Care & how-to
Separation Anxiety in Dogs: Signs, Causes and What Helps
Separation anxiety in dogs is genuine panic at being left alone or apart from the person a dog is attached to. It shows up as barking or howling, destruction near doors and windows, accidents, pacing, drooling or escape attempts, usually only when the dog is alone. It is a fear problem, not spite or poor training, and it responds to gradual, reward-based alone-time training, with your vet involved for moderate or severe cases.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 9, 20264 min read3 sources
What is separation anxiety in dogs?
Separation anxiety is a distress response triggered by being separated from a person or people the dog is strongly bonded to. The dog is not angry that you left. It is frightened, and the behaviors you come home to are attempts to cope or to get back to you.
The distress often starts before you even leave. Many dogs notice the small cues of departure, such as keys, shoes, a coat or a bag, and begin to pace, whine or follow you closely. Behavior specialists distinguish true separation anxiety from milder isolation distress, but both deserve the same patient approach.
Signs your dog has separation anxiety
The most common signs happen only when the dog is alone or about to be: barking, howling or whining that goes on and on; chewing, scratching or digging at doors, door frames and window sills; peeing or pooping indoors in a house-trained dog; pacing in a fixed path; heavy panting and drooling; and escape attempts that can break teeth or nails.
Before you leave you may see shadowing from room to room, trembling or refusing food. When you return, an over-the-top greeting is typical. A recording from a phone or pet camera is the best way to see what really happens, and many owners are surprised how soon after the door closes the distress begins.
What causes separation anxiety?
No single cause is known, but common triggers include a change of family or home, a move, a new work schedule that suddenly leaves the dog alone for longer, or the loss of a person or another pet. Dogs adopted from shelters show it more often, perhaps because losing a home is itself a separation.
Puppies that never practiced short spells alone can struggle later, and a frightening event while alone, such as a storm or a break-in, can start it. In older dogs, pain, hearing or vision loss and cognitive changes can make being alone harder, which is one reason a vet check matters.
Problems that look like separation anxiety
Several other problems can be mistaken for it. A dog that has accidents when you are home too may not be fully house-trained or may have a urinary problem. Young dogs often chew from teething and boredom, not distress. Barking at passers-by while you are out may be territorial rather than anxious.
Medical issues come first on the list to rule out. Incontinence, digestive upsets and some medicine side effects can all cause house soiling. Your vet can check for these before you start a training plan, so you are treating the right problem.
Severe separation anxiety in dogs
In severe cases a dog may injure itself breaking out of a crate, chew through doors, or panic within seconds of being alone. These dogs should not be left alone at all while treatment starts, because each panic episode makes the next one more likely.
Practical options include a dog sitter, a friend or family member, doggy daycare, or taking the dog to work if possible. A veterinary behaviorist or certified behavior consultant can build a step-by-step plan, and your vet may discuss medication to lower the anxiety enough for training to work.
How separation anxiety is treated
Treatment is built on short, gradual absences that stay below the point where your dog gets upset, so it learns that being alone is safe. Calm departures and low-key homecomings, plenty of exercise and enrichment, and a food toy given only when you leave all help. Our guide to separation anxiety training walks through the steps.
Never punish a dog for what it did while you were gone. It cannot link the scolding to the earlier damage, and it adds fear. Call your vet if your dog injures itself, stops eating, or if you see no progress after several weeks of careful training.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can separation anxiety in dogs be cured?
Many dogs improve a great deal with patient alone-time training, routine changes and, where needed, treatment your vet prescribes. Progress is often slow, and some dogs always need a bit of extra support, but most can learn to cope much better.
Does getting a second dog help separation anxiety?
Sometimes, but often not. Separation anxiety is usually about being apart from a particular person, so another dog may not ease it. Try a trial with a friend's calm dog before committing to a second pet.
At what age does separation anxiety start in dogs?
It can appear at any age. It often shows up in adolescent dogs or after a life change such as a move or a new schedule, and it can appear for the first time in senior dogs.
Is crating good for a dog with separation anxiety?
It depends on the dog. Some feel secure in a crate, but others panic and injure themselves trying to escape. If your dog is distressed in a crate, a gated, dog-proofed room may be safer.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
