Behavior Modification Techniques

Owners need realistic expectations of the time course of treatment and the need for behavior modification in order to have successful resolution of the problem. Problem behavior may take weeks or months to resolve depending on severity and duration of the problem. Treatment components include:
Changing the predictive value of pre-departure cues using habituation exercises

• Presentation of pre-departure cues (picking up keys, walking to the door) without leaving
• Repeated 2-4 times daily until the dog does not respond to cues with anxious behaviors (panting, pacing, following or increased vigilance)
• Goal is to disassociate the cues with departures and diminish the anxious response

Counterconditioning (response substitution)

• Teaching the dog to sit/stay near the typical exit door
• Gradually increase the distance between the dog & owner toward the door
• Owner slowly progresses toward the door, increasing the time away on each trial
• Eventually elements of departure such as opening and closing the door are added
• Finally, the owner steps outside the door and returns

Classical Counterconditioning

• Leaving the dog a delectable food treat or food stuffed toy on departure
• Associate departure with something pleasant

Changing departure and return routine

• Ignore the pet for 15-30 minutes prior to departure and upon return
• On return only attend to the dog when it is calm and quiet, they may however allow the dog outside to eliminate

Changing the pet-owner relationship: Independent training

• Teaching the dog to be more independent of the owner(s)
• All attention is at owner initiation-owner begins and ends attention sessions
• No attention on pet demand
• Must be earned by the pet by performing a task such as "sit"
• Decreasing following behavior while the owner is home
• Teach the dog to stay in another location away from the owner

Graduated planned departures and absences

• Begun after dog is habituated to pre-departures cues

• Use short absences to teach the dog how to be left home alone
• Departures must be short enough not to elicit a separation distress response
• Goal: animal learns consistency of owner return and to experience departure and absence without anxiety
• Departures must be just like real departures (owner must do all components of departure including leaving in the car)
• Owner will leave a safety cue (radio or television on, ring a bell) on planned departures only (must not be used on departures where length of absence is not controlled such as work departures)
• Initial departures must be very short, 1-5 minutes
• Length of absence is slowly increased at 3-5 minute intervals if no signs of distress were evident at the shorter interval
• Increase in interval must be variable, intersperse short (1-3 minute) with longer departures (5-20 minutes)
• If departures and absences are continued even though distress behaviors are present, the dog will get worse
• Audio tapes for vocalization can help monitor progress
• Once the pet can be left for 2-3 hours on a planned departure, they often can be left all day
• Cue is slowly phased out over time or can be used indefinitely

Arrangements for the pet while retraining and owner absence

• Allow no more destructive activity if possible
• Mixing up or eliminating triggering departure cues may help diminish the anxious responses
• Doggy daycare arrangements or pet sitters
• Gradual conditioning to a crate

Crates are not recommended unless the dog is already crate trained and comfortable being left in a crate

Comments

Good client follow up is necessary to monitor both the behavioral treatment plan and medication if prescribed. Weekly follow up is best in the early stages to access efficacy of the treatment plan and owner compliance with instructions. Once the dog has become more independent, habituated to pre-departure cues and calmer on departures and returns, graduated planned departures may be implemented.

Expected course and prognosis

Separation anxiety often responds well to behavioral modification with or without medication. Some severe cases can be very resistant to treatment. Other concurrent behavioral disorders may make resolution more difficult. Drug therapy alone is rarely curative for most behavioral disorders. Realistically, drug therapy can be expected to decrease the anxiety associated with owner departure but the dog still must be taught how to be left alone during absences.