Containment Phobia In Dogs

To Whom It May Concern:

Thank you for reviewing this material.  The concept of containment phobia in dogs was first published in the Invisible Fence® Brand Dog’s Life newsletter in 2003.  The article you are about to read was published in the IACP Safe Hands Journal summer issue 2006.  I would like to thank you in advance for doing your part in making a distinction with other professionals regarding this subject. 

Containment Phobia In Dogs 

The Sisters: Claustrophobia and Containment Phobia

 Most of us have heard the analogy that the crate is to a dog what the den is to the wolf and that dogs love their crate like their own private den.  This may be true for some dogs but not when the dog is claustrophobic.  Claustrophobia does occur in dogs as well. 

 Claustrophobia is defined as a fear of confined spaces.  Dogs, like people who suffer from claustrophobia, experience panic and an acceleration of their heart rate.  People will sweat while dogs instead will pant and drool.  I have known numerous customers who said that at first, they had thought that their dog had urinated in the crate when in fact it hadn’t; there was just that much drool.

 We must recognize, as pet professionals, that some dogs are claustrophobic.  Once this truth is acknowledged we can begin to prescribe the right choices for managing the pet’s behavior in the owner’s absence.

 Containment phobia, the sister to claustrophobia, is different.  Containment phobia is defined as a fear of being trapped.  It is the inability to move freely from one environment to another regardless of the size of the space that frightens them. This is very likely connected to an animal’s genetically pre-programmed survival instincts which includes the fear of being caught. 

 A dog with containment phobia that is locked outside in the back yard with no one home may destroy the house trying to get in, or jump the wall, or destroy the fence or gate trying to get out.  This same dog is capable of equivalent damage when locked inside a house and attempts to escape to the outside.  It is not the size of the space that frightens them, but being trapped or contained in an area.  Dog owners and pet professionals have often nicknamed the escape behavior artist the “Houdini” dog.

Treating Phobias

A phobia is an irrational fear. It is not based on a real threat or danger but on an imagined one.  The symptoms however, are very real and very unpleasant for the pet that experiences them.

 There is a lot of debate and discussion among scholars on the cause of phobias.  It is an important debate because it provides a direction for treatment.  If a pet has a learned fear of something, the fear may be cured by confronting it repeatedly and using desensitizing techniques, along with counter conditioning efforts.  However, when the fear is inherent, it may not be possible to cure it.

Thunderstorm Phobia in Dogs 

Thunderstorm phobia in dogs is seldom learned behavior; rather it is passed down genetically from generation to generation.  A fear of thunderstorms doesn’t usually appear until after a dog turns 6 months of age.  Often, a dog owner will relate the story that the first time he noticed the dog panic was when a car drove by and backfired.  Shortly thereafter, the owner noticed that the dog had a fear of thunderstorms.  Did the dog learn to fear loud noises?  More often than not the answer is no.  This dog had the genetic predisposition to thunderstorm phobia, and the car backfiring triggered the onset of the phobia.

 Pet professionals understand and accept thunderstorm phobia in dogs.  We understand the dog’s desperate attempts to escape that can result.  We don’t blame the owner for the condition.  Desensitization techniques typically fail, and obedience training has no impact on eliminating the phobia.  It can only be used to distract and redirect the dog under the circumstances.  It’s the behavior problem we dread, because we know there is little we can do.  We cannot manage the source or the stimulus which is the weather.  Drug therapy is often prescribed which can be very helpful in softening the trauma experienced by the dog. 

The Profile of the Containment Phobic Dog

Breeds

It is neither breed nor gender specific.

Size of dog

It is present in all sizes of dogs from toy to giant.  The smaller dog may not choose fence jumping or attacking windows as an escape route for obvious reasons.

Age of dog

Phobias tend to show up with age.  Containment phobia, just like thunderstorm phobia, will most likely begin after six months of age.

Temperament of dog

Some of the calmest and best-behaved dogs suffer from containment phobia.  Often, this is the only behavior problem the owner has with this dog.  It can also coexist with the whole hosts of other temperaments that we see in dogs. 

The condition is permanent

This is an inherent trait and the dog will not outgrow it. 

Mild to severe cases

The dog’s responses to containment phobia, at first, may seem mild, but just like thunderstorm phobia, containment phobia will become more severe with repetition and age. It is not the age of the dog that makes the experience and the dog’s response more violent. It is the repetition of the experience that comes with age. 

Early signs

Early signs are claustrophobic reactions when left in a crate.  Dogs that are claustrophobic will not always experience containment phobia.  However dogs that suffer from containment phobia are almost always likely to show early signs of being claustrophobic.  This same puppy is also more likely to scramble to jump over a gate when contained in a room.

