Home alone : diagnosis and treatment of separation anxiety

Separation anxiety is described as problematic behaviour motivated by anxiety that occurs exclusively in the owner's absence or virtual absence. Anxiety-related disorders and separation anxiety are among the most common behavioural problems in domestic dogs with separation anxiety being diagnosed in 20-40% of dogs referred to animal behaviour practices in North America. In the literature, undesirable behaviour problems that occur during owner absence are listed as separation anxiety, separation-related problems, isolation anxiety, separation reactions, separation-related distress and separation anxiety syndrome. Independent from the classification of the disorder, problems that occur when the owner is absent represent one of the principal causes for the breakdown of the human-companion animal bond and can lead to surrender of numerous dogs to shelters.