How to help a dog with separation anxiety

Dog

Behaviour

How-to: help a dog with separation anxiety

Advice by Ciara Pollen, Behaviour and training advisor

A good place to start is practicing actions like picking up keys or putting shoes on, without actually leaving the house. This helps your dog unlearn the cues that trigger anxiety.

Serve your dog’s meals as a fun activity like scatter feeding or on a lickimat. Briefly go out of sight and return often to give your dog a very tasty treat for staying calm and not following you.

Ask your dog to sit or lie down, then take one step away. Before they move, say “yes!” and give them a treat. Gradually increase the distance each time until you can move across the room and your dog doesn’t follow you.

It’s important not to say ‘stay’ or ‘wait’. We’re building confidence and independence, not obedience! Plus, when your dog is home alone, they don’t have to stay frozen in one spot.

Repeat this training at the door. Start by just touching the door handle, and slowly build up stepping outside briefly. At each stage, say "yes!" and come back to give your dog a treat before they get stressed.

If your dog is very worried, you may need to break this down into very small stages and work on one stage per training session. This might be touching the door handle, turning it, opening the door half-way, then fully, then stepping outside for just a second, and so on.

Before leaving your dog, give them 30 minutes of sniff-focused walks, then spend 30 minutes at home doing calming activities like trick training to tire their mind. Just before you leave, offer a fun activity like a Kong or chew to distract them.

If they still struggle with this plan in place, they likely have separation anxiety rather than just feeling bored home alone.

Leave your dog in a quiet area with the curtains closed, music on, and plenty of things to do. This reduces boredom and creates a calming, safe environment.

If your dog constantly follows you or cries, they're trying to tell you it’s too difficult. So make it easier for them the next time you leave, and they’ll be sure to succeed.

More information

Unless it’s absolutely necessary, avoid leaving your dog home alone for longer than they can cope with. Enlist friends, family, or professionals to sit with them if you can.

Hounds are more likely to howl when left, whilst active dogs like Spaniels and Collies are likely to pace. Terriers, Huskies and Gundogs often chew things.

What your dog might be feeling

I’m a social creature, so being alone is hard for me! I need practice to learn that you’ll always come back, and that being on my own isn’t scary.

Three things you can do today

Keep your dog busy

Keep your dog active and busy with lots of games including scent games, basic training, puzzle feeders and Kongs. This will keep your dog nice and chilled when on their own.

Find some calm activities

Ditch the ball launcher, especially if you take your dog out before you leave them on their own. Encourage some calm activities so they’re not full of adrenaline when you leave.

Set up cameras

Record your dog while you’re out of the house. This is the best way of finding out how they behave and what they get up to when home alone.

Hear from other humans

Picture of a dog — Carla

📍 Wales

Dog breed: Corgi

Dog age: 3 years

Owner expertise: Novice

I was struggling with my dog's anxiety, especially when we had to leave the house. Thanks to Woodgreen's advice, I've made some changes that have worked wonders. By sticking to a consistent routine, my dog knows what to expect each day, which has significantly reduced her anxiety.

This advice really helped me and my new pup! I tried teaching recall without your guidance and struggled. Woodgreen's step-by-step dog training videos break each action down for you and I'm happy to say we finally made progress!

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