Separation anxiety is distress, not disobedience. Dogs with it become upset when separated from the people they are attached to, and what owners find afterward (chewing, toileting, noise) are signs to investigate, not proof of the cause. The ASPCA and the Merck Veterinary Manual both describe a gradual approach that keeps your dog below the point where distress begins, ideally planned with your veterinarian.
Worth knowing: Separation-related distress is a welfare problem as well as a behavior problem. Speak to your veterinarian before starting a plan, so medical causes can be ruled out and your dog’s case can be assessed properly. This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan.
Key takeaways
- Signs are clues, not a diagnosis: chewing, barking, pacing and toileting indoors need other causes ruled out first.
- It happens around absence: the same behaviors in your presence usually point to something else.
- Recording can help: it shows when distress starts, but it does not diagnose on its own.
- Go at your dog’s pace: keep each absence shorter than the time it takes for distress to start.
- Punishment has no role: a distressed dog is not choosing the behavior, and during treatment your dog should not be left alone for longer than they can handle.
What separation anxiety is, and what it is not
The distinguishing feature is context. The ASPCA explains that the behaviors pointing to separation anxiety are the ones that happen when a dog is alone or separated from their people, and that the same behaviors in your presence usually mean something else, such as incomplete house training or boredom (ASPCA on separation anxiety).
That distinction matters because the treatments differ. The ASPCA notes that bored dogs usually do not appear anxious. Exercise and enrichment support treatment, but separation anxiety also needs the dog’s distress about being alone addressed.
There is no conclusive evidence for exactly why dogs develop separation anxiety. The ASPCA notes that changes such as a new guardian or family, a new schedule, a move, or a change in who lives in the household have been associated with it.
Signs to look for
These signs are reasons to investigate, not proof. Merck notes that diagnosing separation distress requires excluding other common causes.
| What you see | Points away from separation anxiety | Points towards it |
|---|---|---|
| Chewing and damage | Spread around the house, happens when you are home too | Focused on doors, windows and exits, mainly when alone |
| Barking or howling | Triggered by sights and sounds, and also happens when you are home | Persistent, and not triggered by anything except being left alone |
| Toileting indoors | Happens whether or not you are there | Mainly when you are away, in an otherwise house-trained dog |
| Pacing | Happens whether or not you are home | Repetitive pacing, mainly when alone |
| Before you leave | Mild interest in keys and shoes | Pacing, panting, drooling or trembling as you get ready to leave |
The ASPCA says distress often starts within minutes of you leaving, and Merck says signs typically appear within the first 15 to 30 minutes. Merck also notes that dogs who follow family members around the house are at no greater risk of separation anxiety, so following you is not a sign by itself (see why dogs follow their owners everywhere).
Consider recording your dog when you are out
Video can show what actually happens after you leave, including when the distress starts and whether it settles. Merck calls video recording an invaluable diagnostic tool for veterinarians and describes it as a way to check that a dog stays below its anxiety threshold during training. It does not diagnose the problem by itself, because a diagnosis requires excluding other causes, so share the footage with your veterinarian or behavior professional. If your dog is in obvious distress, end the recording and return.
Rule out the alternatives
- House training gaps. Accidents that also happen when you are home are not a sign of separation anxiety, according to the ASPCA.
- Excitement or submissive urination. Urine leaking during greetings or play has a different cause.
- Boredom. Damage spread through the day, in a dog who does not appear anxious.
- Barking at triggers. Barking at sights and sounds, including when you are home (see why dogs bark at everything).
- Noise sensitivity. Distress that tracks thunderstorms, fireworks or building work. Merck notes noise phobia and separation distress often occur together, so a professional can help separate them.
- Medical causes. New toileting problems, restlessness or night-time pacing deserve a veterinary exam first. The ASPCA lists medical causes of house soiling, and Merck stresses that medical causes, pain in particular, must be ruled out (Merck Veterinary Manual). See also how to monitor your dog’s health at home.
- Cognitive change in older dogs. Disorientation and disturbed sleep in a senior dog are a different conversation (AAHA, 2023).
How gradual training works
Treatment aims to teach your dog that being alone is manageable, by keeping each absence short enough that distress does not start. For moderate to severe cases the ASPCA describes a desensitization and counterconditioning plan and advises working with a qualified professional, because the plan has to change with your dog’s reactions.
One rule holds the plan together: during treatment, your dog should not be left alone for longer than they can handle. The ASPCA suggests taking your dog to work or arranging a family member, friend, sitter or daycare, and Merck says dogs with separation anxiety should be left alone as rarely as possible.
