Canine Separation Anxiety: How to Spot It, Fix It, and Help Your Dog Stay Calm When You Leave

If your dog screams the house down every time you leave, you are not dealing with a “naughty” dog.
You are dealing with canine separation anxiety.

This is not your dog being dramatic, stubborn, or “too attached”.

It is a stress disorder.

Left untreated, separation anxiety in dogs usually gets worse, not better. The good news: with the right behavior modification plan, most dogs can improve significantly – without guessing, and without hoping it goes away on its own.

This is exactly the type of problem I work on in my online dog training consultations for separation anxiety. If you recognize your dog in what you are about to read, you can get a clear, step-by-step plan instead of trying random tips from the internet.

What Is Canine Separation Anxiety?

Canine separation anxiety is an intense panic response when a dog is left alone or separated from a specific person.

It often shows up as:

• Excessive barking or howling

• Destructive chewing

• Scratching doors and windows

• Trying to escape crates or rooms

This is not “love”, it is not “cute”, and it is not your dog being over-attached in an affectionate way. It is your dog in emotional distress.

Common Triggers and Life Changes

Separation anxiety in dogs is usually linked to changes in the dog’s life, such as:

• Moving to a new home

• A change in routine or working hours

• Loss of an owner or family member

• Rehoming or multiple owners

• Long periods of constant togetherness, then sudden separation

Research suggests that roughly 15–20% of dogs may suffer from some form of separation anxiety (American Kennel Club).

That is a lot of stressed dogs and exhausted owners.

The important part: this is a behavioral problem caused by humans.

If humans helped create it through patterns and habits, humans can also unlearn it through better habits.

Recognizing Separation Anxiety Symptoms in Your Dog

You cannot fix what you refuse to name.
Recognizing separation anxiety symptoms early makes treatment easier and faster.

Core Separation Anxiety Symptoms

Common signs of separation anxiety in dogs include:

• Excessive barking, whining, or howling when left alone

• Pacing around the house, especially near exits

• Destructive behavior around doors, windows, or crates

• Extreme clinginess and shadowing you from room to room

Many dogs also show physical stress signs:

• Drooling or panting without physical exertion

• Self-harm, such as chewing their paws or licking one spot raw

• Trying to escape confinement and injuring themselves in the process

If these behaviors mainly show up when you leave, are gone, or are preparing to leave, you are probably dealing with separation anxiety, not boredom (PetMD).

Behavioral Signs While You Are Gone

What your dog does during your absence tells you a lot about their emotional state.

Typical behavioral signs of separation anxiety during owner absence:

• Incessant barking or whining, often starting as soon as you close the door

• Restless pacing through the house or from room to room

• Scratching at doors and windows, trying to “break out”

• Chewing furniture, door frames, blinds, carpets, or anything near exits

These behaviors come from panic and frustration, not spite.

Your dog is not “getting back at you” for leaving.

They are trying to survive what they experience as a crisis.

Once you understand that, you can stop taking it personally and start working on a proper behavior modification plan.

Pre-Departure Anxiety: The Early Warning Signs

Dogs with separation anxiety usually start stressing out before you actually leave.

Typical pre-departure anxiety indicators:

• Whining, pacing, or panting when you grab keys, shoes, or your bag

• Jumping on you for attention

Your “leaving routine” becomes a trigger:

• Pick up keys → instant stress

• Put on work shoes → instant worry

• Grab your laptop bag → heart rate up

These small signs show you where to start with systematic desensitization and counterconditioning later.

Common Causes and Risk Factors for Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Separation anxiety rarely appears “out of thin air”. There are usually clear causes.

Common Causes

• Loaded Hi’s and Bye’s when you arrive and leave home

• Giving your dog excessive and constant attention

• History of abandonment or multiple rehomings

• Sudden change in schedule or lifestyle (back to office, new job, shift work)

• Major change in the home (divorce, new baby, someone moving out)

• Long periods of constant togetherness (e.g. work from home, recovery from surgery) followed by abrupt separation

Risk Factors

• Dogs that are extremely human-focused and bond very intensely

• Puppies that were never taught how to be calm and alone in small doses

• Dogs that were never properly socialized and lack overall confidence

Any dog can end up with separation anxiety if the circumstances are stressful enough.

Behavior Modification: The Core Treatment for Canine Separation Anxiety

There is no magic pill for canine separation anxiety.

The foundation of treatment is behavior modification.

The Goal

Change your dog’s emotional response to being alone:

From “You are gone, I am dying”

To “You are gone, I know what to do, and I can handle this”.

