All dogs are known to bark and whine for attention. In some cases, this unwanted behavior gets worse when they are left alone. Although some breeds are more susceptible to separation anxiety, it can develop at any point in any dog's life, regardless of the breed.
Any significant changes in their home or other changes in routine are considered stressors that can cause mood changes and anxiety episodes which can manifest in a variety of ways, such as barking or chewing on your favorite shoe.
So what is separation anxiety, and how can you deal with it?
Dog separation anxiety is when a dog responds to its owners' absence with anxiety episodes that manifest through barking, chewing on your favorite items, or defecating and urinating all over your floor. These anxiety episodes can epitomize in a variety of ways throughout the day. Still, they can feel like a personal attack when you come home to a disaster every time you are out for more than 30 minutes. Let's face it, you love your dog, but it puts a downer on your friendship when a long day gets even longer when you come home to half the sofa missing and Fido nibbling on what's left of it.
How can you help your doggo deal with separation anxiety?
Once your veterinarian has adequately assessed your dog and you have identified your pup's triggers, prepare a space where your doggie will have an easy time relaxing. The room or garden must contain a water bowl, shade, or cozy bed. There are several treatments you can try out to help your doggo get over separation anxiety.
The most effective way to manage this annoying issue is with a combination of treatments and training. Compression doggie vests, calming supplements, medicine, therapy, and natural dog chews are all used as anxiety treatments. Separation anxiety can be a difficult behavior to modify; however, before doping up Fido, we recommend trying more natural treatments that have helped other dogs in the past.
Let's start by classifying the severity of your pet's separation anxiety.
Mild separation anxiety cases are easier to treat and can be managed with chews or toys. More severe cases many times will require more attention and training. With mild separation anxiety cases, you can begin by giving your pup strong chews.
Give your dog a yummy treat he can chew on each time you leave like a bully sticks $4.69 bullystickscentral.com, or braided gullet sticks $12.99 bullystickscentral.com.
Only give them this special treat when you're gone, and take it away when you get home. Another excellent trick you can try is leaving some recently worn clothes out that smell like you. This will help comfort your fur baby while you are gone.
For more severe separation anxiety cases, the road to modifying this behavior can be very long and will require a lot of patience.
The fastest way to get on the right path to controlling your pup's separation anxiety is by eliminating triggers. You'll need to gradually get them used to your absence. The sound of your key or seeing you pick up your bag may trigger your doggos anxiety. So repeat these actions without actually leaving. Pick up your keys and watch TV. Do this a few times a day until you notice these things no longer trigger him.
Then you can move on to working on separation.
You can start by leaving your dog in another room for three minutes and gradually work up to 20 minutes. Then work on leaving the house for five minutes. Before moving to this part of the training, make sure your dog is relaxed and has drained any bottled-up energy. Once you have a tired and comfortable pup and have prepared a comfortable space for him with a fresh bowl of water and a bed, you can now combine the special chew he will only receive when you leave. Good long-last chews like bully sticks or knee caps are excellent for this training.
Remember that the most significant contribution to anxiety problems in dogs comes from lack of exercise and brain stimulation. Make sure to keep your pet healthy with long walks, lots of play, training, and a bag of bully sticks. Of course, before diagnosing your pup, make sure a veterinarian can adequately assess him and steer you to the proper treatment.
This post was last updated at June 8, 2026 01:43
