Separation Related Behaviours

“Separation related behaviour” is a term that describes any unwanted behaviour that occurs when a dog is separated from its owner. Because this descriptive term clusters together a range of behavioural signs that occur in a specific context (i.e. when the owners leave the house) it inevitably includes cases for which there are very different underlying reasons for these behaviours to occur. As well as animals that are anxious because separated from their owner, this description also includes dogs that display behaviours that are inhibited by their owner’s presence, and those that are fearful of other stimuli. In addition, it is commonly the case that by the time owners seek professional help with these problems, the original factors that initiated the problem have become confounded by, for example, anxiety or motivational conflict on the owner’s return due to anticipation of punishment. [...]