Behaviourally complex dogs: you’re not alone if separation anxiety isn’t the only problem you’re dealing with.
When we share our lives with a separation anxiety dog, it’s often the case that they go everywhere with us. We bring them to pet-friendly stores and patios, family get-togethers, and shopping errands to prevent them from being left home alone. It’s relatively easy if your dog is a “go anywhere” type. But what if your dog has other behavioural issues that make taking them along a headache? Let’s talk about a few common behavioural problems that make everyday outings a no-go and how we can find solutions that work for everyone.
Reactivity and Separation Anxiety?
Reactivity is a term used to describe dogs who bark, lunge, whine, growl at and/or bite triggers they encounter in their environment. These triggers can include other dogs, strangers, kids, and moving objects such as bikes, skateboards or joggers. If your dog exhibits these behaviours, taking them in public might feel stressful, frustrating or embarrassing. It also may be unsafe to bring your dog to public places for fear of them biting or scaring others.
Struggling in new environments
Many dogs do fine and can settle well at home but struggle and get overstimulated in new, loud or busy environments. This may be due to anxiety, noise sensitivity or a lack of socialization or training. While these dogs may or may not be “reactive,” it can be challenging to bring them out with you due to the negative impact it has on your dog, you or both.
Why we don’t want to take our dog with us
In addition to the negative impact your dog’s behaviour might have on you, repeatedly exposing dogs to situations they cannot handle and which may result in undesirable behaviour is not recommended. Not only does practice make perfect when it comes to the rehearsal of unwanted behaviour, but your dog’s fear or anxiety is likely to increase as a result, and this will bleed into your separation anxiety training (everything is connected!)
What about “me time”? The reality of burnout
Dealing with a behaviorally complex dog is not easy, and not being able to take some time away to recharge and enjoy your life without them is very, very difficult. It’s important to remember that you need to take care of yourself. Working through separation anxiety is not sustainable if you never get a chance to step away, and you might end up feeling like a prisoner in your own home, which can slowly but surely poison your relationship with your dog.
Growing your separation anxiety dog’s community
If your dog can be left with others as long as they aren’t alone, I encourage you to grow a solid network of friends, family and pet sitters who can make themselves available as needed. If your dog is reactive to other dogs, moving objects, or struggles with new environments, have the person come and hang out with them in your home if possible. Having more than one person to call on can help you feel like you have options and aren’t a burden on your support system.
Finding good care is a bit more complicated if your dog is reactive to or fearful of strangers. These dogs can’t just be left with any pet sitter; if your dog has a bite history, it’s unsafe. Take inventory of the people your dog is completely comfortable with and whether those people are available to watch them. If that list is small, you should work on gradually adding new people into your dog’s inner circle. I recommend working with a qualified, force-free behaviour consultant to keep everyone safe and ensure the integration of new people is successful.
Working on the problem behaviour
Another solution is to actively work on changing the behaviour preventing your dog from joining you. A trainer can help you with this, typically using a plan to change your dog’s underlying emotional reaction by pairing the things that trigger them with food or other good things. The plan may also include training them to perform alternate behaviours in the presence of their triggers.
However, these issues take time and patience to see change, and some dogs will never be comfortable in certain situations, like a busy restaurant patio. If you’re starting to work on these issues, you’ll still have to prevent your dog from encountering scenarios that are too hard for them for some time.
Consulting with your veterinarian to ensure you treat your dog’s behaviour from every angle is also recommended.
Muzzle training
If your dog is at risk of biting others, consider training them to be comfortable in a muzzle for peace of mind. Remember, a muzzle is insurance; it’s not an excuse to put your dog in situations they aren’t ready for. You can find an excellent resource for muzzle training here.
If your dog has other behavioural challenges in addition to their separation anxiety, you’re not alone. I work with many clients who love behaviourally complex dogs. I’m here to troubleshoot and help you find creative solutions as long as we’re working together. You have a support system in place with me.
Need help now? Let’s chat!
