Separation anxiety in dogs is a common yet distressing condition for dogs and their owners. It can lead to undesirable behaviours like excessive barking, destructive chewing, or even accidents in the house.
Understanding this upsetting issue is the first step toward helping your dog feel more secure and happy when alone.
What Is Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety occurs when a dog becomes overly distressed when separated from its owner or left alone.
Unlike boredom or lack of training, separation anxiety is an emotional response to perceived isolation, often requiring specific strategies.
If your furry pal is suffering from separation anxiety, it doesn’t make any difference to his response if you leave him alone for 10 minutes or three hours. To your dog, it feels like his world has ended, and you’re never coming home.
Signs of Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Your doggy pal may have separation anxiety if they exhibit the following behaviours when you’re away:
- Vocalisations: Excessive barking, whining, or howling that starts soon after you leave.
- Destructive Behaviors: Your dog may chew furniture, scratch doors, rip up his bed or destroy household items.
- House Soiling: Urinating or defecating indoors despite being house-trained.
- Escape Attempts: Trying to break out of crates, rooms, or even the house.
- Pacing or Restlessness: Moving anxiously in a pattern, often near doors or windows.
- Pre-Departure Anxiety: Clinginess or distress as you prepare to leave.
You may feel confused if your dog displays separation anxiety when you have other dogs in the home. That’s’ OK. While most dogs are happy to be left with their furry friends, some pine for their owners.
When we rescued Luna in April 2015, we had three dogs. They were all left together when we occasionally went out. The dogs were in a large dining room with a flagstone floor. Luna systematically destroyed two padded chairs, tearing the furnishings down to the wood.
We had a camera we could access from our mobile phones, and we could see that Luna was distressed.
Causes of Canine Separation Anxiety
The precise cause of separation anxiety can vary, but common triggers include:
- Changes in Routine: Dogs thrive on consistency. A new work schedule, move, or other disruptions can create stress.
- Rescue or Rehoming: Dogs adopted from shelters may develop anxiety due to past abandonment.
- Trauma: Experiencing a traumatic event while alone, such as a loud thunderstorm or break-in, can trigger separation issues.
- Genetic Predisposition: Certain breeds, like Labrador Retrievers or German Shepherds, may be more prone to anxiety.
One of the most common problems I observe with separation anxiety and other problematic behaviours is that owners inadvertently reinforce a behaviour.
For example, a lady asked me how to stop her dog barking at the TV. When I asked her what she had tried, she said the family stroked him until the dog stopped barking.
Why is that wrong?
Primarily, you can’t train a dog using human psychology. If your child is afraid of something, soothing them is appropriate. If your furry friend is worried, stroking him is a reward. So, inadvertently, you are telling your dog his behaviour is encouraged.
Moreover, the more attention you give to a behaviour, the harder it is to extinguish.
One training principle forever etched in my brain is, “You cannot teach a dog what NOT to do. You can only teach your dog what to do.”
In other words, successful training is about teaching your dog better alternatives to negative behaviour.
How to Help Your Dog Learn to Be Alone
I work from home and rarely leave the house for over three hours. Still, our dogs need to feel secure enough to relax when we go out. Teaching your dog to be comfortable being left alone (or even with his playmates) is a work in progress, so don’t expect instant results. Be patient, and it will come.
Tip #1: Gradual Desensitisation
This method involves teaching your dog to tolerate being alone by slowly increasing the time you’re away:
- Start by leaving the dog in a room in the house for just a few minutes. There is no need to speak to your four-legged pal. Just leave quietly.
- Build up to leaving the house for a few minutes
- Gradually extend the duration as your dog becomes more comfortable.
- Avoid making a fuss when leaving or returning to keep emotions neutral.
In my experience, most owners find it extremely difficult to ignore their dogs when they return home from an outing. Raised excited voices, allowing jumping up, giving treats and making a big fuss of a dog experiencing separation anxiety will prolong the issue.
Tip #2: Provide Mental Stimulation
Engage your dog’s mind to reduce boredom and anxiety:
- Use puzzle toys or treat-dispensing toys to keep them occupied.
- Rotate toys to maintain interest.
- Consider interactive feeders during meal times.
Make sure you give your dog safety-approved toys or chews. NEVER leave your dog with rawhide chews. I don’t give them to my dogs because they can get stuck in a dog’s throat once they get chewed into smaller pieces.
Having once pulled a rawhide chew out of the back of a neighbour’s dog throat, I stopped buying these chews.
Tip #3: Create a Safe Space
Designate a comfortable, familiar area for your dog when you’re away:
- Use a crate or room with cosy bedding and a few toys.
- Leave items with your scent, like an old T-shirt, to provide comfort.
There’s often a lot of debate about crating a dog. Your dog’s crate must be his safe space, a place where he can sleep, eat, have quiet time playing with a toy, etc. Never use the crate as a punishment.
Positive crate training will teach your dog that it’s his special place where good things happen.
