Cavapoos are a human’s dog. They love being with humans and doing what humans do. While at home it is very common for Cavapoos to follow their owners from room to room. Some might say it even borders on obsessive!
While it is often wonderful as a dog owner to have a highly devoted pet, this can become acute and end up, in some cases, in psychological distress for your dog.
Cavapoos are known to get separation anxiety when they are separated from their caregivers for long periods. It is normal for Cavapoos to prefer to be with people than to spend time by themselves, but in some cases this longing can become extreme and lead to undesirable stress for the dog and changes in their behavior which can have a negative impact on the home.As an owner it is important to know the
signs of separation anxiety, some of the consequences of your Cavapoo developing it and solutions to deal with it should it arise. We cover all of this in the next few sections so you can know what to look for and what to do if separation anxiety arises in your Cavapoo.
What is Separation Anxiety in Cavapoos?
Separation anxiety in dogs is defined as undesirable behavior which is triggered when the dog is left alone. This behavior can include damage or destruction of property in the home, whining, pacing or can be self-harm related. It is estimated than 20% of the overall dog population suffer from some degree of separation anxiety [1].
Separation anxiety is a psychological disorder and can affect a wide variety of dog breeds. Cavapoos are unfortunately one of the breeds susceptible to separation anxiety.
It is normal for Cavapoos to miss their owners due to the strong bond that forms between the dog and their humans. While it is desirable to not leave your Cavapoo by themselves for long periods (we explain in detail the reasons why here), your Cavapoo missing you, by itself, is not separation anxiety. We’ll cover the differences in the next few sections so you can know exactly what to look for.
Signs of Separation Anxiety
If you are worried your Cavapoo might have separation anxiety then it is important to know what to look out for.
Here are common signs of separation anxiety:
- Vocalizations. Vocalizations can include your Cavapoo howling, whining or barking while you are gone. This can start once your Cavapoo knows you are leaving the home (they are smart and pick up on the clues you are leaving such as what clothes you are wearing). Usually the vocalizations will continue once you have left, and may be exacerbated when your Cavapoo hears noises outside your home, adding to their stress.
- Destructive behavior. Destructive behavior can include damage to your possessions, or even to parts of the home. This can include damage to doors through which you have left, or behind which the Cavapoo is contained, or damage to the owner’s possessions. In extreme situations dogs with separation anxiety have been known to chew through walls, tiles and insulation [2], or even chew through the electrical supply in a house leading to the house catching on fire [3]
- House soiling. It is less common in separation anxiety that Cavapoos may soil the house through defecation or urination. These unwelcome consequences may be found when the owner returns home.
- Other consequences. Other signs of separation anxiety can include excessive pacing by your dog, excessive self-grooming (they could lick themselves so much as to cause injury), attempts to escape the home, and trembling [4]
Separation anxiety signs in a Cavapoo usually start when the owner is preparing to leave the home and can be triggered when the departure routine begins. In separation anxiety the signs may be seen every time the owner leaves the home, or only on certain occasions.
- Other signs of separation anxiety may be identified ahead of those that occur once the owner leaves the home. These early indicators can include:
- The Cavapoo being very close to their owner and having an especially strong emotional bond
Following the owner from room to room - Longing for physical connection with the primary caregiver, and prioritizing this attention ahead of attention from other family members
- Becoming extremely excited when the owner returns
Cavapoos generally form strong attachments with their caregivers, so these additional signs may not indicate separation anxiety. These additional signs can occur in Cavapoos. It is also possible that some of the main signs of separation anxiety can be due to other causes. We shall explore alternative causes to separation anxiety in the next sections.
Could my Cavapoo be Suffering from something other than Separation Anxiety?
As we have outlined, separation anxiety in Cavapoos typically results in vocalizations or destructive behavior, and can include toilet ‘accidents’ and other signs. But in many cases these signs can be present, but the cause may not be separation anxiety.
One of the first things to ask is whether, apart from when the owner is departing or departed, the signs are present. If the Cavapoo is exhibiting signs of distress, destructive behavior etc. while the owner is home, then this may indicate another cause.
One of the best ways to tell is to set up a security camera in the area where the Cavapoo stays and film their activity while you are gone. This will show what they get up to and whether that behavior is similar or not to their behavior while you are around, and whether signs of separation anxiety are present. It can also help to record the audio of these times to determine whether vocalizations are occurring.
If the signs are only present when the owner departs, then again it may be due to another cause. Vocalizations can be due to your Cavapoo seeing people or animals outside through a window or it can be due to noise near the home which indicates someone approaching. Most Cavapoos will bark when somebody comes to the door, for example. It can also be caused by the owner being away too long. While they can be kept at home for short periods, Cavapoos should not be left alone for long periods, as we explore here.
