Dealing With Separation Anxiety in Dogs
When your dog becomes distressed at being left alone - pacing, crying, chewing, or attempting to escape - they're not being naughty. They're feeling unsafe without you. Most dogs who struggle with this haven't learnt that it's okay to relax when they're on their own.
This isn't about your dog missing you. It's about them feeling responsible for you, which leads to panic when you're apart.
Why This Happens
There are many theories for why dogs start exhibiting from separation anxiety. Ultimately, different schools of thought in dog training have come to different conclusions. One theory is that dogs experiencing separation concerns often believe they're in charge of keeping everyone safe. When they can't see you or know where you are, their stress levels spike. This uncertainty creates the destructive or vocal behaviours that many owners find so frustrating.
The Solution: Building Confidence Through Calm Practice
Progress requires patience and consistency. You're not going to reverse months of anxiety in a few days, but with the right approach, most dogs can learn to feel secure when alone.
Start Small: Begin with separations your dog can actually handle - even if that's just 20 seconds. Leave the room, close the door, and return before they've become stressed. The key is ending each separation positively.
Practice Daily: Use every opportunity throughout the day. Leave during TV adverts, close the bathroom door, walk to a different room. The more repetitions you can manage, the faster your dog builds confidence.
Build Gradually: As your dog remains calm, extend the time apart. You might start with 20 seconds and work up to 5 minutes, then 15, then an hour. Go at your dog's pace, not yours.
Stay Calm When Returning: When you come back, ignore your dog for the first few minutes. This teaches them that your comings and goings are no big deal - exactly the message they need to hear.
What to Expect
Consistency matters more than speed. If you stick with this approach for 30 days without exceptions, you'll see meaningful change. Some cases take longer, particularly if the anxiety is severe. That's completely normal.
Professional Support Available And What To Do Next
At The Toe Beans Co, we specialise in helping dogs to overcome their behaviour issues through ethical methods. That means no pain, no fear, no force - just calm, consistent guidance that works. You have a couple of options of what to do next:
- Not Ready For A Trainer Just Yet: You can find plenty of free support in our community where we have dedicated behavioural courses on solving behaviour problems, breed guides and puppy programs. It's free to join and we run weekly zoom calls and you can ask questions.
- Ready For A Trainer: Please book a meet and greet or a session through the website if you are based in Sydney. If you are not based in Sydney but would still like support we do offer online training, please just send us a message through the chat
