You walk toward the front door and your dog starts pacing. Maybe they whine. Maybe they follow you from room to room like a shadow. By the time you grab your keys, they are already in a full panic. If this sounds familiar, your dog might be dealing with separation anxiety, and you are far from alone in trying to figure out what to do about it.
Separation anxiety in dogs is one of the most common behavioural issues veterinarians and trainers see, especially in the years since the pandemic reshaped how we live and work. A 2026 study published in Scientific Reports confirmed what many dog professionals have observed for years: separation-related problems often come with co-occurring behavioural challenges and are closely tied to changes in routine, environment, and the emotional bond between dogs and their owners.
This is not a quirk or a phase. It is a genuine welfare concern, and it deserves a thoughtful, compassionate response.
What Separation Anxiety Actually Looks Like
Before you can manage the problem, you need to know what you are looking at. Separation anxiety is not just a dog who misses you. It is a state of distress that typically shows up within minutes of you leaving. Some of the most common signs include persistent barking or howling that starts shortly after departure, destructive behaviour like chewing door frames, scratching at exits, or shredding furniture, pacing in repetitive patterns, indoor accidents from dogs who are otherwise fully house-trained, excessive drooling or panting, and attempts to escape that can sometimes lead to injury.
A dog who chews your shoes while you are gone might just be bored. But a dog who claws through drywall near the front door is telling you something very different. The distinction matters because the approach to solving each problem is not the same.
Why Some Dogs Develop Separation Anxiety
There is rarely a single cause. Most dogs who struggle with being alone are dealing with a combination of factors. Changes in routine are a big one. Dogs thrive on predictability, and things like a new work schedule, a move, or a family member leaving the household can trigger anxiety. Shelter and rescue dogs may carry prior experiences of abandonment that make them especially vulnerable. Breed also plays a role. Velcro breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Border Collies, Bichon Frises, and Australian Shepherds tend to be more prone to separation-related issues because of their strong social drives.
The pandemic made things worse for a lot of dogs. Puppies adopted between 2020 and 2022 grew up with their owners home all day, every day. Many of them missed critical socialisation windows and never learned how to be comfortable alone. Shelter data shows dog intake has been steadily climbing since 2023, and separation anxiety is one of the reasons dogs end up surrendered. That is a heartbreaking outcome for a problem that can, in many cases, be managed well with the right approach.
A Step-by-Step Approach to Helping Your Dog
1. Start with a Veterinary Check
Before assuming the issue is purely behavioural, it is worth ruling out medical causes. Dogs in pain, dogs with cognitive decline, or dogs with urinary issues can display behaviours that look a lot like separation anxiety but stem from something physical. A proper veterinary assessment is the right first step in any dog care plan that involves a sudden change in behaviour. If you are in the Vancouver area, a clinic like Cypress St. Animal Hospital can help evaluate whether your dog’s distress has a medical component and guide you toward the right next steps.
2. Practise Graduated Departures
This is the gold standard of separation anxiety training. The idea is simple: teach your dog that your leaving is not a catastrophe by starting with very short absences and slowly building up. Begin by stepping outside for just 10 to 15 seconds, then come back in calmly. No fanfare, no big hellos. Gradually increase the time. The key is to stay below the threshold where your dog starts to panic. If your dog can handle two minutes but falls apart at five, you work between those two numbers until five minutes feels boring to them.
This takes patience. For dogs with moderate to severe anxiety, progress can feel painfully slow. But the research backs this up: systematic desensitisation, done consistently, is the most effective long-term strategy.
3. Make Alone Time Predictable and Positive
Dogs do better when alone time follows a pattern. Try to keep your departures and returns low-key. Avoid drawn-out goodbyes or excited greetings. Create a calm routine before you leave, maybe a short walk, a brief training session, then a quiet settle before you head out.
Enrichment tools like puzzle feeders, frozen treat toys, or snuffle mats can give your dog something to focus on when you leave. A calming playlist or white noise can help mask outside sounds that might spike their alertness. Some dogs also respond well to having a safe space, like a crate or a specific room, that they associate with relaxation rather than confinement.