Cavapoos that destroy property while their owners are away may be bored and lacking stimulation. Again, this can occur when the dog is left alone for long periods. We cover toys to keep Cavapoos amused while their owners are away here. It can also be that the Cavapoo is anxious about being confined for long periods, and they may attempt to free themselves from the room they are in, or the home in general, because of this.
As we have covered previously, soiling the home through urination or defecation is not a common consequence of separation anxiety, but can occur. For younger dogs this is more likely to be caused by incomplete toilet training. We cover toilet training your Cavapoo in detail, including our 7Rs of Cavapoo Potty Training here.
Other causes of the signs of separation anxiety can be due to an external event triggering the behavior. This could be nearby construction or outdoor event which causes the Cavapoo to get distressed, or it could be due to bad weather such as thunderstorms in the area. Fireworks are also a triggering factor for many dogs, with these and other loud noises known to cause Cavapoos to show signs of anxiety.
Finally it might be that your Cavapoo has other medical reasons why they may show signs of separation anxiety. The signs could be due to mental impairment, loss of vision or hearing or a tendency to become anxious in general. If in doubt you should see your vet and get a professional appraisal.
Why do Cavapoos Get Separation Anxiety?
While Cavapoos may be triggered to show signs of separation anxiety when their owner departs or has departed the home, there can be deeper issues that lead to this situation which should be explored. Knowing what leads to separation anxiety, and what factors make it more likely, can help avoid it in the first place.
It is worth noting that Cavapoos are bred to be with people. They are family dogs that crave attention from humans and therefore are happiest when you are around and are least happy when you are not. They rightfully become a member of most families in which they live and want to spend most of their time with you. This in and of itself is not separation anxiety, and nor can this be avoided as its inherent in the breed (plus who would want a Cavapoo that DIDN’T want to be with the family!)
Extensive research has been conducted into the factors that lead to separation anxiety (the WHY) [5]. This research in some cases shows very mixed results, while in other research the factors that predispose a dog to separation anxiety are more clear:
- Sex of dog. Some research has indicated that separation anxiety is more common in male dogs, while other research indicates it does not play a role
- Sleeping location. Some research indicates that dogs which sleep with their owner or in a location other than their own bed, are more likely to develop separation anxiety. Other research indicates it makes no difference.
- Source of dog. Some research indicates that dogs from shelters or strays are more likely to develop separation anxiety, while others have shown that dogs acquired from breeders are just as likely to develop it.
- Make up of family. Some research has shown that smaller families without children or families with a greater number of female adults may lead to greater signs of separation anxiety, but other research has shown this makes no difference.
- A Change in the Household. There is some evidence that separation anxiety can be brought on by a change in the household – the dog suffers a stressful event, a new member of the family arrives or the owner’s routine changes, although the evidence that this causes separation anxiety is mixed.
- Access to Food Continually. Dogs which have access to food whenever they want it, rather than being fed at specific times are more likely to experience separation anxiety.
- Apartment dwelling. Dogs that live in apartments are more likely to suffer from separation anxiety. Dogs with separation anxiety in apartments are also shown to lead to more aggressive behavior.
- Lack of Socialization. Dogs which are exposed to people, places and other dogs outside the home between the ages of 5 and 10 months are less likely to develop separation anxiety than those that are not.
- Early Separation from the Litter. Those dogs which are separated from the litter in the first 60 days are more likely to suffer from separation anxiety. This is increased in those dogs sourced from pet shops.
- Excessive attention from the owner. Dogs which are more highly pampered by their owners are more likely to suffer signs of separation anxiety.
Consequences of Separation Anxiety
The most immediate consequence of separation anxiety is concern for the effect it can have on your Cavapoo. Like all mental illness, separation anxiety causes an inner pain to your dog’s psyche which no good dog owner would want their beloved pet to go through. But the consequences of separation anxiety can extend much farther.
Separation anxiety can lead to physical harm to your dog – dogs with separation anxiety have been known to eat away at objects which they shouldn’t, which has been known to lead to trauma to their mouth and face. Such is the mental depravation suffered by the poor dog, they continue their destruction even in pain. It is very sad.
The next consequence of course is to the owners of the Cavapoo concerned. Knowing your dog is unhappy when you leave them can lead to a toll on you and on your household. Bringing a Cavapoo into your home is about enhancing the happiness in your family unit, but if they suffer greatly every time you part, this can quickly impact on that improved quality of life.
Because separation anxiety can lead to poor behavior from the dog, including vocalisations, this can inevitably lead to complaints from neighbors which can then cause additional stress to the owners. I used to work with somebody who used to sit at work each day listening to hours of recordings of their home from the previous day, to listen whether their dogs were barking while she was away. This was due to complaints she’d received on their incessant barking which she was unable to verify. Not a good situation to be in.
