There are various reasons why some dogs display distress when they are left unattended. The most common motivations for this distress have been categorised as over-attachment to an individual and fear, leading to over-dependence upon someone's, anyone's, presence to maintain a sense of well-being. There are differences in the symptoms caused by these motivations. For example, if destruction occurs, over-attached dogs will tend to cause it in an attempt to follow their owners. Whereas frightened dogs may cause damage in an attempt to get out by any exit or in an attempt to hide and feel secure within the home, perhaps by trying to did a hole in the corner of a room, dig into furniture or get in a cupboard. Of course, attachment in the dog/owner relationship is good but over-attachment is unhealthy, especially if a dog is expected to cope with being on its own from time to time. Over-dependence due to fear can be caused by events that occur when the owners are out of the house or anticipation that frightening events, such as fireworks or thunderstorms, that occurred when the owner is at home will re-occur when they are out.

In this article we will look at how over-dependent and over-attached behaviour can be reduced when owners are at home. Although over-simplistic, in essence, over-attached dogs need to be with the individual they are attached to, whereas, dogs dependent as a consequence of fear, need to know someone is at home but will happily settle elsewhere. The extent to which these tendencies are displayed may be affected by the dog's perception of the likelihood of being left and how recently it was last distressed. As we learn more we may find that there is more of an overlap between fear and over-attachment than is apparent to us now. However, one thing they both have in common is the fact that the owners' behaviour, when they are with their dog, can compound the problem. If their dog needs a physically close relationship and attention because it is over-attached or is dependent upon its owner because it is fearful a positive owner will unwittingly reward emotional dependence. This will have the effect of increasing that dependence and reducing the dog's capacity to cope when it is on its own. Happily this works in reverse. If the owner ignores needy, dependent behaviour it will not be reinforced. Conversely if a dog is given attention when it is relaxed its capacity to be relaxed when its owners are at home and to remain relaxed when it is on its own will increase. This works because relaxation is incompatible with anxiety and fear, which in turn, means that it is incompatible with over-attachment and excessive dependence.

Training a dog to settle away from the owner can develop this further. A settle is like a down stay, during which relaxation is rewarded frequently. There is more than one approach but if your dog is over-attached and can't even cope with you going to the bathroom without it, start by training it to settle at your feet, when you are watching TV for example. Giving it a blanket to settle on will help it develop an association with the exercise and to accept transference of the training to other locations. Once your dog has happily settled during a number of sessions increase the distance between you and the blanket your dog lies on by moving it or by sitting further away. You will really be making progress when you can place the blanket outside of the room you are in and your dog is content to stay there. Of course, not all the time, just in your training sessions.

You can build on your success by putting a child or dog gate across the door between you. This will help to develop your dog's capacity to cope without you when following you is not an option. The next stage involves moving the blanket away from the door and towards and eventually in another room. When your dog has learnt to stay there happily you can put the gate across this door. Ultimately you can accustom your dog to the door being closed by reducing the gap a little more each time you practise this settle training. If your dog is so over-attached or dependent and can't cope without being in the bedroom without you at night you can make further progress by using the blanket and gate technique to teach it to sleep on the landing or in the hall outside. Follow this by increasing the distance between the gate and the door and progressing to the point where your dog will sleep in another room.


©: David Appleby 2001

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Please note that the Pet Behaviour Centre and David Appleby cannot be held responsible for death or injury to people or animals, or damage to property caused by the correct or incorrect use of the techniques described in this article.