Loss of Control or Separation Anxiety in Dogs

If your dog shows behavioral problems, such as increased barking, urinating in the home, or appears very sad and distressed when you leave the room, these could be serious underlying causes that you should definitely address. For your peace of mind, as well as your dog's health and well-being, it is important that your dog learns to be alone without fear that you won't return. Since dogs are pack animals, being alone is something they have to learn. Here you will find out what the solution to the problem is.

With patience and consistency, you and your dog will learn to experience encounters with other four-legged friends without fuss and ritualized barking.

At a glance:

  • Your dog barks or whimpers excessively as soon as you leave the room and chews on objects
  • Your dog is very protective and can't cope with you leaving the house without him
  • Suddenly your four-legged friend starts soiling the house again
  • Loss of control is the dog's fear that you won't manage without him
  • With separation anxiety, the dog is afraid that you will leave him, so he is afraid of being alone

In this article, you will not only find all the information about the symptoms of loss of control and separation anxiety in dogs, but you will also learn what these mean and how you can combat these fears.

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The Author:

Annegret Ulrich

As a certified expert in dog handling and dog training, Annegret Ulrich has many years of experience with various four-legged friends. In addition, the author and dog lover provides tips on her own dog assistance portal.

Reading time: 5 minutes

How do I know if my dog has separation anxiety or a fear of losing control?

Dogs who are afraid of being left alone or of not being able to protect you sufficiently will show this through less desirable behavior. To find out exactly what your dog is suffering from, you should keep a close eye on the symptoms.

Potential symptoms of separation anxiety:

  1. House soiling: Your dog starts soiling in the house again
  2. Sadness: Your dog howls and whines and sits behind the door for hours, scratching at doors and walls
  3. Submissive greeting: When you come home, you are exuberantly greeted, but in a placating and submissive posture

Possible symptoms of loss of control:

  1. Constant barking: Your dog releases its frustration in the form of constant barking
  2. Stormy greeting: You are literally jumped on when you come home, not out of joy, but as a punishment
  3. Destructive rage: Your dog is looking for an outlet. Everything can then be destroyed: sofa, furniture, cushions, shoes, plants

The worry that you, as the pack leader, are out and about without your dog is particularly great then. Your dog cannot look after you, after all. This means he cannot fulfill his duty.

The dog becomes truly panicked if you try to leave the house without him. The dog "reprimands" you if you have left without his OK, by violently jumping up with his front paws. Basically, you can compare this fear with the following example: A child locks the mother or father in the apartment and goes exploring all alone. The parents then have no control over the child and become panicked. Here you may already notice that you should clarify with your dog who is the "boss".

Now you know the symptoms of separation anxiety and loss of control and can compare and see what your dog is suffering from and thus tackle the problem.

How separation anxiety develops:

  • Even as a puppy, it is important that the dog is not allowed to follow you everywhere.
  • If the dog is used to following you everywhere, separation anxiety quickly develops if you suddenly leave the house without your four-legged friend.
  • The dog is simply afraid of being alone because he is not used to it.
  • Training errors: the owner can also cause and promote separation anxiety.
  • History of dogs from animal welfare: the dog may be traumatized by the loss of a previous owner.

How the fear of losing control develops:

A dog with loss of control must learn not to feel responsible for its human – only then will it eventually accept being alone. Your dog is afraid that you won't cope without him. Check where your dog has its resting places. Is the spot right behind the front door or on the couch? If so, the dog believes it has everything under control. Find another favorite spot for your dog.

The solution to the problem

The fact is that a dog suffering from one of these fears should be taken seriously. While the fear of losing control can be easily resolved, overcoming separation anxiety requires lengthy training.

To overcome the fear of losing control, it is enough to clarify the human-dog relationship. This can begin by not letting the dog get away with anything. Example: You give the dog the command to sit. He doesn't do it and you let it go. Thus, the dog thinks he is the boss. Here, it is important to be consistent. Of course, it's not done with a single command, but requires consistent instructions and insisting on their execution. After only a few weeks, you will notice a change in behavior. Your dog now knows that you are the boss.

Separation anxiety, on the other hand, requires lengthy training. Especially if your dog is older, training is more difficult. However, you can start by repeatedly leaving the dog in a room while you are out of sight for a few minutes. Reward the dog if it doesn't whine. Depending on the severity of the anxiety, you can start with two minutes and slowly increase the time your dog is alone. This way, your dog learns that you will come back.

If you are unsure what your dog is up to at home alone, a pet camera can be a useful aid. This way, you always have an eye on your dog's activities.

Here are some dog breeds that you can leave alone with a clear conscience:

  • Maltese
  • Pug
  • French Bulldog
  • Labradoodle
  • Chihuahua

More information can be found here.

Frequently asked questions from our readers:

What is separation anxiety?

Here, the dog never learned to be alone and has a panic attack as soon as you leave the house. It's important that it slowly learns that it's okay to be alone. Patience is especially important here.

What is the fear of losing control?

The dog thinks he is the boss and has to protect you and guide you through life. This can be regulated by clarifying the relationship between humans and animals.

Why does your dog follow you everywhere?

In such situations, you should keep a clear head. Your stress transfers to your four-legged friend. React calmly and positively. Loud scolding can create negative reinforcement in your dog.

What are the causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Dogs that have developed an obsessive need to control must have a predisposition to it. The second possibility: the dog must also be able to act on this obsessive need to control.