As we described earlier, separation anxiety can lead to your Cavapoo destroying property inside the home which could include your possessions, your walls, doors or other parts of the home itself. These can be costly to repair and further impact the feelings of the owners.
The ultimate consequence of separation anxiety can be, in rare cases, dog owners having to rehome their dogs. In some cases, this can sadly lead to the dog being euthanized. Clearly, nobody wants to get to this position, but sometimes the owners are in a state of such stress that they see no alternative.
Of course, what we want to do is seek out ways to deal with separation anxiety before the consequences escalate. We will cover some strategies you can use to improve the situation in the next section.
Strategies to Avoid Separation Anxiety in a Cavapoo Puppy
Unlike the selection process of a puppy to ensure the health of the Cavapoo – which we cover in depth here – selecting a Cavapoo to be more or less likely to develop separation anxiety is very challenging.
There are no physical markers to look for, and behavior at a young age is no guarantee of behavior when fully grown. But there are a few things a prospective owner can do.
Based on the factors likely to lead to separation anxiety, a new Cavapoo owner can look at the following:
- Only select a puppy that has been with the litter for more than 60 days
- Do not buy the puppy from a pet shop (this is bad for a number of reasons which we describe here)
- Consider a female puppy over a male puppy, although the research is still quite mixed on this
- Ensure that you properly socialize the puppy when they are young, paying particular attention to getting them out of the house between the ages of 5 and 10 months so they can mix with other dogs, other people and different sights and sounds
- Expose your Cavapoo to lots of noise when they are young – we don’t mean extreme noise like fireworks and other things that can frighten them, but noises like vacuum cleaners, walking past construction sites, walking on busy streets, etc.
- Teach your Cavapoo puppy to be self-sufficient. Invest in some quality toys, and make sure you give time and attention to your Cavapoo so they learn to play a variety of games, including ones which they can continue while you are absent. Think about providing the most enriching environment possible for your dog.
- Avoid over-pampering your pooch! Most Cavapoo owners love cuddling and playing with their Cavapoo, and this is fine but sometimes it can get extreme and such behavior can lead to overattachment by the Cavapoo. Try to limit your overt affect (physical touching, cuddling, carrying, etc.) or better still get the whole family to share in affection towards your Cavapoo and introduce other interactions which are less doting
- Avoid ‘making up’ for your absences by extended periods of intense time spent with your Cavapoo on your return. It is better to moderate your time away and then continue a normal household routine when you are home.
- Prepare well before you leave the home. Leaving your Cavapoo puppy is inevitable, although you should not leave Cavapoos alone when they are too young which we cover here. When you do leave make sure you provide toys for your Cavapoo, plenty of water and a comfortable bed for them. It can help to establish a word that indicates you are leaving – we use “Daisy Not Coming” so she knows she is not coming with us. We also give her a teething chew for longer departures, so she associates this with us departing and has a little treat to make up for our absence.
Strategies to Deal with Separation Anxiety in an Adult Cavapoo
Owners dealing with separation anxiety in their Cavapoo are dealing with one of the most stressful situations a dog owner can experience.
Leaving a dog you know will suffer emotionally to the point of vocalization, or worse, physical damage to your home and themselves while you’re absent, can take a huge toll. It is little wonder some owners take the drastic measure of having their dog rehomed.
While it is stressful, there are a range of options available to deal with separation anxiety in fully grown Cavapoos. There are also some strategies which are adopted by desperate owners, but which are shown to be ineffective. We’ll cover both below.
Systematic Desensitization. Systematic desensitization has been found to be one of the most effective methods of reducing or eliminating separation anxiety. In fact, studies have indicated a near perfect record in combating the issue [6].
Systematic desensitization can be likened to the ways humans can resolve lifelong phobias. The dog in question is exposed in a mild way to the issue (in this case separation) and gradually the length of time they are exposed is increased until it gets to the time needed. While it sounds almost too simple, research is compelling as to its benefits.
One of the reasons systematic desensitization works is because generally dogs left alone will not begin their unwelcome behavior until several minutes have passed since the owner left. By exploiting this, the owner can leave initially for a few seconds, then follow this up with slightly longer and slightly longer, getting to minutes and eventually getting to hours.
When the owner returns it is important they praise the Cavapoo to show they have done a good job of avoiding the behavior in their absence.
Counterconditioning. Counterconditioning is built on classical conditioning (think Pavlov’s Dogs) and is a way of associating something feared together with something desired in order to build certain behaviors.
Most dogs gain pleasure from eating (no surprise there) so the basis of using counterconditioning in dealing with separation anxiety is to associate a pleasurable experience with the separation. Because eating is pleasurable, if the Cavapoo is given food when the owners depart, it is hard for them to be distressed as they associate the departure with a pleasurable experience.
