Dog Separation Anxiety: 12 Signs to Watch For (and What Helps)

You come home to a scratched door, a worried neighbor mentions nonstop barking, or your dog shadows you every time you reach for your keys. These can all be signs that time alone is genuinely hard for your dog.

Separation anxiety isn’t a dog being spiteful or “getting back at you.” It’s stress: your dog feels unsafe when they’re separated from you, and the behaviors you see are how that stress comes out. The good news is that most dogs can learn to feel more comfortable with patient, gradual practice.

What separation anxiety looks like

The key clue is timing. Dogs with separation-related stress show most of their distress just before you leave, while you’re gone, or right after you get home. If the same behaviors happen when you’re sitting on the couch next to your dog, something else is probably going on.

12 signs your dog struggles when left alone

Before you leave

1. Following you from room to room. Some velcro behavior is normal, but a dog who can’t let you out of sight, even to the bathroom, may be anxious about separation.
2. Pacing, panting or whining as you get ready. Picking up keys, putting on shoes or grabbing a bag can become a cue that stress is coming.
3. Blocking the door or trying to slip out with you.

While you’re gone

4. Barking, howling or whining that goes on for more than a few minutes. A pet camera or a note from a neighbor can reveal this.
5. Chewing or scratching at doors, door frames and windows. Damage focused on exits is one of the most telling signs.
6. Accidents in a house-trained dog, but only when they’re left alone.
7. Drooling or heavy panting, sometimes leaving wet patches near the door.
8. Ignoring food or a long-lasting chew you left for them, then eating it as soon as you return.
9. Trying to escape a crate or room. This can lead to broken teeth, torn nails or other injuries, so take it seriously.

When you come home

10. A frantic greeting that takes a long time to settle. Most dogs are happy to see you; dogs with separation stress may stay wound up for 10 minutes or more.
11. Signs of exhaustion after a stressful stretch alone.
12. Clinginess that ramps up again as soon as you start getting ready to leave next time.

Is it separation anxiety or something else?

A few other things can look similar:

• Boredom. Young, under-exercised dogs may chew or dig whether or not you’re home.
• Incomplete house training. Accidents that also happen when you’re around point to training gaps rather than stress.
• Puppy chewing. Teething puppies explore everything with their mouths.
• Noise sensitivity. A garbage truck, storm or fireworks can set off stress that happens to occur while you’re out.
• Pain or health changes. Sudden changes in behavior, especially in older dogs, deserve a vet visit.

Tip: record your dog for the first 30 minutes after you leave. Watching what actually happens is the fastest way to tell stress from boredom.

Gentle ways to help

• Practice very short absences. Step outside for a few seconds and come back before your dog shows signs of stress. Slowly build up the time. Our step-by-step plan for leaving your dog home alone walks through it.
• Make departures and returns boring. Skip long, emotional goodbyes and wait for your dog to settle before greeting them when you get home.
• Break the link between cues and leaving. Pick up your keys, then sit back down. Put on your coat and make a cup of tea. Over time, these cues stop predicting that you’ll disappear.
• Give them something good to do. A food puzzle or lick mat offered only when you leave can make alone time more pleasant. See our calming activities for dogs for ideas.
• Meet their needs first. A sniffy walk and a meal before alone time help many dogs rest.
• Set up a comfortable space. Some dogs settle best in a cozy crate; others do better with more room. Watch what helps your dog relax.
• Skip punishment. Scolding after the fact adds stress and doesn’t address why the behavior happened.

When to talk to your vet

Reach out to your veterinarian if your dog hurts themselves trying to escape, can’t be left even for a few minutes, or if the behavior started suddenly. Your vet can check for pain or illness and refer you to a certified behavior professional or veterinary behaviorist who can build a plan with you.

Want a quick read on your dog’s triggers? Take our free 2-minute Dog Anxiety Quiz. It looks at separation, noise, strangers and restless habits, and gives you comfort ideas for your dog’s main trigger.