Separation Anxiety in Dogs: The Complete Guide

TL;DR

Separation anxiety is a genuine panic response, not misbehaviour. Dogs with separation anxiety are not being naughty when they destroy things or bark for hours — they are in distress. Treatment involves gradual desensitisation, environmental management, and sometimes medication. Pet sitters can play a critical role in the management plan by reducing the amount of time an anxious dog spends alone. Punishment never works and always makes it worse.

What Separation Anxiety Actually Is

Separation anxiety is not your dog being annoying. It is not your dog punishing you for leaving. It is not a training failure or a character flaw. It is a genuine psychological condition — a panic disorder triggered by isolation or separation from the dog's primary attachment figure.

When a dog with separation anxiety is left alone, their brain enters a state of panic comparable to a human having a panic attack. Their heart rate elevates, their cortisol (stress hormone) levels spike, and they engage in frantic behaviours aimed at either escaping to find their person or self-soothing through repetitive actions.

Understanding this is the foundation of everything that follows. If you see your dog's behaviour through the lens of "they are panicking" rather than "they are misbehaving," every decision you make about treatment will be better.

Recognising the Symptoms

Separation anxiety symptoms range from mild to severe. They occur specifically when the dog is left alone or separated from their attachment figure — not at other times.

Mild Symptoms

Whining or soft barking when you prepare to leave
Following you from room to room (sometimes called "velcro dog" behaviour)
Mild pacing near the door after you leave
Decreased appetite when alone (eating normally when you return)
Subdued greeting that quickly becomes over-the-top excitement when you return

Moderate Symptoms

Sustained barking or howling beginning within minutes of your departure and continuing for extended periods
Destructive behaviour focused on exit points: chewing door frames, scratching at doors, attacking window blinds
Inappropriate urination or defecation: even in fully house-trained dogs, the stress response can override training
Excessive drooling or panting: visible physical stress responses
Refusal to eat or drink for the entire duration of your absence

Severe Symptoms

Self-injury: broken teeth from chewing door handles or cage bars, torn nails from scratching at doors, skin injuries from escape attempts
Escape attempts: jumping through windows, breaking through screen doors, or climbing fences — behaviours that can result in serious injury or worse
Continuous vocalisation: non-stop howling for hours that disturbs neighbours and indicates extreme distress
Coprophagia (eating faeces): a stress-driven behaviour that appears specifically during isolation
Complete shutdown: some dogs do not become destructive but instead become completely catatonic — lying in one spot, barely breathing, for the entire time you are away

How to Confirm It Is Separation Anxiety

The critical diagnostic question is: do these behaviours only occur when the dog is alone?

If your dog is destructive when you are home and when you are away, it is probably not separation anxiety — it may be boredom, lack of training, or another issue. True separation anxiety is specifically triggered by isolation.

Setting up a camera to record your dog when you leave is one of the most useful diagnostic tools available. You will see exactly when the distress begins, how long it lasts, and what form it takes.

Understanding the Causes

Separation anxiety does not have a single cause. It develops from a combination of factors:

Genetic Predisposition

Some breeds are more prone to separation anxiety than others. Breeds that were selectively bred for close human partnership — Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Border Collies, Vizslas, and Australian Shepherds — appear to be over-represented. However, any breed or mixed breed can develop the condition.

Early Life Experiences

Premature separation from the litter: puppies separated from their mother before eight weeks of age are at higher risk
Shelter or rescue dogs: dogs with a history of rehoming, abandonment, or kennel life are significantly more likely to develop separation anxiety
Lack of early socialisation: puppies that were not exposed to being alone for short periods during their critical development window may not develop the coping mechanisms needed for later independence

Life Changes

Separation anxiety can develop suddenly in previously independent dogs following:

Change of owner: rehoming, death of an owner, or relationship breakdown
Move to a new home: the loss of a familiar environment destabilises a dog's sense of security
Change in routine: an owner who was home full-time returning to office work
Loss of a companion: the death of another pet in the household
Traumatic experience while alone: a thunderstorm, break-in, or loud construction noise that occurred during the owner's absence

Reinforcement Patterns

Without realising it, many owners inadvertently reinforce separation anxiety through:

Dramatic departures and arrivals: long emotional goodbyes and over-excited returns teach the dog that your leaving and returning are significant, emotionally charged events
Never practising separation: a dog that has never been left alone does not develop the tolerance for it
Responding to every signal of distress: if a puppy whines and you immediately return or provide comfort, the puppy learns that distress brings the attachment figure back

Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches

Desensitisation: The Gold Standard

Desensitisation is the most effective treatment for separation anxiety. It works by gradually increasing the duration your dog can tolerate being alone, starting from a point that does not trigger panic and building up in tiny increments.

Step 1: Find the threshold. How long can your dog be alone before showing signs of distress? For some dogs, this is 30 minutes. For severe cases, it may be 10 seconds.

Step 2: Practice below the threshold. If your dog can handle five minutes, practise leaving for three minutes, returning calmly, and going about your business. Repeat until three minutes is boring for your dog.

Step 3: Gradually increase. Add time in small increments — 30 seconds to two minutes at a time. If your dog shows distress at any step, go back to the previous duration and stabilise before trying again.

Step 4: Be patient. This process takes weeks to months. There are no shortcuts. Rushing it resets progress.

