Separation Anxiety In Dogs: Expert Tips For Managing Your Pup’s Stress

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Constant barking, chewed-up furniture, scratched doors: If you’ve ever lived with a dog with separation anxiety, all of these scenarios may be woefully familiar. Behaviors associated with separation anxiety—and with anxiety in general—exist on a spectrum, and the toughest cases can be difficult for even the most experienced dog guardians to navigate. But there are strategies you can use to mitigate your pup’s overall stress levels, as well as other tactics to keep in mind if your pet struggles when you leave home.

Separation anxiety in dogs can be challenging to navigate, and depending on the extent of it, you may want to consult with a behavior expert.

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Separation anxiety is “a specific behavioral disorder that represents kind of the most extreme form of distress that is specifically related to separation,” says Dr. Annie Valuska, principal scientist on Purina’s pet behavior team. She encourages people to better understand their dog’s body language, because “in many cases, those pet guardians find that their pet is anxious actually in many more situations than just leading up to the absence." Learning to read your pet can give a more accurate sense of what you’re dealing with.

I chatted with Valuska as well as with Phil Tedeschi, a human-animal connection expert with Rover, for more guidance on diagnosing your dog’s behavior, plus the best ways to respond to and reduce their overall stress.

Talk To Your Veterinarian First

As soon as you notice behaviors associated with any sort of anxiety, make it a priority to see your vet. Not only do you want to rule out any medical issues, but “your veterinarian is going to be a great first stop to get their assessment of the dog’s level of anxiety and talk to them about whether they think this is something that it would be okay to try to manage at home versus getting a credentialed behaviorist involved,” says Valuska.

Medications to help regulate their stress levels may be something your vet might recommend, for instance, and you may need to engage in some trial and error to figure out what works for your particular pet. And while behaviors typically associated with separation anxiety in dogs can include inappropriate elimination, over-grooming, frequent pacing or constant barking, you should first confirm there are no underlying medical issues triggering these actions.

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Consider How Your Behaviors Affect Your Dog

If it’s clear that your dog is triggered specifically by the act of being left alone, Tedeschi recommends making both your departure and arrival calmer events. “If every greeting and every departure is a cause for celebration and/or panic, then your leaving the house becomes an issue,” he says. “One of the things that we could do would be to start by making sure that we are really thinking about calm comings and goings—maybe even ignoring them to some degree, which is hard to do when you can’t wait to get home to your dog.”

Valuska also points to evidence that a human’s own stress can affect their pet’s stress: “One thing that has been linked to increased separation anxiety is the owner’s stress level and their perception of their relationship with their dog," she says. “So if they have negative feelings about the relationship, and if they report that they are feeling very stressed, those dogs are more likely to have anxiety and separation anxieties specifically.” While changing your mindset won’t magically solve your pup’s separation anxiety, it is something to keep in mind as you’re navigating your pet’s particular issues.

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Try Activities To Reduce Your Dog’s Overall Stress

“When we study this issue of anxiety through the lens of allowing ourselves to really believe that animals have this capacity for deep and complex emotion and thought, one of the things that happens in the the way we approach it is that it normalizes it into a context that we might better understand,” says Tedeschi. He recommends thinking about situations from your dog’s point of view: Imagine someone you love leaves your home, and the only thing you can do is sit there and worry about them; distractions for your pet are important.

While every dog is different and not all will respond in a similar way to various tactics, you can try things like puzzle feeders and toys (Nina Ottosson makes some fantastic editor- and expert-approved puzzles for varying skill levels, as does Brightkins), TV programming just for dogs or even relaxing music targeted to dogs playing in the background. And note that you shouldn’t leave your dog unattended with any toys they could possibly chew up and swallow if they have a tendency to do so.

Engaging in other enriching activities with your pet is also important for helping to regulate their stress overall. “You can take them on scent walks or ‘sniffaris,’” says Valuska, where you set aside a half hour and let your pup lead the way. “If they want to sniff the same lamppost for 30 minutes, okay—you’re standing there for 30 minutes.” While your dog may not get a ton of physical activity this way, their nose is working, which is an important form of enrichment that’s just as important for stimulating their senses.