A stage-based plan, not a calendar
| Stage | What you work on | Move on when |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prepare | A veterinary check, cover for any time alone, and a baseline recording | Medical causes have been considered and a plan for alone time is in place |
| 2. Departure cues | If your dog reacts to keys, shoes or a coat, either practice the cues without leaving, many times a day (ASPCA), or use a safety signal, a novel object or sound used only before short departures (Merck) | Your dog stays relaxed when the cues appear |
| 3. Out-of-sight practice | A stay at an inside door, then very short absences. The ASPCA’s example starts at one to two seconds | Your dog is relaxed, and settled again before the next repeat |
| 4. Build duration | Small increases, with a few minutes between repeats so your dog settles completely | No stress signs. If you see dilated pupils, panting, yawning, drooling, trembling, pacing or an over-excited greeting, go back to an easier step |
| 5. Longer absences | The ASPCA’s example works slowly toward 40 minutes, because most anxious responses happen in the first 40 minutes alone, before taking larger steps | Your dog stays relaxed at each level |
Merck notes the safety-signal approach differs from older advice to decouple departure cues, so ask your professional which fits your dog. Merck’s general guidelines for controlled exposure add that frequent, short sessions work better than infrequent, long ones, and that if your dog reacts you should stop, let them settle, and return to an easier level.
How long this takes varies. The ASPCA says there are no standard timelines and that, with several daily sessions, progress can happen over a few weeks. Merck tells clients the graduated departure protocol can take months. Treat both as ranges, not promises, and let your dog’s observable response set the pace.
Keep hellos and goodbyes calm. The ASPCA suggests a quick, quiet greeting and giving more attention once your dog is relaxed. Food toys and chews can help build positive associations in mild cases, but the ASPCA notes that highly anxious dogs often will not eat when their people are away, so a refused treat is worth telling your vet about.
What does not work, or needs care
- Punishment. The ASPCA, Merck and AVSAB all advise against it. The ASPCA notes that the behaviors are distress responses (see positive reinforcement dog training).
- Leaving a distressed dog to get used to it. The ASPCA says fear must be avoided during desensitization or the procedure can backfire, and Merck advises against flooding.
- Crating every dog. Crates can help some dogs and add stress for others. The ASPCA suggests watching for heavy panting, excessive drooling, frantic escape attempts or persistent howling or barking. If they appear, a crate is not the best option, and the ASPCA suggests a baby-gated room as an alternative.
- Aversive devices. AVSAB says aversive methods, including electronic collars, should not be used.
AVSAB recommends reward-based methods for all dog training, including the treatment of behavior problems (AVSAB, 2021).
When to involve a vet or behaviorist
See your veterinarian before starting behavior modification so medical causes can be ruled out, and book sooner if your dog injures themselves trying to escape or the distress is severe. The ASPCA notes that escape attempts can cause injuries such as broken teeth and cut paws.
Medication can be part of a plan for some dogs. The ASPCA says that when medication is used, most dogs need it combined with behavior modification, and Merck notes that some veterinary medications are approved in the US for canine separation anxiety as part of a behavior plan. Whether it is appropriate is a decision for the veterinarian who has examined your dog.
The ASPCA describes four kinds of behavior professional: trainers, Certified Professional Dog Trainers, applied animal behaviorists and board-certified veterinary behaviorists. To find help, see the ASPCA guide to finding professional behavior help, the AVSAB behavior consultant directory, and AVSAB: How to Choose a Trainer (PDF).
Frequently asked questions
Is my dog just bored, or is it separation anxiety?
Look at when it happens and how your dog seems. The ASPCA says bored dogs usually do not appear anxious, while separation anxiety brings distress signs such as drooling, panting or pacing, often within minutes of you leaving. Because other causes look similar, check with your veterinarian before deciding.
Does getting a second dog help?
Not reliably. The sources we reviewed do not recommend adding another dog as a treatment, and the answer varies by dog. Merck notes that some dogs are distressed only when alone, while others are distressed when separated from particular people, so a professional assessment is the safest way to find out what applies to yours.
Should I crate a dog with separation anxiety?
Not automatically. The ASPCA says crates can help some dogs but add stress for others. If your dog shows heavy panting, excessive drooling, frantic escape attempts or persistent howling or barking in a crate, it is not the best option. Ask your veterinarian or a behavior professional.
Can medication help?
It can for some dogs, alongside behavior modification. The ASPCA says that when medication is used, most dogs need it combined with behavior work, and Merck notes some veterinary medications are approved in the US for canine separation anxiety as part of a behavior plan. Only your veterinarian can say whether medication is appropriate for your dog.
How long does treatment take?
It varies. The ASPCA says there are no standard timelines and that progress can happen within a few weeks with several daily sessions, while Merck tells clients the graduated departure protocol can take months. Let your dog’s response, not the calendar, decide when to move on.
Related reading: choosing the right crate size, why a dog may suddenly act aggressive and daily dog exercise ideas.
Final thoughts
Separation anxiety rewards patience and punishes shortcuts. Confirm what you are dealing with, rule out the medical possibilities, then build absence up gradually at your dog’s pace while avoiding unmanaged time alone in the meantime. A sensible first step: book a veterinary check and, if it is safe, record a short absence to see when distress starts. Our guide to separation anxiety options covers the services and products owners ask about, and the dog behavior hub has the related guides.
Sources
- ASPCA: Separation Anxiety
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Behavior Problems of Dogs
- AAHA: 2023 Senior Care Guidelines, Managing Cognitive Dysfunction and Behavioral Anxiety
- AVSAB: Position Statement on Humane Dog Training (2021)
- ASPCA: Behavioral Help for Your Pet
- AVSAB: Directory of behavior consultants
- AVSAB: How to Choose a Trainer