Environmental Management

While desensitisation builds long-term tolerance, environmental management reduces stress in the meantime:

Background noise: leave the radio or TV on at a normal volume. The sound of human voices can be mildly comforting.
Food puzzles and long-lasting chews: a frozen Kong stuffed with peanut butter can occupy an anxious dog for 20-30 minutes, which covers the critical initial departure period
Safe space: some dogs find a covered crate (if crate-trained) or a small room with their bed calming. Others feel more trapped in confined spaces — observe your dog's response.
Scent comfort: a worn t-shirt with your scent can provide mild reassurance
Calming supplements: products containing L-theanine, casein, or alpha-casozepine have some evidence of mild anxiolytic effects. They are not a cure but can take the edge off.

Veterinary Intervention

For moderate to severe separation anxiety, medication prescribed by a veterinarian can be a critical component of treatment. Common options include:

Fluoxetine (Reconcile/Prozac): an SSRI that reduces baseline anxiety over weeks of consistent use
Clomipramine (Clomicalm): a tricyclic antidepressant specifically licensed for canine separation anxiety in many countries
Trazodone: used as a situational medication for acute anxiety episodes
Gabapentin: sometimes used in combination with other medications for its anti-anxiety properties

Medication is not a standalone treatment. It works best in combination with desensitisation training. Think of it as taking the edge off the panic so the dog can actually learn from the training.

What Does Not Work

Punishment: punishing a dog for destruction or toileting that occurred while you were away is not only ineffective — it actively worsens the anxiety. The dog associates your return with punishment, which adds fear of your arrival to their existing fear of your departure.
Getting a second dog: a companion dog does not fix separation anxiety because the anxiety is about the specific attachment to you, not about being alone with any living creature. Some dogs develop separation anxiety even in multi-dog households.
Forcing exposure: locking an anxious dog in a room and leaving for eight hours is not "tough love." It is flooding — an outdated approach that causes psychological damage and worsens the condition.

How Pet Sitters Help

Pet sitters can be an invaluable part of a separation anxiety management plan. While training and medication work on the long-term problem, a sitter addresses the immediate issue: your dog spending extended periods alone.

Reducing Alone Time

The simplest and most direct benefit of a pet sitter is reducing the number of hours your dog spends alone. Options include:

Dog walking: a midday walk breaks an eight-hour workday into two manageable four-hour blocks
Drop-in visits: even a 30-minute visit in the middle of the day can reset your dog's anxiety
Doggy daycare: for dogs with moderate to severe anxiety, daycare eliminates alone time entirely on the days they attend
House sitting: for extended absences, a house sitter provides continuous companionship in your dog's own home

Consistency and Familiarity

Dogs with separation anxiety benefit from predictability. A regular sitter who visits at the same time each day becomes part of the routine — a familiar, trusted presence that the dog can rely on. Over time, this familiarity can extend the dog's circle of attachment figures beyond just you, which is psychologically healthier.

Supporting the Training Plan

If you are working with a trainer on a desensitisation programme, your pet sitter can support the plan by:

Following specific departure and arrival protocols
Maintaining consistent communication with you about your dog's behaviour
Administering medication at the correct times
Providing the exercise and mental stimulation that are part of the overall management strategy

On The Pet Sitter, you can find sitters in your area who have experience with anxious dogs. Browse by your location, read reviews that mention anxiety management, and find someone whose approach aligns with your training plan. Our how it works guide explains the booking process.

Living With Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is manageable. For many dogs, with the right combination of desensitisation training, environmental management, medication if needed, and reduced alone time through pet care services, the condition improves significantly over months.

For some dogs, separation anxiety is a lifelong condition that is managed rather than cured. This is not a failure. It simply means that your dog needs ongoing support, and building a team — your vet, your trainer, your regular pet sitter — is the best way to provide it.

The most important thing is to approach the problem with empathy. Your dog is not choosing to destroy your house or disturb your neighbours. They are in distress. Meeting that distress with understanding, patience, and evidence-based treatment is what good dog ownership looks like.

FAQ

Can separation anxiety develop suddenly in an adult dog?

Yes. While it often has roots in early life experiences, separation anxiety can develop at any age following a triggering event — a move, a change in routine, a traumatic experience while alone, or the loss of a family member (human or animal). If your previously independent dog suddenly starts showing anxiety when you leave, consult your vet to rule out medical causes (pain and illness can mimic anxiety) and then begin a desensitisation programme.

Will my dog grow out of separation anxiety?

Puppies with mild separation distress often improve as they mature and gain confidence, particularly if they receive appropriate socialisation and gradual alone-time practice. Adult dogs with established separation anxiety do not typically grow out of it without intervention. The condition tends to remain stable or worsen over time if left untreated.

Is it okay to use a crate for a dog with separation anxiety?

It depends entirely on the individual dog. Some dogs find their crate genuinely comforting — it is a small, enclosed, familiar space that feels safe. Other dogs panic in a crate and can injure themselves trying to escape. If your dog is crate trained and chooses to go to their crate voluntarily, it may be helpful. If your dog has never been crate trained or shows any signs of distress in a crate, do not use one. Set up a camera and observe their response.

How long does it take to treat separation anxiety?

The timeline varies enormously depending on severity. Mild cases may show significant improvement in four to eight weeks of consistent desensitisation training. Moderate cases typically take three to six months. Severe cases may require six months to a year of combined medication and behavioural work, with ongoing management thereafter. Progress is rarely linear — expect good days and bad days, and measure improvement over weeks rather than days.

Can I hire a pet sitter specifically for separation anxiety management?

Absolutely, and it is one of the most practical things you can do. A regular dog walking or drop-in visit during the day reduces your dog's alone time immediately while you work on the longer-term training plan. When searching for a sitter, mention your dog's condition upfront and look for sitters who have experience with anxious dogs. On The Pet Sitter, sitter profiles include details about their experience, and you can message sitters directly to discuss your dog's specific needs.