Common Characteristics Of Dogs With Separation Anxiety
Canine separation anxiety (SA) is a common diagnosis that can greatly decrease the quality of life for dogs and their guardians. While many potential causes of separation anxiety (SA) have been identified, the condition remains something of a mystery. Many loving and responsible dog guardians are perplexed as to why their otherwise healthy and well-cared-for companions develop SA, a condition characterized by a range of behaviors including vocalization, destruction, anorexia, and escape attempts, among others. This paper, published in Applied Animal Behavior Science, identifies common characteristics of dogs diagnosed with SA to shed light on potential genetic and environmental factors that may play a role in its development.
The authors analyzed clinical records of 215 dogs diagnosed with SA at a behavior clinic in Norway. They looked for common characteristics among the dogs and compared the top 10 breeds diagnosed with SA to the following: the top ten breeds in the overall clinic population, the 10 most popular breeds registered at the Norwegian Kennel Club, and the 10 breeds most commonly seen at another local small animal clinic. Specifically, the authors investigated whether breed, sex, neuter status, living situation, diagnosis of other behavioral issues, and sleeping habits are associated with the presence of SA in dogs.
Findings from the study include the following:
- The largest number of dogs diagnosed with SA were mixed-breed, consistent with mixed-breed being the most common type of dog at both the behavior clinic and local small animal clinic. However, specific breeds were overrepresented in the study population, as Cocker Spaniel, Schnauzer, and Dachshund were the second, fourth, and sixth most common dogs in the study but are not even among the top ten breeds registered with the Norwegian Kennel Club. The authors note that there may be “a breed-specific tendency indicating an accumulation of risk-genes/alleles in some breeds.”
- The study population included more male dogs (60%) than the general dog population (estimated at 50%), and a larger percentage of neutered male dogs than the overall population at the clinic. The authors state that there may be an “increased risk of SA in males” but suggest that higher levels of neutering may be an effect of SA and not a cause, as owners may elect to neuter males to change anxiety-related behaviors.
- While the majority of dogs in the study live in houses with multiple family members, 14% of those who live with single owners live with a female and 1.4% with a male. The authors suggest that female owners may either form different bonds with animals than male owners or be more likely to seek help for dogs with SA.
- On a household survey, owners indicated that over half of the dogs in the study slept in bed with them and over 90% showed “an excessive greeting ritual like jumping or vocalization” when the owner returns from being away. The authors speculate that these factors point to hyper-attachment as a leading cause of SA.
The authors do not make recommendations in regards to preventing or treating SA but express hope that their findings can be used to form the basis of additional studies. They also add to a growing body of research seeking to understand and reduce SA, including those on SA treatment types and stemming SA in newly-adopted dogs. In addition, they reinforce the idea that SA is a complicated condition that may have multiple causes, some of which may be affected by the behavior and actions of dog guardians.