To a certain extent, all young puppies have a natural inclination towards “separation anxiety”. So, it can sometimes be tricky to decipher what is really occurring with puppies who come into the veterinary practice. This article, therefore, will act as a guide to what you should recognise when it comes to puppy separation behaviour. (All reference to “puppies” within this article is for puppies under 20 weeks of age unless indicated otherwise.)
Night-time behaviours
The first thing to bear in mind is that at around eight weeks old, puppies have been taken away from their litter, including their siblings, mother, environment and breeder. This separation is often the first absence they have ever experienced thus can be a difficult time for them, not only due to the unfamiliarity of the new surroundings but also due to the break away from their attachment figure(s). As a result, owners need to have the correct advice on how to deal with the puppy at night-time for the first seven nights.
The traditional advice of leaving them to cry it out can often lead to sensitisation, where the puppy learns that being left is more and more stressful, or a type of learned helplessness, where the puppy learns that it cannot do anything about being left alone. Both will negatively impact a puppy’s natural development and could lead to further separation issues later in life. Instead, suggest to clients that they make the first few nights as settling and comforting as possible, whether that involves having the puppy in a crate next to the bed or in the room with them, or sleeping downstairs close to the puppy. Owners can then gradually move the puppy to the desired night-time sleeping place once the puppy is happy and sleeping well, thus avoiding stress for both puppy and owner(s).
The traditional advice of leaving them to cry it out can often lead to sensitisation […] or a type of learned helplessness
If night-time issues are evident during the first vaccination consultation, it may be helpful to point out that doing the above means the owners will likely have a better night’s sleep compared to listening to their puppy crying all night, reminding them that soothing a puppy in distress is very different to responding to attention-seeking behaviour.
Other tips
If an owner is concerned about their puppy’s night-time behaviour, it is useful to determine what the puppy is waking up for with the owners. You should also consider what a normal routine is for them and whether the puppy can settle back to sleep or not. For example, puppies may wake up very early in the morning and during the night to go to the toilet, so this is to be expected in puppies under 20 weeks old.
Asking the owner to film at night to see if something is waking the puppy can also be useful, as well as looking at the environment (if the puppy is too hot or cold, for example). However, if a puppy is taking a long time to settle at night, is anxious about their night-time sleeping area, has long bouts of crying, is waking up very frequently or is showing anxiety throughout the night, then it may signal that the puppy is struggling with the separation aspect. Suggesting early support from a behaviourist may be useful in this situation.
Crating
One thing to note is that many owners will use a crate for separation issues with puppies. Many puppies take well to this when it is positively introduced and see the crate as a “bedroom” or safe space. However, if an owner is finding its use difficult and the puppy is starting to show signs of avoiding the crate or not being happy in it, then discussion of other alternatives (puppy pen, baby gates, etc) may help determine whether it is the confinement of the crate that the puppy is struggling with.
Forming attachments
Puppies that leave the litter quickly develop an attachment to the new family and normally form a particularly close bond with the primary caregiver. This attachment means they like to stay close to this person, which may mean following them around or crying for them when they are separated.
Within normal puppy development, we would expect to see the puppy start to make attachments with other people in the family a few weeks after they have been brought home. If the owner lives alone, the puppy should be able to “make friends” with the family and friends of the owner. The owner can facilitate this by small, gentle introductions to new people as part of the socialisation and confidence-building development they should be undertaking.
In veterinary practice, it would not be uncommon for a puppy or dog to be worried about being separated from their family. If this seems like an overt reaction […] then a gentle discussion may be useful
A stronger attachment to one person can persist as a puppy matures – this is not always a sign of worry if a puppy or dog settles quickly with whoever they are left with or when left alone. However, if this strong attachment is coupled with shows of distress when left by the person, a separation issue, which would need help from a qualified behaviourist, may have developed. Signs of distress include vocalisations, destruction and elimination.
In veterinary practice, it would not be uncommon for a puppy or dog to be worried about being separated from their family. If this seems like an overt reaction, such as a high level of vocalisation or struggling to get back to the caretaker, then a gentle discussion may be useful to see whether this is a reaction solely related to the veterinary environment or a more commonly observed reaction to the separation from their family member.
Barriers
A common element to separation training in puppies is frustration when there is a barrier in place, such as a pen or baby gate. Questions about how the puppy generally copes with separation can help determine whether frustration is an issue.
If a puppy can settle behind a barrier […] owners can help form positive associations by leaving their puppies with appropriate chews and enrichment ideas to help the puppy settle
If a puppy can settle behind a barrier, perhaps with some vocalisations when they are bored, hungry, over-tired or full of energy, owners can help form positive associations by leaving their puppies with appropriate chews and enrichment ideas to help the puppy settle. If the puppy is always vocalising at a barrier and the owners have not been able to leave them alone in the home after a couple of weeks, a sensitivity to separation could be being signalled. Behavioural help may be best in this case.
Conclusion
To summarise:
- It is common for very young puppies to show signs of anxiety when left alone in the first few weeks
- Helping owners navigate the first few weeks during their health checks will be key to good development
- Gathering information about when a puppy is showing separation-type behaviours, such as their routine and safe place, can help
- Puppies will initially form an attachment to the primary caregiver, which should then extend out to other members of the household
- Frustration may be an element of separation behaviour, but teaching owners how to make positive associations and routines should minimise this
As the veterinary team, you are often the first port of call with owners who bring their puppies for early health checks and vaccinations. This early interaction enables you to build a picture as to whether the puppy may develop a separation issue, as per the points above, that can be quickly addressed by the right behaviourist.