Both experts also recommend using things like snuffle mats as a feeding tool. These mats allow your dog to use their sense of scent to find kibble or treats within the mat. If you’re willing, you can even hide kibble around your home to your entire place a puzzle. “I do something that is actually an activity more designed for building a human-animal bond, but we basically go hunting together for a [piece of] kibble," says Tedeschi. “It might be in a place they actually need my help to get it—and so they find it but then we work together to problem-solve it.”

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Consult With A Credentialed Behaviorist

If your dog’s separation anxiety–induced behavior is extreme and you determine it requires professional help, find a credentialed behaviorist to put a game plan together. According to Valuska, they will likely suggest desensitization and counterconditioning. This process can be done on your own, but it can be long, so having an expert’s guidance can be helpful.

Essentially this entails breaking down the triggers for your pet’s anxiety into smaller pieces and then getting them used to those pieces, she explains. For example, if picking up your keys makes your dog anxious, you can practice picking up your keys without leaving the house, doing this multiple times a day until they become desensitized to this action.

The counterconditioning part teaches your dog that keys aren’t a negative cue. You would pick up the keys and then immediately pair it with a positive association, like giving your dog treats or attention. “Through that process, they learn to not have such strong negative reactions to all those cues associated with your absence," says Valuska. "Gradually you teach them to tolerate longer and longer separations from you while you’re reinforcing that calm behavior and creating those positive associations.”

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Always Keep Your Pet’s Safety Top Of Mind

If you know your dog is prone to destructive behaviors when left alone, ensure they have a secure crate that feels like a safe space. Make sure it’s the right size and outfitted with water, a comfy dog bed, a long-lasting chew or a toy like a Woof Pupsicle or Kong. Place the crate in a quiet area of your home with minimal distractions. (A white noise machine can also help with this.)

For shorter periods of time left alone, it could be worth trying CBD products or other calming treats for one-off situations where you anticipate your dog may become stressed. My veterinarian recommends products from ElleVet, which have successfully helped calm my pups during stressful events like car rides and can be useful during thunderstorms. Again, if your pet’s anxiety-induced behaviors are extreme and significantly affecting their wellbeing, talking to your vet about medication is an option worth considering.

I’d also suggest investing in a pet camera—I use the Furbo Dog Camera, which provides real-time alerts, two-way audio and a treat-tossing feature—to keep tabs on them when they’re home alone. Additionally, hiring a dog walker is a great idea if you’re regularly out of the home for long stretches.

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Why Trust Forbes Vetted

The Forbes Vetted home team covers a wide range of pet products, from the best fresh dog food to the best automatic litter boxes as well as pet care topics, like how to make traveling with pets less stressful and guidance for safely letting your cat outdoors. Our tips and recommended products are expert- and editor-backed, to help our readers make the smartest decisions for their pets.

• Emmy Favilla, the author of this story and our monthly “Pet Peeves” column, is a 20-year media veteran who has spent the last eight years professionally testing and reviewing products, including a variety of pet care items, from dog food delivery services to dog beds to toys. She has worked in a volunteer capacity with both cat and dog rescues and at New York City-based animal shelters for the greater part of the last 15 years, and has cared for dogs, cats and rabbits for most of her life.
• We consulted Phil Tedeschi, a human-animal connection expert with Rover. He is the founder of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at University of Denver and a clinical professor at the Graduate School of Social Work. Tedeschi teaches in the Human-Animal-Environmental Interaction Certificate for Master of Social Work students, examining the intricate relationship between people, domestic and wild animals and the natural world.
• We also chatted with Annie Valuska, PhD, principal scientist on Purina’s pet behavior team with over 20 years of animal behavior experience. Valuska is also an animal shelter volunteer and board member at Friends of the Animal Shelter. She regularly shares animal behavior tips and guidance for pet guardians via TikTok and Instagram.

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Have a question for us? Email efavilla@forbes.com with the subject line “Pet Peeves.”