How to tell if your dog has Separation Anxiety

How do I know if my dog's problem is due to Separation Anxiety?

Separation Anxiety describes a dog that is usually overly attacked or dependent on one or more family members.  The dog becomes extremely anxious and shows distress behaviors of vocalization, destruction, house-soiling, or inactivity when separated from their parent or family.  Some dogs may just spend time in one spot and stare at the door, while others will rip apart the house, and may other extremes in between.  Most dogs with separation anxiety will remain close to their parents or family, and become increasingly anxious the greater the separation.  They may follow their parent or family from room to room on a regular basis, and when the dog realizes that the parent or family is about to leave, the dog will show signs of anxiety immediately.  Some of these dogs crave a great deal of physical contact and attention from their parent or family, and can be demanding for attention.  During departures or separation, the dog may salivate or pant profusely, vocalize, eliminate, refuse to eat, become destructive, pace, or become quiet and withdrawn.  Most of these behaviors occur within 20 minutes of the owners departure.  While typically the behavior occurs every time the parent or family leaves, it can only happen on selected departures, such as work-days, or when the parent or family comes home from work, then leaves again within the same day.

Are there other reasons why my dog may engage in these behaviors?

Many dogs, especially puppies, enjoy chewing and will engage in the behavior when they have nothing better to do when they are bored.  House-soiling may be due to medical reason or because your dog isn't properly house trained like leaving the dog alone for longer than it's bladder can handle.  Vocalization may be due to territorial intrusion by strange humans, or other animals, and can be a rewarding behavior when it vocalizes.  The dog may also be self-rewarded by the stimulus leaving while they are vocalizing.  Some dogs will attempt to escape or become extremely anxious when confined, so that destructiveness or house-soiling when a dog is locked up in a kennel, basement, or laundry room, may be due to confinement or barrier anxiety and associated attempts to escape.  In addition, noise phobias such as thunderstorms, may lead to marked destructiveness, house-soiling, salivation, and vocalization.  Old dogs with medical problems such as loss of hearing or sight, painful conditions and cognitive dysfunction may become more anxious in general, and seek out the parent or family's attention for security and relief.  While giving attention to help calm your dog may seem like the best alternative, this may greatly increase your dog's need to be with you and around you at all times.  Attention during an attention seeking behavior will only reinforce the behavior.  So consoling your dog just makes them worst.