 Escape behaviors include:

Ongoing attempts to break out of a dog crate

Ongoing attempts to escape every kennel run

Jumping over or going through dog gates

Jumping a fence

Digging out underneath a fence

Chewing and digging through a fence

Chewing and digging through a wall

Destroying exits when contained in a room.  This could include: doors, windows, window coverings such as curtains blinds, etc.

Breaking through glass windows

Chipping teeth on a chain link fence trying to escape

Self-mutilation and even death as a result of escape attempts

When sufficiently contained in the back yard, destroying the house trying to get in

 99% of this dog’s destructive behavior is targeted at barriers that prevent the freedom to move from one environment to another, namely indoors to outdoors and vice versa.  

Good News, There’s a Cure

 The good news is that with the correct diagnosis, treatment is very successful.

There is a cure for the destruction of home and property, not to mention the damage the dog may be doing to itself in the process.  There is a way for the dog and the dog’s owner to live happily ever after.

 Solution:  Modify the Environment

 The environment must be modified, because it is, indeed, the environment that is triggering containment phobia in the dog. That is great news! When a dog suffers from thunderstorm phobia there is nothing that can be done to control the weather.  However, with containment phobia, the environment can be controlled, and drugs are seldom necessary.

Every home environment and every dog is different.  Precisely what needs to be done at one home can vary from the next.  However, in all cases, the remedy is twofold.  First, give the dog freedom of movement and second have consequences in place for the escape behavior.  It is also very important that the modifications to the environment occur simultaneously.  We have to support the dog in making the right choices in the owner’s absence.

First, the dog has to be given the ability to move from one environment to the next and back again when it chooses.  Freedom of movement from indoors to outdoors is the ideal solution.  (In very mild cases, this is not always necessary.)  At most homes this can be done by installing a dog door and teaching the dog how to use it. 

Secondly, when the dog panics and goes to a location, be it the door, the window or a fence, it is with the intention of using whatever force is necessary to bypass it.  The dog is seeking the reward of escaping at this location and instead it has to find a consequence.  It also has to be a safe consequence of substantial force for the dog to decide “Oops! This is not an option.”

The Electronic Consequence for Escape Behavior

The beauty of the electronic correction is that it is safe and effective. The dog soon learns that everywhere is safe except for those places where it once tried to exit.  It has a sense of freedom and is also rewarded for making the right choice by avoiding negative reinforcement.

When used properly the electronic correction can be the best solution for dogs that display phobic level reactions.  When a dog is hysterical and its adrenaline is flowing, the consequence needs to be substantial to be an effective deterrent. 

I recommend the Invisible Fenceâ Brand solution.  The dog owner will have a qualified person to install the system and support with the training.  There is also a pet containment GUARANTEE!  That in itself should be worth it for most dog owners. 

Invisible Fence™ Brand is the leader in pet containment technology.  It is the brand most referred by veterinarians. This solution offers consistency and with owner receiving proper instruction this also minimizes the likelihood of human error.  There are both indoor as well as outdoor solutions which can combat all escape artists tactics.

Each situation is different, but with a knowledgeable behaviorist, and a qualified Invisible Fence™ Brand professional working together there will be a happy ending. 

Never Depend on a Remote Electronic Training Collar for Escape Behavior

The remote electronic training collar was never designed to be used for escape behavior.  I have known dog owners who thought they had the problem solved with a remote, but it was just a matter of time before the dog regressed, tried to escape again and there was no consequence in place because the owner wasn’t there. 

The Only Other Solution

Never leave the dog at home alone.

Containment Phobia Is Different From Separation Anxiety

Many social animals are distressed when separated from their companions or loved ones.  Feelings of loss and frustration are a result of love and attachment. Separation anxiety is related to the relationship between the dog and owner, so there are several things that an owner can do differently to reduce the level of frustration and unruly behavior that occurs when the owner is gone.  I would also be the first to agree that separation anxiety is without a doubt the leading cause of misbehavior in an owner’s absence.

Unfortunately, Containment phobia is almost always misdiagnosed or mislabeled as separation anxiety.  Professionals frequently jump to this conclusion as soon as they hear that it only happens in the owner’s absence.  In this case, it happens when the owner is gone because that’s when the dog is confined to one area.  The dog doesn’t panic being shut in when the owner is home because it knows that when the owner is there it will be let out.  The dog has learned that it can rely on the owner’s ability to unlock the door and provide freedom of movement.

Another distinguishing difference is that 99% of the containment phobic dog’s destructiveness is associated with escaping.  Destruction that occurs as a result of separation anxiety is more often directed at household items such as pillows, books, furniture etc. Dogs typically do not injure themselves in the process because this is an anxiety rather than a phobic reaction.