.

Being abandoned by a previous family can be extremely frightening for dogs.

It can lead to them developing separation anxiety with their new owners.

Even dogs who haven’t been in shelters can develop separation anxiety when they join a new family.

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This article was compiled with the help of Artificial Intelligence