Tip #4: Exercise Before You Leave
Physical activity helps expend excess energy and promotes relaxation:
- Take your dog for a brisk walk or engage in a game of fetch. Don’t overdo the latter, as it produces a lot of adrenaline and cortisol, leaving the dog feeling hyper.
- Ensure your woofer has enough time to wind down before you depart.
My typical routine for going out is to walk my dogs for an hour. I feed about 20 minutes after the walk and leave within 10-20 minutes.
And yes, like most dog owners, I always tell my fur babies how long I will be 😊
Tip #5: Seek Professional Help
If your dog’s anxiety persists, consult a veterinarian or certified dog behaviourist. They can recommend advanced strategies, training plans, or approved medication if necessary.
Tip #6: Invest in Enrichment Toys
Enrichment toys help distract your dog from his anxiety and can work exceptionally well. The following are a few popular enrichment toys I recommend to clients with dogs suffering from separation anxiety.
- Licky Mats for Dogs and Cats: A pack of 4 lick mats with suction cups for dog anxiety relief.
- LickiMat Yoggie Pot: A fabulous enrichment toy made of long lasting rubber. The LickiMat Yoggie Pot is a slow feeder that dispenses treats, keeping your anxious dog amused whilst you are out.
- PETRFOH 3-in-1 Dog Treat Toy for Aggressive Chewers: This enrichment toy is made from natural rubber. It’s a top-rated product as it’s robust and great for aggressive chewers (which anxious dogs tend to be)
What to Avoid When Rehabilitating Your Dog
As mentioned before, most behavioural problems I encounter are caused or prolonged by their owners’ lack of dog psychology knowledge.
Every moment you spend with your dog, you are training what to do. The more you reinforce a behaviour, the more ingrained it becomes. Moreover, you can’t unpick an existing behaviour. The only way to extinguish it is to teach a replacement behaviour.
Read: Fearful or Nervous Dogs: How to Build Confidence Over Time
Punishment
Separation anxiety in dogs is a problem that needs understanding and patience.
Never scold your dog for destructive behaviour caused by anxiety; it can worsen the problem. Even if your furry friend has chewed your most expensive shoes (Luna ruined a brand new £175 pair of walking boots!), that’s down to you.
If you know your dog is destructive, don’t leave valuables lying about within his reach.
Over-Attention
Resist the urge to smother your dog with attention before leaving or after returning. I get it. You feel guilty. I loathe leaving my dogs and have engineered my entire life around them, so they’re rarely alone for long.
They know when I plan to leave and put themselves in their sleeping areas where they wait for one biscuit (which they’ve earned from years of being good when I go out).
When I return home, I walk in, hang up my keys and handbag, take off my boots and put on the kettle. In that five minutes, they dash out to the toilet and then return for a fuss.
And yes, I do apologise if I am out longer than I promised 😊
Abrupt Departures
Avoid leaving for extended periods without preparing your dog, especially during training.
Start as You Mean to Go On
Whether you’re bringing home a young puppy or an older rescue dog, establish your routine as it will be for the rest of your dog’s life. What often goes wrong is that during the first week, new owners spend excessive time cuddling, walking, and snuggling with their new arrival.
In the second week, they return to work, or their normal routine and the dog gets confused. Suddenly, all the attention disappears, and the dog feels bereft.
From day one, give your puppy time to self-soothe and have time away from the family. Reward him for calm, non-reactive behaviour and avoid making a big fuss when seeing your furry friend again.
Read: Classical and Operant Conditioning Dog Training Differences
Final Thoughts
Separation anxiety in dogs can be challenging to overcome. Still, with patience, consistency, and the right approach, most dogs can learn to feel more secure when left alone. Remember, progress can take time. Every dog is unique, and training may require a different approach. Your furry pal will feel more confident and happy in no time with your support and understanding.
I don’t advocate leaving toys with dogs when you are out, but the Snuggle Puppy Heartbeat Stuffed Toy for Dogs – Pet Anxiety Relief and Calming Aid can help your dog feel more content in his safe space so he is calmer before you leave the house.
If you found this guide helpful, share it with fellow dog owners who may be struggling with the same issue!
You can also find more doggy articles written by me on Pets Radar
Essential Reading:
Separation Anxiety in Dogs: Next Generation Treatment Protocols and Practices: A fabulous book that gives a clear step-by-step process for a dog owner managing separation anxiety.
Scaredy Dog!: Understanding & Rehabilitating Your Reactive Dog:
This little book was my bible when I was rehabilitating my fearful reactive Weimaraner X, Poppy. The exercises are specific for nervous reactive dogs, and you will see results quickly if you implement them.
Paws and Thinks – Mental Workout for Your Dog: A fantastic book with 100+ games to enrich your dog’s life, teaching him new skills that will build his confidence.
101 Dog Tricks and Brain Games For Dogs 2 Books Collection Set: These two books help your dog learn to think for himself and gain new skills.
Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.