Dog Separation Anxiety Training

Dog separation anxiety is often mislabeled or misunderstood. True dog separation anxiety is not at all that common. It's more of a 'home alone' issue, as the dog is a social or pack-living animal. Being alone, separated from the pack/family, is not a natural state for the dog. It creates stress and anxiety. Dogs must be conditioned to being left alone. Otherwise, behaviors such as barking, destructiveness, escape attempts, along with toilet accidents, may occur. In many "home alone" situations, the owner has been a primary contributor by giving their dog too much, or the wrong kinds of attention when home, creating needy and lonely anxiety when left alone.

A small dog running on green grass wearing a black harness.
A close-up of a curious dog with a pink background.

Some Examples Are

  • Allowing the dog to sleep in the owner's bed before behavior issues are resolved.
  • Encouraging excessive physical contact with the dog when home.
  • Playing with and petting the dog when they demand it.
  • Petting to calm the dog down when it is agitated, scared, stressed, angry, etc.
  • Too much of a greeting upon arrival... Greet less than you do your spouse.
  • No lengthy calm walks and constructive play before leaving...
  • Dog is left alone, bored and frustrated all day.
  • The above and similar actions can make the dog too dependent and needy.
  • The neediness cannot be met when the dog is alone, hence bad behaviors.

Our Dog Training Philosophy

It's important to keep a bit of balance, so the dog does not feel so alone when you are gone. Here are some suggestions to ease the dog's stress. It is imperative that the dog receive quality attention. Dogs are social creatures and need playtime. It is very important that the owner set the beginning and end time for the game. The dog should not demand that the game be played. Have a specific fetch toy and take it out only when it is time to play. If a dog is good for 6 fetches, stop at 4. Gradually add a repetition each day until the dog will do 3 dozen back and forth. Put the toy away when the game is over. This will ensure that the dog stays motivated and doesn’t lose or destroy the toy. Have chew toys for the dog when not playing. Do not play fetch with the dog's chew toys or when he demands, as that will encourage pushy, demanding behaviors. Controlling when to and what to play with will put you in the role of leader, as well as prevent pushy behaviors. Avoid chase, wrestle, and rough-house games. Stick to task-oriented games rather than competing games, as the latter will make you more of a littermate in the dog's mind instead of a team leader.

  • Proper diet, along with calm-controlled walks, will also play a big role in preventing the dog's stress.
  • Feed the dog twice per day. This will satisfy the dog as well as prevent moodiness due to hunger or possible low blood sugar.
Puppy shaking hands with a person.

Why Balance, Routine, and Controlled Games Matte

Walk Before and After Work

Calmly walk the dog 2x a day for 30 minutes. Once before and once after work.

On the walks, you can include some basic training—luring the dog to sits and downs with some tasty soft treats. This encourages the dog to stay on task. Treats are okay at the onset but need to be faded out, as the dog should work for your approval with praise and petting, with treats as a random bonus. It might be best to seek out a trainer to best assist for reliable results in a timely fashion. After the walk, a bit of fetch as previously outlined.

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Prep Before You Leave

When leaving the dog alone, let it out for a quick toilet and be sure to leave the radio on.

Calm music, a bit loud, so it blocks outside noise that may stress or agitate the dog. Also, leave a light on if it will be getting dark and draw blinds/shades, so visual activity does not agitate the dog. Lastly, maintain a calm presence around the dog so as not to excite it before you leave. No petting, play, or praising the last 20 to 30 minutes you are home. Do let the dog out for a quick toilet before stepping out the door, and give it something safe to chew on when gone. These are all meant to be preventive measures. If you continue to have Dog Separation Anxiety Training issues, contact us for assistance.

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Woman training German Shepherd puppy outdoors.

Create Calm with Consistent Routines

Regarding Dog Training or Dog Problem Behavior Counseling:

Give us a call or email for a free evaluation of your dog problems.

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