How to Help With Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Separation anxiety in dogs is real distress, not disobedience, that shows up only when a dog is left alone or separated from their person: barking or howling, destructive chewing at doors and windows, escape attempts, accidents, pacing or drooling. The fix is gradual training that teaches your dog being alone is safe, starting with absences short enough that your dog stays calm, plus enough exercise and enrichment. Severe cases often need help from your vet or a qualified behavior professional, and some dogs benefit from medication.
Separation anxiety can be a big challenge. It's natural for dogs to form an attachment to their owners, but that doesn't mean they should panic or destroy the house every time you go somewhere without them.
Maybe your dog becomes anxious and distressed whenever you leave the house. Maybe your dog gets into all kinds of trouble while you're away. Meanwhile, you feel guilty about it and you know your dog is struggling.
The good news is that there are ways to help dogs with separation anxiety, and this article walks you through them. If your dog is showing signs of separation anxiety, it's important to handle it the right way. Using the wrong training methods, especially punishment, can make things a lot worse.
We'll also cover the symptoms of separation anxiety, the difference between separation anxiety and a lack of house manners, and the underlying causes that can contribute to it.
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How to Know if Your Dog Has Separation Anxiety?
There are quite a few signs that can indicate that your dog is dealing with the stress of separation anxiety. Dogs suffering from separation anxiety will usually exhibit multiple symptoms simultaneously. In the sections below we’ll explore the symptoms of canine separation anxiety more in depth.
1. Chewing, Digging and Destruction
Dogs experiencing separation anxiety can sometimes behave very destructively. When under distress they may chew on inappropriate things such as carpets, furniture, window sills, door frames, etc. They might damage household objects or try to dig under doors.
This can even potentially result in injury. Keep in mind that this behavior isn’t always necessarily caused by separation anxiety. Dogs with separation anxiety won’t exhibit this behavior when their caregiver is present, but only in their caregiver’s absence. It’s also likely that they will show other signs of separation anxiety as well.
2. Escape Attempts
Escape attempts are another symptom of separation anxiety, and in some cases they can be desperate and dangerous. When left alone your dog might try to dig or chew through exit points such as doors and windows. When escape attempts are related to a dog’s separation anxiety, they only occur when the caregiver is absent.
3. Coprophagia
Coprophagia is the consumption of feces. Some dogs will consume their own excrement when they are kept in isolation. Although the thought of such things sounds disgusting to us, this is not an uncommon issue. Though if your dog is eating feces, it’s a good idea to have them seen by a veterinarian, especially if this is accompanied by other medical symptoms such as your dog losing weight.
Keep in mind that if your dog engages in such behaviors when you’re around, it is not likely to be connected to separation anxiety.
4. Barking, Howling and Whining
Another common behavior of dogs suffering from separation anxiety is excessive barking. Your dog may whine or howl as you prepare to leave or after you’ve left. You’ll know this is a sign of separation anxiety if your pup doesn’t bark excessively when you are around.
It’s also likely that your dog will seem very anxious as you prepare to leave, such as drooling and/or panting excessively. You might also notice your dog pacing around in circles or back and forth in a line.
5. Other Signs
- Pacing, panting, drooling or trembling as you get ready to leave
- Peeing or pooping indoors only when left alone, even in a house-trained dog
- Refusing food or a favorite chew while you're gone, then eating as soon as you return
- Following you from room to room and becoming upset when a door closes between you
- Over-the-top greetings when you come home
Is It Separation Anxiety or Boredom?
A bored or under-exercised dog may also chew and bark, but usually calmly and often when you're home too. A dog with separation anxiety shows signs of panic within the first minutes after you leave. Setting up a phone or pet camera for your next departure is the easiest way to tell the difference. If boredom looks more likely, see our guide on under-stimulated dogs.
Why Do Dogs Develop Separation Anxiety?
There’s no exact formula to explain why some dogs develop separation anxiety and others don’t. However, there are certain situations and contributing factors that are associated with developing separation anxiety, such as the loss of a previous guardian. Next, we’ll explore the different elements that cause or contribute to separation anxiety in dogs.
Rescue Dog Separation Anxiety
While all dogs can suffer from separation anxiety, rescue dogs in particular are more likely to deal with the condition. Separation anxiety itself can be the cause of dogs being abandoned or surrendered in the first place. And to dogs without any pre-existing separation anxiety, abandonment can also be a major contributing factor to developing it.
Being surrendered to a shelter or abandoned can be an extremely traumatic experience. Dog’s lives are turned upside down, their routines completely disrupted. Losing connection with their previous owners and homes can be painful and confusing.
Situations like these can contribute to dogs becoming overly insecure and attached. Any change of guardian or family situation can bring about this form of anxiety.
