This study was performed to investigate the understanding and recognition status on separation anxiety in dogs. Most breeders(95% of the survey respondents) knew about separation anxiety in dogs, but they often neglected their dogs with no treatment and no taking care of them. Symptoms of separation anxiety are mental anxiety conditions, such as severely barking, disturbing house littered, defecation mistake and self-injury. Breeders may suffer the hardships with their dogs having separation anxiety. So the efforts are needed to reduce the occurrence of separation anxiety, and it is desirable for patients to seek animal behavior counseling, behavioral correction training, and medication therapy.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of four types of environmental enrichment on the improvement of companion dogs' behavioral problems due to separation anxiety. A total of 21 dogs of various breeds were included in the study. Data were collected to investigate the behaviors associated with anxiety in dogs, including vocalization, elimination, escape attempts, and destructiveness. A first stage, in which the dog and owner were together (P0), lasted 15 min, and a second stage, in which the dog and owner were separated (P1), lasted 15 min. After the dog and owner were separated (P1), the third stage (P2), during which the environment was enriched, lasted 20 min, and the fourth stage, following environment enrichment (P3), lasted 15 min. The results of the study indicated that compared to P0, the frequency of problematic behavior was highest during the 15 min following separation from the owner (P1). Following environmental enrichment, the average frequency of problematic behaviors in P2 decreased (P < 0.001) compared to P1. Environmental enrichment can also be used appropriately in the case of companion dogs, including shelter dogs or experimental dogs that use a limited kennel, and is a particularly effective means of improving the quality of life of dogs.