Separation anxiety in dogs refers to the intense distress and often destructive behaviors they exhibit when their owner is absent or they are left alone. During times like the unusual quarantine period, many dog owners may become concerned about how dogs will cope when routines change and periods of alone time resume.

Owners familiar with returning to torn cushions, shredded pee pads, scratched doors, or neighbors complaining about persistent barking understand that ignoring these behaviors isn’t a solution and it’s unfair to the dog. Dogs are social animals that can develop strong attachments to their humans or canine companions. When deprived of this company, some dogs undergo a reaction similar to panic in humans.

A variety of factors can contribute to separation anxiety. These include changes in an owner’s schedule, new patterns of social contact, shifts in the dog’s environment, extended time with owners during lockdown, insufficient rehabilitation for adopted dogs, early separation from littermates, loss of another pet, genetic predispositions, or simply boredom.

Recognizing the signs is the first step in addressing the issue. Dogs with separation anxiety may drool excessively, bark or howl repeatedly, pant heavily, tremble, pace, refuse food, eat their feces, destroy household items, scratch at furnishings, try to escape their enclosure, or greet their owner with exaggerated excitement as though they were gone for much longer than they were. Not all of these behaviors alone indicate anxiety, but multiple signs together warrant attention.

It’s crucial not to punish a dog for these behaviors; damage to property should not be met with punishment, because the anxiety is not a defiant act but a distress response. Punishment typically worsens the dog’s insecurity and increases the likelihood of repeated behavior.

Some common myths also don’t help solve separation anxiety. For example, bringing another dog into the home rarely alleviates the problem, since the anxiety stems from human separation, not simply being alone. Obedience training, while beneficial for general manners, doesn’t resolve separation anxiety as the issue is emotional rather than disobedient behavior. Also, unless a dog is already comfortable with crate confinement, attempting crate training while addressing separation anxiety can associate the crate with negative experiences and hinder progress.

Helpful strategies instead focus on routine changes and emotional support. Gradually altering departure cues—such as using a different exit, changing where keys are placed, or delaying the moment of leaving after putting on shoes or a coat—can reduce the association between these signals and the stress of separation.

Increasing physical activity before leaving can help reduce a dog’s nervous energy. A good walk or active play session before departure gives dogs a chance to expend excess energy and settle more easily.

Encouraging independence is also beneficial. If a dog typically sleeps in the owner’s bed, shifting them to their own bed helps build confidence and decreases reliance on constant physical closeness.

When you return home, avoid enthusiastic greetings if the dog is overly aroused—waiting for them to calm before showing affection helps signal that being alone and reunions are not emotionally loaded events.

Finally, providing mental stimulation during your absence—such as long-lasting chews or puzzle toys, leaving calming background sounds like the radio, or giving them access to a pleasant view—can make alone time easier and prevent boredom from being mistaken for anxiety.

This article is adapted from educational material by Fraser Noble (Noble Canine). Content has been rephrased and contextualised for pet parents.

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