Separation Anxiety in Dogs: Signs, Causes, Treatment and Medications

You come home to a chewed doorframe, a wee on the rug and a note from the neighbour about the barking. Frustrating, sure. But chances are your dog had a much harder afternoon than you did.

Separation anxiety in dogs is a panic response to being left alone, not your dog being naughty. It takes patience, but most dogs get better with training, a solid routine and sometimes medication from your vet.

What is separation anxiety in dogs?

Most dogs cope fine with a few hours on their own. A dog with separation anxiety can't. Being apart from the person they're most attached to sends them into real distress.

It usually kicks in within 20 to 45 minutes of you leaving, so you rarely see it. Plenty of owners only find out once they set up a pet camera.

Signs and symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs

Some dogs show mild signs while others are clearly frantic. The giveaway is that it mostly happens when they're alone, or when they can tell you're about to go.

Common signs

• Barking, howling or whining that goes on and on after you leave
• Chewing, scratching or digging, often at doors and windows
• Weeing or pooing inside, even though they're house-trained
• Trying to escape, sometimes hard enough to break teeth or tear nails
• Pacing the same path over and over

Less obvious signs

Some dogs suffer quietly. Watch for drooling, panting or shaking, ignoring food you've left out, licking their paws or tail, and vomiting.

Before you leave and when you get home

Many anxious dogs start worrying as soon as they spot your keys, shoes or work bag. They might also shadow you around the house and go over the top when you walk back in.

What causes separation anxiety in dogs?

There's rarely one single cause. Common triggers include:

• Being left alone for the first time, or hardly ever being left alone
• A sudden change in routine, like going back to the office after months of working from home
• Moving house
• Changes in the family, such as a new baby, someone moving out or a death
• A new owner (rescue and rehomed dogs are more prone to it)
• Something scary happening while they were alone, like a thunderstorm or fireworks

Some dogs are also just wired to be more anxious than others.

Is it separation anxiety or something else?

Boredom, not enough exercise, patchy toilet training and some medical problems can look a lot like separation anxiety. If your young dog chews everything whether you're home or not, it's probably boredom.