Puppy Separation Anxiety
In addition to rescue dogs, young pups are also more likely to suffer from separation anxiety. When pups have never really been left alone before this can naturally cause some fear to arise in the first couple of times you leave the house.
Some puppies are affected more traumatically than others by being separated from their mothers, and this can also potentially lead to separation anxiety later in life. Puppies’ unique personalities come into play too, as some simply have a lot more of an independent spirit than others.
Young dogs thrive on a consistent routine, and a chaotic schedule can contribute to clingy behavior. A lack of exercise and mental stimulation can also make anxious behavior worse.
Puppyhood often comes with an array of behavioral issues other than separation anxiety, and puppies can obviously be destructive for other reasons. They are often teething and still learning house manners, potty training, etc.
So it’s important to discern the cause of your puppies’ behavior. Do they only act out when left in isolation, or does it happen at other times as well?
It’s also important to respond to signs of separation anxiety as quickly as you can. The sooner you can implement appropriate training to resolve the separation anxiety, the better.
Change in Residence
Moving into a new home or apartment can also lead to increased anxiety levels. Moving can be a confusing experience for your dog. It disrupts the rhythm of a daily routine, and it can take some time for your furry friend to adapt and grow comfortable in a new location. The loss or absence of a family member can cause anxiety as well.
How to Help a Dog With Separation Anxiety
As a rule, you never want to punish a dog for separation anxiety. Your dog isn't misbehaving on purpose, and punishment adds fear. Here are the top methods that can help dogs with mild separation anxiety, followed by training plans for more severe cases.
Some mild cases improve with simple counterconditioning. Counterconditioning is the process of pairing something your dog finds upsetting with something they really enjoy, such as a special treat or a food-stuffed toy. Over time your dog starts to associate the trigger with something good.
For example, you might offer your dog a special treat or long-lasting chew only as you're leaving the house. Your dog learns that the best treats appear when she is home alone. If your dog won't touch the treat until you come back, that's a sign the anxiety is more than mild, and you'll want to use the graduated departure plan below.
You can also work with pre-departure cues. Your dog may come to associate being left alone with you grabbing your keys or putting on your coat. Introduce these cues randomly throughout the day, without leaving. You might put on your coat and grab your keys and then just sit on your couch. This takes away the power these triggers hold over your dog.
Another thing that's surprisingly important is exercise. A well-exercised dog is more likely to relax when left alone. Physical activity and mental work reduce stress and tire your dog out in a good way. A long walk, a sniff-heavy outing, a short training session or a few minutes with a flirt pole before you leave can all help. See how much exercise dogs need for guidance by breed and age.
A good play session before you leave can help your dog settle while you are gone. A tough ball makes it easy to burn off energy with a quick game of fetch.
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Dog Separation Anxiety Training
Sometimes separation anxiety goes beyond the norm and falls into the moderate to severe range. These training approaches help, and they work best together.
1. Crate Training
For some dogs, a crate they already love can be a calm, safe place to rest while you're away. Crates are not cruel when used in an appropriate way, but they won't fix separation anxiety on their own, and some anxious dogs panic when confined. You want your dog to associate their crate with safety, comfort, toys, and tasty treats.
Many dogs feel more comfortable having their own safe and personal space to settle into when they are left alone. Being comfortable in a crate is a great step towards resolving separation anxiety. However, there are some dogs who just aren’t well suited to being in a crate.
If your dog shows signs of increased distress after being put into a crate, such as heavy panting, barking, and trying to escape, then crate training is not a good option for your dog. Instead, you might try using dog gates to contain your dog to one room.
This can be a helpful way to keep your dog safe and out of trouble while you are still in the process of resolving his separation anxiety.
2. Keep Departures and Arrivals Calm
Your dog takes cues from the way you carry yourself, so keep departures and returns low-key. Skip long, emotional goodbyes. A calm word and a treat or chew as you walk out is enough.
When you get home, greet your dog calmly and wait for the first wave of excitement to pass before a big play session. It's fine to comfort a scared dog. Affection doesn't reward fear. The goal is simply to make your comings and goings feel ordinary.
It also helps to build some independence at home. Practice short periods with your dog in a different room behind a baby gate, with a chew or puzzle toy, so being apart becomes normal and relaxed.
3. Graduated Departures
Graduated departures expose your dog to very small amounts of controlled separation, and gradually increase the periods of separation as your dog grows more secure and confident. You want your dog to learn that separation can be rewarding.
Your dog will gradually become more acclimated to separation through continued exposure to longer and longer periods of time. It’s important to keep in mind that this training method will not be effective if your dog becomes anxious during the process. You have to work to some degree within your dog’s comfort zone, so be careful not to push the envelope too much.