4. Build Independence During the Day
Separation anxiety training does not just happen at the front door. You can build your dog’s confidence throughout the day by encouraging short periods of independence while you are still home. Use baby gates to create gentle separations. Reward your dog for settling on their own, even if it is just across the room from you. The goal is to break the pattern of constant physical contact so that being apart becomes a normal, safe experience rather than something that only happens when you leave.
5. Consider Professional Support
If your dog’s anxiety is severe, working with a certified animal behaviourist or a veterinarian who specialises in behaviour can make a real difference. In some cases, short-term support in the form of calming supplements or behaviour-modification protocols may be recommended alongside training. For pet owners in Vancouver looking for guidance, pet care services that include behavioural consultations and pet nutrition counselling can be a helpful starting point. Proper nutrition actually plays a more significant role in behaviour than many people realise. A diet that supports gut health, for instance, can influence mood and stress responses.
What Not to Do
There are a few common mistakes that can make separation anxiety worse. Punishing your dog for destruction or accidents is one. Dogs do not associate punishment with something they did hours ago, and the added stress will only deepen the anxiety cycle. Getting a second pet solely to fix the problem is another well-intentioned idea that rarely works, since the anxiety is tied to your absence, not loneliness in general. And while crate training can be helpful for some dogs, forcing a panicked dog into a crate without proper conditioning can escalate their distress and lead to injury.
The Long Game: Why Consistency Matters
There is no overnight fix for separation anxiety. Progress tends to come in waves, with good days and setbacks. The dogs who do best are the ones whose owners stay consistent with training, keep expectations realistic, and adapt their approach as their dog’s comfort level grows. It is also worth noting that some dogs may always need a bit of extra management. That is okay. Not every problem has a neat resolution, but that does not mean things cannot get meaningfully better.
Good dog care is about meeting your pet where they are, not where you wish they were. And honestly, the patience you invest in helping an anxious dog learn to feel safe pays off in a bond that runs deeper than you might expect. Whether you are managing this at home with your own training plan or working alongside a veterinary team like the one at Cypress St. Animal Hospital, the effort is worth it, both for your dog’s wellbeing and for your own peace of mind. Cat care, too, involves its own set of anxiety-related challenges, and the same principle of patience and consistency applies across species.
If your dog struggles with being alone, know that it does not reflect a failure in your relationship. It reflects a dog who cares about you so much that your absence feels unbearable. Your job is to gently teach them that you will always come back.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to treat separation anxiety in dogs? It varies quite a bit depending on severity. Mild cases might show improvement within a few weeks of consistent graduated departure training. More severe cases can take several months. The key is patience and not rushing the process by increasing alone time too quickly.
Can separation anxiety develop in older dogs? Yes. While it often appears in younger dogs or after a major life change, senior dogs can develop separation-related distress due to cognitive decline, changes in hearing or vision, or shifts in household routine. A veterinary exam is a good idea to rule out underlying health issues.
Does getting a second dog help with separation anxiety? Usually not. Separation anxiety is specifically about your absence, not about being alone in a general sense. Some dogs may benefit from having a companion, but the anxiety is rooted in their attachment to you. A second pet should never be adopted solely as a solution to this problem.
What breeds are most prone to separation anxiety? Breeds with strong social bonds tend to be more susceptible. Labrador Retrievers, Border Collies, Bichon Frises, Australian Shepherds, Dalmatians, and German Shepherds are among those commonly associated with separation-related behaviours. That said, any dog can develop it regardless of breed.
Should I use a crate for a dog with separation anxiety? It depends on the dog. If your dog already sees the crate as a safe, positive space, it can help. But if they associate it with confinement and panic, forcing them into it can make the anxiety worse and even lead to injury. Always introduce crate training gradually and positively, separate from departure training.
Is separation anxiety a sign of poor training? Not at all. Separation anxiety is an emotional response, not a training failure. It can be influenced by genetics, early life experiences, changes in environment, and even the owner-dog emotional bond. It is a welfare issue that calls for compassion, not blame.