Counterconditioning is often used in combination with Systematic desensitization, and the results are compelling with studies showing the combination of these approaches being effective at dealing with separation anxiety [6][7].
As well as being effective, systematic desensitization and counterconditioning are preferred by many dog owners because they do not require medication to work and are inexpensive. They do, however, require time and dedication to see results.
When it comes to medicine there are options available to deal with separation anxiety. These can have some success but long term usually need to be complemented with additional training in order to see any permanent change in the dog’s behavior. See you vet for medical options.
Another option which has indicated some success in dealing with separation anxiety, is treatment with pheromones. Pheromones are airborne chemicals that effect a reaction in another person, dog, animal of the same species. Some studies have indicated that pheromone treatment for dogs with separation anxiety has been shown to have some success.
In all of the above, it is important to have a clear picture of how your Cavapoo is behaving so you can define exactly how the situation is, and track progress as you work to improve it. It can also help in communicating the issues you are facing with others, including vets.
It can help to invest in a security camera in the house to monitor your Cavapoo when you are not present. This will give you a much clearer idea of how they are behaving while also giving you a record to compare against as you start to deal with the issue.
As well as things which have been shown to be effective against separation anxiety, there are also things which have been shown to not make a difference. It is important to dispel some of these myths to avoid you going down the wrong path!
Here are some things known not to work when dealing with separation anxiety:
- A second Cavapoo to keep your Cavapoo company. While this, on the face of it, sounds like the ideal solution, it is unfortunately unproven. Some studies have shown that companionship has a positive impact on separation anxiety, but others have shown it does not. It is a big investment to make, especially if the results are unclear.
- Crate training. Crate training is supported by many owners around the world and can be an effective training method. But introducing crate training to a Cavapoo that is suffering from separation anxiety could make things worse rather than better. Studies have shown crate training dogs suffering with separation anxiety can lead to excessive lip licking which can develop into sores. Done from the start it can work out well, but it is not a solution to be introduced to deal with separation anxiety once it occurs.
- Punishment. Punishing your Cavapoo when you return home to discover the consequences of separation anxiety might seem appropriate, but it is ineffective. It can be horrifying to return home and discover your dog has been whining non-stop, or they have damaged items in the house, or they had toilet accidents in the home. But as bad as this is, dogs respond best to punishments which are dealt out immediately after the issue they are being punished for. They can only associate the wrong-doing if they are punished immediately, just as they can only be rewarded when they are praised at the time of the success.
Closing Thoughts
Cavapoos are great breeds, known for devotion to their owners and longing to be around them almost all the time. This is heartwarming and one of the main reasons they have become so popular, particularly with people who spend a lot of time at home.
The downside is Cavapoos are contenders to develop separation anxiety. We have covered things which can be done to minimize this risk – from selecting puppies from the right breeder and at the right time, through to active steps you can take as your puppy grows to ensure they are socialized, and keeping them in a stimulating environment where they learn to be self-sufficient.
If you have done everything you can and your Cavapoo still develops separation anxiety it is important not to beat yourself up. Mental illness is a complex thing, both in humans and dogs, and one we are learning more about all the time. The good news is there are options to deal with separation anxiety, even in severe cases, so try and fight the urge to panic or give up and apply the things we have outlined in this article.
Remember also to seek support from family and friends to deal with separation anxiety and its fallout, as well as seek support from your family’s vet. What can seem like an impossible situation at the time often isn’t and can be addressed with patience and application of proven approaches.
[1] Bradshaw J. In Defence of Dogs. Why Dogs Need Our Understanding. London, UK: Penguin Press; 2011.
[2] Overall KL. Animal behavior case of the month. A dog was examined because of profound separation anxiety. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998;212(11):1702–1704.
[3] Gaultier E, Bonnafous L, Bougrat L, Lafont C, Pageat P. Comparison of the efficacy of a synthetic dog-appeasing pheromone with clomipramine for the treatment of separation-related disorders in dogs. Vet Rec. 2005;156(17):533–538.
[4] Palestrini C, Minero M, Cannas S, Rossi E, Frank D. Video analysis of dogs with separation-related behaviors.
[5] Sargisson RJ. Canine separation anxiety: strategies for treatment and management. Vet Med (Auckl). 2014 Oct 30;5:143-151. doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S60424. PMID: 33062616; PMCID: PMC7521022.
[6] Butler R, Sargisson RJ, Elliffe D. (2011). The efficacy of systematic desensitization for treating the separation-related problem behaviour of domestic dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2010;129(2–4):136–145.
[7] Rogerson J. Canine fears and phobias; a regime for treatment without recourse to drugs. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 1997;52(3–4):291–297.
Other sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7521022/
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/separation-anxiety-in-dogs
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/separation-anxiety