References
Canine separation-related problems. Part 5: what if enhancing a sense of safety does not work?
Abstract
Separation-related problems are a source of serious welfare concerns for dogs, and their effect upon owners may result in a dog being relinquished or euthanised. Previous articles in this series have considered the dog's innate requirement for social companionship; the many different factors that may initiate canine separation-related problems; the role of emotions and learning in the development and maintenance of separation-related problemss; the dog's strong requirement for a sense of safety and how ensuring that a dog experiencing separation-related problems can be supported through enhancing its sense of coping and safety can assist recovery from separation-related problems. Yet, despite owner efforts to prioritise a concept of safety, many dogs will continue to experience separation-related problems during owner absence. This article discusses some of the extra provisions that may be beneficial to such dogs.
Separation-related problems are a common condition of companion dogs, affecting the emotional, and often physical, welfare of the dog. The resultant separation-related behaviours can also cause considerable distress in owners. Previous articles within this series have considered the veterinary profession's current understanding of the issues associated with owner absence-related problems in dogs. An accurate understanding of what is triggering the dog's separation-related behaviour and the associated emotional systems is important to the treatment of such problems. As separation-related problems can be very complex, treatments have traditionally matched that complexity, often becoming too protracted for owner compliance to be maintained. A previous article (Hargrave, 2024) concentrated on the benefits of initially focusing a treatment programme on improving a dog's sense of safety, both within the environment and within the human-dog relationship. This article considers further interventions for when an individual dog's response to owner absence requires a greater level of support.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting UK-VET Companion Animal and reading some of our peer-reviewed content for veterinary professionals. To continue reading this article, please register today.