That means:

• Identifying your dog’s specific triggers

• Working through systematic desensitization to those triggers

• Using counterconditioning techniques to make alone time feel safe and predictable

With my clients, I build a custom behavior modification plan that fits:

• Their schedule

• Their home layout

• Their dog’s temperament and severity of anxiety

The steps are clear, but you need consistency and patience. This is where having a trainer to keep you accountable changes everything.

Systematic Desensitization for Separation Anxiety: How It Works

Systematic desensitization means you break the problem into small, manageable pieces – not throw your dog into the deep end and hope they learn to swim.

In Practice

You:

1. Start with the smallest version of “leaving” your dog can handle without panicking.

2. Repeat that tiny step until your dog truly stays calm.

3. Slowly increase duration or intensity, one small step at a time.

Examples of Desensitization Steps

• Keep your body language boring and neutral when you arrive or leave home.

• Standing up, picking up your keys, and then sitting back down.

• Walking to the door, touching the handle, then returning to the sofa.

• Stepping outside for a few seconds, then returning before your dog escalates.

You are essentially randomizing the events that would previously trigger your dog. This way, they can’t predict or anticipate when you are coming or leaving home.

The protocol is boring, structured, and repetitive – and it works when you do it correctly.

This is the part most owners struggle with alone. They:

• Increase their time away from their dog in increments that are too big and too fast.

• Don’t know how to crate train their dog properly.

• Don’t know how to adjust when the dog regresses

• Accidentally put the dog back into full panic daily

In my online dog training consultations for separation anxiety, I map out the exact steps and adjust the systematic desensitization protocol weekly based on your videos and feedback.

Counterconditioning: Making Alone Time a Positive Experience

Counterconditioning means pairing something your dog dislikes (being alone) with something they genuinely love.

For separation anxiety, that often includes:

• High-value food (stuffed Kongs, long-lasting chews, food puzzles)

• Treats that you leave in their crate to turn it into a “magic box”

• Special toys that only appear during alone time

• Calm background noise your dog finds soothing

The goal:

Your dog starts to see the beginning of alone time as a signal for “this is when the good stuff happens”, instead of “this is when life falls apart.”

Key Rules for Effective Counterconditioning

• The reward must be something your dog truly values, not just “kibble in a bowl”.

• These special rewards should only appear in connection with alone time, not all day.

• The difficulty and duration must match what your dog can handle without going into full blown anxiety.

When you combine counterconditioning with systematic desensitization, your dog forms a new emotional association with your departures.

How to Make My Behavioral Advice Actually Happen in Real Life

A behavior plan is useless if nobody follows it.

To get the maximum impact from any separation anxiety training plan:

• Build a weekly routine you can realistically follow

• Decide in advance which days you will run short training sessions

• Keep rules and expectations consistent across all family members

• Use simple cues and markers so your dog knows what is happening

Engagement helps a lot:

• Use interactive toys and food puzzles

• Run short obedience sessions before you leave

• Give your dog a job and structure, not just “freedom and hope”

In my online dog training consultations, I do not just send you a generic checklist.

I fit the plan into your actual work week, travel schedule, kids, and home life – so you can practically execute it.

Practical Management Strategies While You Work on Training

You still have a life to live while you work through separation anxiety treatment.

Management stops things from getting worse in the meantime.

Practical Management Strategies

• Keep arrivals and departures calm and neutral – no emotional drama at the door

• Use white noise, curtains, and baby gates to reduce visual and sound triggers

Management is not a replacement for training. But it stops your dog from panicking over and over, which makes your training sessions more effective.

Exercise and Mental Stimulation

You cannot fix separation anxiety with exercise alone, but it is a powerful supporting piece.

Good exercise and mental stimulation:

• Burns off excess physical energy

• Burns of excess mental energy

• Lowers overall stress levels

• Gives your dog structure and a clear “job”

Helpful Ideas

• Structured walks, not just random yard time

• Play sessions that involve chasing, tug, or fetch in a controlled way

• Scent games and food puzzles

• Short obedience or trick-training sessions for mental work

A dog that is physically and mentally satisfied is better equipped to handle short periods of alone time without tipping into panic.

Creating a Safe Space and Using Crate Training Correctly

Dogs with separation anxiety do better when they have a safe space, not full run of the house.

This can be:

• A crate

• A small, dog-proofed room

• A gated-off area away from constant traffic

A proper safe space:

• Is quiet and away from busy windows and doors

• Has a comfortable bed, familiar toys, and maybe an item with your scent

• Is associated with rest and calm, not punishment

Crate Training for Separation Anxiety

Crate training will help if it is done correctly:

• Introduce the crate slowly with food and positive associations

• Let your dog enter and exit freely at first

• Only close the door for short periods once your dog is relaxed inside

• Turn that crate into a magic box for your dog

Done right, the crate becomes the central safe zone in your separation anxiety training.

