One of the most common complaints of pet parents is that their dogs are disruptive or destructive when left alone. Their dog might urinate, defecate, bark, howl, chew, dig, or try to escape. Although these problems often indicate that a dog needs to be taught polite house manners, they can also be symptoms or distress. When a dog's problems are accompanied by other distress behaviors, such as drooling and showing anxiety when his pet parents leave the house, they aren't evidence that the dog isn't house trained or doesn't know which toys are his to chew. Instead, they are indications that the dog has separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is triggered when dogs become upset because of separation from their guardians, the people they're attached to. Escape attempts by dogs with separation anxiety are often extreme and can result in self-injury and household destruction, especially around exit points like windows and doors.

Some dogs suffering from separation anxiety become agitated when the guardians prepare to leave. Others seem anxious or depressed prior to their guardians' departure or when their guardians aren't present. Some try to prevent their guardians from leaving. Usually, right after a guardian leaves a dog with separation anxiety, the dog will begin barking and displaying other distress behaviors (barking, howling, whining, defecating, chewing) within a short time after being left alone -- often within minutes.

Dr. Waxman and his team are experience with treating pets with separation anxiety successfully. The goal is to resolve the dogs underlying anxiety by teaching him to enjoy, or at least tolerate, being left alone. Some animals do well on medication aimed at relieving this anxiety, making the pet feel more comfortable when home alone.

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