The difference between separation anxiety and just plain bad behaviour is easy to spot: pets with separation anxiety only act out when they are unable to get to their owners.

Common ways of acting out include destructive behavior, excessive barking, house soiling, attempts to escape, loss of appetite, inactivity, sadness or depression, and psychosomatic disorders such as diarrhea, vomiting, and excessive coat licking. Also, a dog suffering from separation anxiety will often closely shadow its owner when they're together.

Punishing the dog will not fix the problem. Once the dog associates your absence and return with punishment, anxiety will increase. Your number one goal is to teach the that you can be trusted to come back. One of the first exercises to practice is sit and stay. Make the dog sit and stay while you move from one place to another. If the dog obeys, give it a treat. If it couldn't stand it and didn't stay, try it again for a shorter time and distance. Once you find something that works, even if it's just moving from the living room to the dining room, you can slowly increase the time and distance.

Another strategy to help you deal with the problem is to take the dog out for a good walk before you leave the house. Not only will you spend some quality time together, it will also help tucker the dog out, making it more likely it will spend its time away from you sleeping. Another benefit to the long walk is that once the dog sees the pattern, it will have something to look forward to when you leave. And the exercise will be great for both of you.

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