Do you come home to find that your furniture and possessions have been destroyed by your dog while you were gone? Do your neighbors tell you that they hear your dog barking all day long while you are at work? If so, your dog could be suffering from separation anxiety - a condition where dogs exhibit destructive behavior, house soiling and excessive vocalization when left home alone.
Distress over being left alone is not always separation anxiety, so it is important to try to identify what is really causing the problem.
Does your dog soil the house when you are gone? This could be a symptom of separation anxiety OR there could be several other things to consider that could be the cause such as, incomplete house training, not having access to an appropriate area to eliminate, unreasonable expectations (you should not expect your dog to "hold it" for 10+ hours), marking, submissive elimination, or physical incontinence. If elimination accidents are also occurring when the owner is home, it's more likely a house training issue rather than a separation anxiety problem.
Destructive behavior can be the result of separation anxiety OR it could be play behavior due to boredom, or a reaction to outside noises, or an outlet for excess energy. Destructive behavior related to separation anxiety is usually directed toward the dog trying to escape by chewing or scratching at doors, walls or windows. However, if the destruction is throughout the house, there could be other possible causes. It can be very helpful if you have access to a web camera, video camera or sound activated tape recorder to help identify if there are activities occurring outside the house while you are away that are triggering the dog to react in a destructive manner.
Separation anxiety is also frequently the cause of excessive barking and whining OR the dog could be barking because of sounds it is hearing outside of the house; mail/delivery person, children playing in the neighborhood (or in your yard), traffic sounds, etc.
Here are a few things that can be helpful to try for dogs with separation anxiety:

• Exercise - play with your dog or take him for a walk. Try to do this 15-30 minutes before you plan to leave so he has time to settle down. An exercised dog will be more content when you leave.


• Always leave your dog with a food toy. Stuff a hollow bone or Kong with his dog food and mix some squirt cheese or peanut butter in with the kibble. Adding squirt cheese or peanut butter will make it more challenging for your dog to get the kibble out. There are many interactive food toys that your dog can spend time with. The "buster cube" was always a favorite with my dogs. Search for "food dispensing toys" on websites like http://www.petco.com or http://www.drsfostersmith.com


• Make your departures and returns completely calm and emotionless. No big hugging, kissing or petting scenes whey you leave or return home. If your dog gets excited and jumps all over you when you come home, just ignore him and walk away. Greet him calmly after he settles down.


• On days when you are home, don't spend all day with your dog. Use this time to work on helping your dog with his separation anxiety. Practice leaving and coming back several times during the day. Remember to play with them and give them a food toy every time before you leave. Start first with a short interval of time. Leave for 5 minutes then come back. Don't lengthen the time too quickly. If he is quiet and calm while you are gone for 5 minutes, then only leave for 5 minutes for several days then try 10 minutes for a few days. Do not try to advance too quickly, take it slowly and you will have more success. Once the dog understands the routine he can become more accepting of it. Don't forget to always be emotionless when greeting them when you return.


• Check into dog sitting alternatives - do you have a neighbor or friend that would enjoy some canine companionship during the day? How about doggie day care or a dog walker who can take your dog for a mid-day walk?


• Does your dog enjoy the company of other dogs? If you only have one dog you may want to consider adopting a second dog. Some times canine companionship can be the answer to separation anxiety. If you have a friend with a dog, have them bring their dog over to your house and leave the dogs together indoors while you step outside. Did your dog continue to play with the visiting dog or did he still become anxious and stressed when you left? With a little work you may be able to find the perfect companion for your dog at your local shelter or rescue. It is always a good idea to bring your dog with you to meet any dog you are considering adopting to make sure they like each other before bringing the dog into your home. Any animal rescue or shelter will allow you to do this.

A few don'ts:

• Crating is NOT a good solution for dogs with separation anxiety. Dogs suffering from separation anxiety can seriously injure themselves if they panic in a crate.


• Leaving on the TV or Radio is NOT a good idea. You are never sure what random startling sounds (sirens, gun shots, animal noises) can come from the TV or radio so it can actually do more harm than good.

http://www.dogaware.net has many other information articles related to dog health and dog training.