We’ll begin with “stay” exercises. You’ll want to gradually increase the amount of time you make your dog stay, offering a reward such as a special treat for a successful stay. You’ll then advance to telling your dog to stay, and then leaving the room for a period of time.
Start in a bedroom or bathroom, and then progress to telling your dog to stay before briefly exiting the house. From here, you work on short departures. Start with absences as short as 10 seconds, and then gradually build. Offer your dog a treat right before each separation.
You’ll have to use careful judgment when increasing the periods of absence, because if you overdo it separation anxiety can worsen. If your pup is freaking out, go back to a shorter period of absence that she is more comfortable with. And remember to project an air of relaxed calmness during departures and arrivals.
You'll need to progress slowly to keep your dog comfortable with the process. Mild cases may improve in a few weeks; more severe cases can take months. Recording your dog with a pet camera or phone shows you exactly when they start to get stressed, so you know where to set the next step.
Stay exercises and short departures work best with a reward your dog really wants. Small, high-protein treats are easy to hand out right before each practice separation.
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4. Manage Absences While You Train
Training only works if your dog isn't repeatedly pushed past their limit. While you work on it, try to avoid leaving your dog alone longer than they can handle. Doggy daycare, a dog walker, a trusted neighbor, or bringing your dog along can bridge the gap.
Reach Out to Your Veterinarian
If your dog's anxiety is severe, isn't improving, or your dog is hurting themselves trying to escape, talk to your veterinarian. They can rule out medical problems and discuss whether anti-anxiety medication makes sense alongside training. Medication doesn't replace training, but for many dogs it lowers anxiety enough for training to work. Your vet can also refer you to a veterinary behaviorist or a certified trainer experienced with separation anxiety.
There are also calming products and supplements on the market; always talk to your vet before giving your dog anything new.
Separation anxiety can be a severe problem, but with the right approach and patience, most dogs improve. It might take time, but it's well worth it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my dog has separation anxiety?
The signs happen only when your dog is alone or separated from you, usually starting soon after you leave: barking or howling, destruction at doors and windows, escape attempts, accidents, pacing, drooling or refusing food. Recording your dog while you're out is the clearest way to tell.
Should I crate a dog with separation anxiety?
Only if your dog already sees the crate as a calm, safe place. Some anxious dogs panic in a crate and can injure themselves trying to escape. A gated room may work better.
Will getting a second dog fix separation anxiety?
Sometimes, but often not. Many dogs with separation anxiety are attached to a specific person, not just looking for company. Work on training first.
How long does it take to fix separation anxiety in dogs?
Mild cases may improve in a few weeks. More severe cases can take months of gradual training, sometimes with medication from your vet.
Storms, fireworks and other stressors can make anxious dogs worse. See our tips on how to calm a dog during a storm and the signs of dog depression.
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3 comments
Hi, Cecilia! It is quite common for Chihuahuas to have separation anxiety. The way you can help her overcome this is through a systematic desensitization. This kind of behavior training teaches her how to be calm when left alone. First, try leaving her alone in a room for a moment then return before she gets anxious. If she does stay calm, don’t forget to reward her with praises and treats. As you progress, you can increase the time you leave her alone. The process is incremental, which depends on your dog’s tolerance. The key is to become patient as the process may take months. It is also important not to leave her alone for long periods of time during the training. We hope this helps you and your pet!
My chihuahua gets sad when we leave the.house. she gets under the living room table- tail and ears down.
Idk if I’m doing right or not but we always talk to her telling her we will be back- and that i love her- she even hides sometimes in one of the rooms.
Then, when we are back she gets so excited then i pad her. What do I suppose to do? Am I doing something wrong?. Thank you so much for your input on this matter. I love my chihuahua and I also think I get apprehensive or anxious knowing she is by herself.
My dog, rocky 13 years old DNA tested to be 63% German shepherd, beagle and labrodor retriever, has now developed severe anxiety, I just moved to a different apartment this happened there, but now, 3 months at our new apartment, he can’t be left alone at all. He freaks out barking , following me, I don’t know what to do because I am getting so anxious, too, and I haven’t left the apartment in one week. I am taking rocky to a different veterinarian this coming Monday. My first veterinarian said give him MELATONIN, AND THAT SEEMED TO HELP FOR A FEW DAYS, AND UPPING THE AMOUNT OF MELATONIN IS DOING NOTHING. PLEASE HELP ME HELP MY ROCKY TO RELAX BECAUSE HE IS SUFFERING AND NOW ME. ONE MORE THING, Rocky is doing is barking going at the door, he has a different barks, gravelly, is he terrified of my new apartment? Do you think anti-anxiety medication, prescribed by a veterinarian will treat his anxiety. Thank you, sincerely Joan Jaszczult 973-845-3436 jj9738453436@gmail.com 60 Potomac Drive in Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920-3199