Routines and Departure Rituals: Reducing Uncertainty

Dogs thrive on predictable routines.

Uncertainty feeds anxiety.

Helpful routines for separation anxiety in dogs:

• Regular feeding times

• Predictable walk and play schedules

• A consistent potty schedule

Better Departure Rituals

Your departure rituals should be boring:

• No emotional “goodbye speeches”

• No big hugs and high-pitched reassurance at the door

• Just a short and neutral exit.

When you return, keep it low key.
The more “normal” you make coming and going, the less your dog reacts like each departure is life or death.

Combining Multiple Training Approaches for Best Results

The best results come from combining multiple treatment approaches into one clear plan.

A complete canine separation anxiety training plan usually includes:

• Behavior modification with systematic desensitization

• Counterconditioning to change emotional associations

• Practical management strategies at home

• Physical and mental exercises

• Crate training

• Predictable routines and calm departures and arrivals

This holistic approach addresses both the symptoms and the root causes of separation anxiety. It gives your dog structure, security, and a way to succeed (American Veterinary Medical Association).

This is how I work with my own separation anxiety cases in my online dog training consultations:

When to Consult a Dog Trainer for Separation Anxiety

At some point, you do not need another article.

You need a trainer.

You should consult a dog trainer if:

• Your dog is destroying doors, windows, or crates when left alone

• Your dog is injuring themselves trying to escape

• Your neighbors are complaining about barking or howling

• You have tried to fix it on your own and nothing really improves

A trainer experienced with separation anxiety in dogs can:

• Assess the severity of the problem

• Design a realistic behavior modification plan

• Show you how to run systematic desensitization sessions correctly

• Adjust the plan when life happens and things go sideways

This is exactly what I do in my online dog training consultations for separation anxiety.
We meet via Zoom, review your dog’s behavior, and walk through the step-by-step protocol, so you are not guessing alone (American Veterinary Medical Association).

Prevention Strategies for New and Prospective Dog Owners

Preventing separation anxiety in dogs is always easier than fixing it.

If you are a new or prospective dog owner:

1. Teach Alone Time Early

Start with very short, calm separations, even when your puppy is young. Alone time should be normal, not an emotional shock.

2. Build a Predictable Routine

Regular feeding, potty schedules, walks, and structured rest periods create security and stability.

3. Socialize Properly

Expose your dog to different environments, people, and sounds to build overall confidence.

4. Avoid 24/7 Togetherness

It feels nice now, but it creates a dog that falls apart the moment you must leave.

By gradually teaching your dog that being alone is normal and safe, you dramatically reduce the risk that full-blown canine separation anxiety will ever develop (American Veterinary Medical Association).

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Separation Anxiety

What are the common signs of separation anxiety in dogs?

Common signs include excessive barking, whining, pacing, drooling, panting, and destructive behavior, especially near doors and windows. Many dogs also show stress when you prepare to leave, such as shadowing you, becoming clingy, or reacting strongly to your keys and shoes.

How can I tell if my dog has separation anxiety or is just bored?

If the worst behavior only happens when your dog is alone and comes with vocalizing, pacing, or panic, you are likely dealing with separation anxiety. Boredom usually looks like milder destruction and stops once you are home and engaging with your dog.

Can separation anxiety in dogs be treated without medication?

Yes. Most cases can be managed successfully with behavior modification, systematic desensitization, counterconditioning, crate training, and consistent routines.

How long does it take to see improvement?

It depends on severity and consistency. Some owners see small improvements in a few weeks; others need several months. The key is following the plan, not skipping steps, and not putting the dog back into full panic every day.

Ready to Stop White-Knuckling Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety?

If this sounds like your life right now, you do not have to just “tough it out”.

I work with dog owners online to diagnose and fix separation anxiety using clear, realistic training plans that fit your schedule and your dog.

Click here to book a FREE online dog training consultation with me and get:

• A structured plan

• Tailored to your specific dog

• Built around your real-world schedule

So you can finally leave the house without your dog – or you – falling apart.

-Marc Windgassen

No Drive… No Joy

How to Crate Train Your Dog: Quick and In-Depth Guide

Crate training your dog is a valuable skill that can make a world of difference in your dog's behavior and your peace of mind.

This guide will walk you through the essential steps to successfully crate train your dog, ensuring they feel comfortable, safe, and happy in their crate.

