Elsevier

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

Volume 9, Issue 1, January–February 2014, Pages 13-21
Journal of Veterinary Behavior

Research
Effects of preadoption counseling on the prevention of separation anxiety in newly adopted shelter dogs

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2013.09.003Get rights and content

Abstract

Separation anxiety is one of the more prevalent and difficult to treat behavior problems in dogs. The associated behaviors can be undesirable to dog owners and damage the human animal bond, leading to relinquishment or return to an animal shelter. Due to the high prevalence of separation related problems in recently adopted shelter dogs, shelter staff hold a critical role in advising and educating owners on how to prevent separation anxiety post-adoption. The aim of this study was to propose a form of that preventive counseling as a means of preventing the development of separation anxiety in recently adopted shelter dogs. The efficacy of preadoption counseling in the education and prevention of separation anxiety problems was tested in a prospective, randomized, parallel-group study. Participants included 133 new owners of dogs 6 months of age and older. At the time of adoption, sixty-six of these owners were randomly selected to receive five minutes of counseling on the prevention of separation anxiety, while the remaining sixty-seven owners served as the controls. A follow-up survey regarding the signs associated with separation anxiety and other potentially related behaviors was conducted one month post adoption. Results showed that 19 owners reported their dogs as having separation anxiety. There was no significant effect of adoption counseling on the prevention of separation anxiety. Owners in both groups were equally as likely to perform most of the recommendations given during counseling. Dogs that were reported to have separation anxiety were significantly more likely than dogs without reported separation anxiety to show nervous or panicked behavior as the owner prepared to leave (P = 0.0001) and were more likely to be reported as being “needy” (P = 0.031). Having another dog in the home was not protective against the development of separation anxiety. Owners in the counseling group were more likely than those in the control group to put food inside a toy at the time of leaving the dog home alone (P = 0.0001), suggesting the counseling recommendations were indeed followed by the owners. Owner compliance supports the idea that counseling is a useful tool for owners. Separation anxiety is a disorder whose course may be difficult to alter in recently adopted shelter dogs using only basic, interventional information. Brief counseling and a toy do not effectively prevent the occurrence of this complex behavioral condition. Further investigation should be done to find more specific, effective prevention tools for owners to use in the home to minimize the development of separation anxiety and shelter should be prepared to provide interventional resources to owners whose dogs develop separation anxiety despite these efforts.

Introduction

Separation anxiety, defined here as distress in the absence of an attachment figure, is one of the more prevalent behavior problems in dogs and treatment can be challenging (Takeuchi et al., 2000, Takeuchi et al., 2000, Bamberger and Houpt, 2006). Commonly reported separation-related problems that lead to a diagnosis of separation anxiety may include destructive behavior, self-injurious behavior, inappropriate urination and defecation, and vocalization associated with distress that occurs only in the owner's absence (Sherman and Mills, 2008). These behaviors can be undesirable to dog owners and may damage the human–animal bond, leading to relinquishment or return to an animal shelter (Salman et al., 2000). Recognition of problematic behaviors is critical in recently adopted animals because the human animal bond has had little time to develop and the owners may not yet be committed to the dogs. Even dogs whose owners pursue behavioral therapy may fail to improve sufficiently for the owners' needs and be subsequently euthanized or relinquished (Takeuchi et al., 2000, Takeuchi et al., 2000, Takeuchi et al., 2000, Takeuchi et al., 2000). Several factors have been suggested to predispose certain dogs for the development of separation anxiety, including long periods with the owner without being left alone, periods of kennel housing, family move to a new house or apartment, and loss of a family pet (McGreevy and Masters, 2008, Sherman and Mills, 2008). Adoption from an animal shelter has been suggested as a predisposing factor for the development of separation anxiety in dogs (Serpell, 1995). Whether the separation-related behavior problems lead to relinquishment, or the abandonment/rehoming process put the dog at risk for behavioral pathology in the new home remains unknown. Regardless, considering the risk the development of separation anxiety poses to the adopted dog population, shelter staff may play a critical role in advising and educating owners on how to prevent separation anxiety after adoption.

Most veterinary and behavioral professionals will agree that behavior problems, like many medical problems, are best treated through prevention (Patronek and Dodman, 1999). Cottam et al. (2008) found that written and verbal communication, without the direct interaction of the dog with a clinician, can be an effective method for assessing and managing canine separation anxiety. Providing verbal advice on how to prevent separation anxiety in rehomed dogs has been shown to have a protective effect against the development of separation related problems after adoption (Blackwell et al., 2005). We studied whether preventive counseling in the form of written and verbal communication at the time of pet adoption could help prevent the development of separation anxiety, thereby reducing pet relinquishment and euthanasia. We also obtained information on the prevalence of separation anxiety in shelter dogs after adoption.

Section snippets

Enrollment

Participants were recruited between the months of July and August 2011 from a dog shelter.a This county shelter has primary responsibility for control of stray dogs and enforcement of state laws regarding stray dogs and offers open admission for owner-released dogs. The shelter impounded approximately 13,000 dogs in 2011.b

Upon

Results

Enrollment and contact information was obtained from 133 dog owners. Interviews performed at 1 month after adoption were successfully completed with 116 (87.2%) owners. Seventeen owners could not be contacted after 10 phone call attempts (12.8%). Of the interviews completed, 110 (94.8%) dogs remained in the home and 6 (5.2%) dogs were returned to the shelter. Owners reported that 3 (50%) of the dogs were returned because of complaints associated with separation anxiety. To include dogs that

Discussion

Preadoption counseling did not have a preventive effect on the development of separation anxiety in this population of dogs. Most owners engaged in activities postulated to prevent separation anxiety, regardless of group designation, yet more than 16% (19) of the dogs still showed signs consistent with separation anxiety, and no single preventive measure appeared to make a difference in its appearance. These results differ from the findings of Herron et al. (2007) in which preadoption

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