Dogs are pack animals; that is, they prefer to associate in groups rather than alone. Because you, the guardian, are a part of the pack (hopefully the leader) your dog has formed an intense emotional bond with you. She follows you around the house, sleeps on the floor by the bed (or in the bed)
and watches anxiously as you leave for work without her. It’s this type of loyalty that attracts many people to dogs.
But for some dogs, this bond is so intense that they "go crazy" when you leave the house each day. They are acting out a fear of abandonment. Some dogs howl all day, others engage in destructive behavior or house soiling. Keep in mind, the cause of these behavioral problems can be, but are not necessary due to this condition. There are different approaches to treating destructive chewing, excessive barking etc. if they are not related to separation anxiety. True separation anxiety is typically seen in dogs that have been passed around from home to home or were rescued from the street or a shelter.
It doesn’t do any good to punish a dog that is acting out due to separation anxiety.
For him, it is an instinctive behavior and not an act of disobedience. In fact, a dog suffering this condition prefers punishment to no attention at all. Instead, you must help your dog overcome his fears. A good way to do this is to practice. Begin by stepping out of the house for just a few seconds at a time, several times a day, for a few days. The idea here is to gradually lengthen the time your out until your dog gets comfortable with the idea and realizes you will be returning. I know it’s difficult to leave the house without kissing your sweetie goodbye or come home without greeting her with a big hug, but doing so may be teaching your dog to attach great importance to your comings and goings. If you don’t make a big deal about coming or going, he will learn that it really is not a big deal.
Another key to beating separation anxiety is to keep him occupied while you’re out of the house.
Try filling one of those hollow rubber toys (KONG) with cheese or peanut butter and give it to her just before you leave. Most dogs will happily spend hours trying to get all of the filling out. Take it away when you return home. This way, it’s not only a diversion tactic; it’s a special treat he can look forward to only when you’re gone. But first, start by giving it to him on the weekends when you are home so that he won’t immediately associate the treat with your leaving, and take it away after 8 hours (or however long your usually out during the work day). If you’re ambitious, organize a treasure hunt! Stash some of her favorite treats or toys in different parts of the house (like behind a chair, under a blanket, etc.) Again, do it a few times when you are home, then do it in the morning before you leave. Eventually, this may help her associate your leaving with fun times.
It wouldn’t hurt to leave the radio or TV on during the day either. In most homes there us always some kind of white noise while the people are up and around. The silence can be deafening to the dog with separation anxiety.
Unfortunately, some dogs will never get entirely used to being alone. For these cases, you may need to get a pet sitter to come in a few hours a day, or enroll him in a doggie day care. Another option is to get him a playmate, (another dog or even a cat) but be sure that you really want the added responsibility of another pet and follow the instructions for new introductions. For extreme cases of separation anxiety, you should consult your veterinarian about possibly pharmaceutical therapy.