Watch the Step-by-Step Video Guide

Before diving into the detailed instructions, I recommend watching the video below, which visually demonstrates each step of the crate training process. This video will give you a clear idea of what to expect and how to execute each step effectively.

The Basics of Crate Training

Crate training starts with building trust and making the crate a positive and enjoyable space for your dog. Here’s a quick rundown of the initial steps:

1. Introducing the Crate: Begin by placing some food at the entrance of the crate. Your dog will naturally approach, sniff, and eat the food while keeping all four feet outside the crate.

   Gradually, you can toss food further inside the crate, encouraging your dog to step in with their front paws.

2. Building Confidence: Over time, increase the distance of the food placement inside the crate.

   At this stage, it’s crucial not to close the gate. The dog must learn that the crate is a safe place, and they can exit whenever they choose.

   This freedom builds trust.

3. Extending Crate Time: Once your dog is comfortable going in and out, you can start closing the gate briefly while they are inside eating.

   Start with just a few seconds, and gradually extend the time. Continue to reinforce the experience positively by feeding them while the gate is closed.

4. Teaching Commands: Every time your dog enters the crate, say the word “crate.” Over time, this will become a command that your dog will respond to automatically.

   Additionally, teach your dog to sit and wait for your command before exiting the crate.

   This ensures your dog does not rush out, which could be dangerous in certain situations, such as at the vet's office or when in the back of a pickup truck.

Advanced Crate Training Techniques

Once your dog is comfortable with the basics, you can advance to the next level of crate training:

• Increase Duration:

  Gradually increase the amount of time your dog spends in the crate with the gate closed.

  Start with short periods and extend them as your dog becomes more comfortable.

• Decrease Feeding Frequency:

  Initially, you’ll be feeding your dog frequently while they’re in the crate.

  As they become more accustomed to it, start extending the intervals between feedings.

  Eventually, your dog should feel relaxed in the crate even without the immediate presence of food.

• Random Rewards:

  Occasionally, place food in the crate when your dog isn’t watching.

  This makes the crate a “magic box” where food randomly appears, further encouraging your dog to enter the crate willingly and spend time there.

The Benefits of Crate Training

1. Crate training offers numerous benefits for both you and your dog. It provides a safe space for your dog, helps with house training, and can make travel or visits to the vet much easier.

2. A well-crate-trained dog will see the crate as a positive place and may even seek it out on their own to rest or relax.

3. By following these steps, you can ensure that your dog feels secure and happy in their crate.

4. Remember, patience and consistency are key.

5. Over time, your dog will come to see the crate as their own personal haven.

Conclusion

Crate training is a gradual process that requires patience, but the results are well worth the effort.

With the right approach, your dog will not only accept the crate but also come to love it as a safe and comfortable space.

Whether you're starting with a puppy or an adult dog, these techniques can help you achieve a successful crate training experience.

Comment your thoughts down below as I’m curious to know how crate training has or hasn’t worked for you. What has your experience been?

For more in-depth tips and personalized guidance, subscribe to my newsletter or feel free to reach out for a consultation.

Happy training!

The Importance of Crate Training

One vital aspect of raising a puppy that is often overlooked is Crate Training.

Why is it so Important?

1. It teaches your puppy to switch off when crated.

2. You can teach your puppy that it is OK to be alone at times.

3. It prevents separation anxiety.

4. You can safely transport your dog at any time.

5. You can confine your puppy when you're unable to supervise, thus keeping them safe.

6. Crate training also helps potty train your puppy, as it enables your dog to sleep through the night, avoiding accidents.

When taught properly, crate training enables your puppy to switch off and sleep in the crate where they will feel safe. 8-week-old puppies often sleep up to 18 hours a day to facilitate all the changes their little bodies go through.

Often times people and particular kids want to play with their puppy and understandably so. Keeping your puppy awake too much however, can cause nervousness and excessive mouthing and biting later on, which is one of the many problem behaviors people ask me to fix. When a puppy spends the night in a crate, it will sleep almost the entire time. That way, the urine production is much slower and increases the chances of going through the night without ‘accidents’.

I have met a lot of people who love their dogs, then through marriage or job changes, need to migrate or move long distance and regret never having crate trained their dog!

Now they have a date for airline travel like a sword hanging over their necks trying to crate train their dog in a hurry. This is an easily avoidable problem when done by default when getting a puppy.

The same goes for an injured dog needing to go to the vet. If a dog has never been crate trained, your vet is going to have a hard time getting your dog into a recovery cage after treatment or when your dog has to be on drips.

Overall there are countless examples why your dog should be crate trained and these are just a few, so please crate train your dogs😄.

Written by:

Marc Windgassen

Dogpoint LLC