Separation Anxiety in Dogs: Signs and What Helps

What it looks like when you're out

Maybe a neighbor in your building mentions the howling. Maybe you come home to a scratched door, a wet spot by the entry, and a dog greeting you as if you had been gone for a year. The ASPCA describes separation anxiety as distress a dog feels when it is separated from the people it is attached to.

According to the ASPCA, many of these dogs start barking or showing other distress within minutes of being left. Some get agitated while you put on shoes or pick up keys. Escape attempts can be extreme and may cause injuries, especially around windows and doors. The American Animal Hospital Association's behavior management guidelines for veterinary teams call separation anxiety a behavioral emergency, and note that owners may not notice the signs at all, which is why they suggest recording your pet while you are out.

Signs the ASPCA lists

The key test is timing. The ASPCA says these behaviors usually happen when the dog is alone or apart from its person, and not when you are home. Signs that may point to separation anxiety:

• Peeing or pooping indoors only when left alone.
• Barking or howling that keeps going and seems triggered only by being alone.
• Chewing door frames or window sills, digging at doors, or destroying things.
• Trying to escape a room or crate, sometimes with broken teeth or scraped paws.
• Pacing back and forth or in circles along the same path.
• Eating stool when left alone.

Rule out other causes first

The ASPCA asks you to see your vet before you start any behavior plan. Accidents can come from incontinence linked to a urinary tract infection, bladder stones, diabetes, kidney disease and other medical problems, and some medications cause frequent urination.

Other behavior problems can look similar. The ASPCA lists incomplete house training, urine marking, puppy chewing, barking at noises, and boredom. Bored dogs may be disruptive when left alone, but they usually don't seem anxious. The ASPCA also notes that separation anxiety has been linked to big changes: a new guardian or family, a sudden change in schedule, a move, or a family member leaving the home.

Before the vet visit, write down what you see: what happens, how soon after you leave it starts, and whether anything changed at home recently, like a new job or a move across town. A short phone video of your dog while you are out, which AAHA suggests, often tells your vet more than a description can.

What helps, according to the ASPCA and AAHA

For mild cases, the ASPCA suggests counterconditioning: giving your dog a food puzzle toy each time you leave, so being alone predicts something good, then putting it away when you return. It adds that this only works for mild cases, because very anxious dogs usually won't eat when alone.

Moderate and severe cases need a slower plan. The ASPCA describes gradual desensitization, starting with many short absences that don't upset your dog and building up over weeks. It says this takes guidance from a trained professional, such as a board-certified veterinary behaviorist or a certified applied animal behaviorist. AAHA adds that a full plan includes behavior modification, enrichment and keeping time alone to a minimum. Other steps the ASPCA lists:

• Keep hellos and goodbyes calm and low-key. When you get home, the ASPCA suggests saying hello, then waiting until your dog is calm before giving more attention.
• Exercise your dog shortly before you leave, which the ASPCA says may help your dog relax and rest while you're gone.
• Give plenty of physical and mental exercise: daily walks on different routes, food puzzles and reward-based training.
• Watch how your dog handles a crate. It helps some dogs and stresses others.
• Talk with your vet or a veterinary behaviorist before giving any medication.

What makes it worse

The ASPCA is direct: don't scold or punish. Anxious behaviors are distress responses, not spite, and punishment may make the problem much worse. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's position statement says methods that rely on force, pain or fear should not be used to train dogs or treat behavior problems.

Moving too fast is the other common mistake. The ASPCA says to watch for stress signs such as dilated pupils, panting, yawning, drooling, trembling and pacing, and to shorten absences when you see them. It also says that during treatment your dog should not be left alone except during practice sessions, because a full-blown panic sets the work back.

Where a walk or a sitter fits

That last point is where outside help comes in. The ASPCA lists options such as a family member, friend or dog sitter staying with your dog, or a sitter's home or daycare, and notes that most dogs with separation anxiety are fine as long as someone is with them. AAHA's guidelines also mention pet sitters and home day care.

A midday dog walk can break up a long workday and add the exercise the ASPCA recommends. It does not keep someone with your dog for the rest of the day, and it does not treat the anxiety. For travel, our dog sitting includes overnight stays, where a sitter stays in your home, and in-home sitting requires that your dog be well behaved with people. Our post on consistent dog walking covers routine, and our guides to drop-in visits vs. overnight sitting and dog walker vs. daycare help you compare.

When outside help is the wrong first step

If your dog hurts itself trying to escape, panics within minutes, or won't eat when alone, book your vet before you book anyone else. A walker or sitter cannot run a desensitization plan on their own, and a new face at the door can add stress for some dogs.

Once your vet or behaviorist has a plan, share it with anyone who cares for your dog, along with your dog's triggers. Our dog care page explains the kinds of visits we offer, and a careful sitter will follow your professional's plan rather than improvise. If your dog also growls or snaps when stressed, read our guide to dog bite prevention and body language.