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Separation Anxiety in Dogs

By the Dog Health Handbook team · Updated · Fact-checked against current veterinary references (see sources)

Key takeaways

  • Separation anxiety is panic when a dog is left alone, usually starting within minutes of you leaving.
  • Film your dog to tell it apart from boredom, frustration or noise fear.
  • Avoid absences your dog can't cope with while you build up alone time gradually.
  • Don't punish, crate a panicking dog, use bark collars or get a second dog as a fix.
  • Three medicines are FDA-approved for it in the US; only a vet can prescribe them.
  • Most dogs improve with a plan, usually over weeks to months.

Table of Contents

Research Is it separation anxiety? Signs How common Causes Film your dog How to help What not to do Medication Outlook Puppies Behaviorist FAQ Sources

Dog Behavior Quicklinks

Behavior Problems Anxiety Separation Anxiety Separation Anxiety Checker Aggression and Biting Barking Eating Poop and Grass Peeing in the House Dementia

Separation anxiety is panic when a dog is left alone or separated from its person. Signs such as howling, chewing at doors and windows, accidents in the house, drooling and pacing usually start within minutes of you leaving and are often worst in the first 30 minutes.1,2,3 It isn't spite or disobedience, and it isn't your fault.4,5 It's common and treatable: most dogs improve with fewer absences, a gradual alone-time plan and, for many dogs, medicine from your vet.6,7,8

Call your vet today, or an emergency vet out of hours, if your dog:

  • Injures itself when alone, such as broken or bleeding teeth or gums, torn nails, bleeding paws, or wounds from chewing a crate, door or window frame3,9
  • Tries to escape through windows, doors or fences3,1
  • Licks or bites its own body constantly when left10,11
  • Stops eating or drinking, vomits, or seems depressed even when you're home2,11

Until you have help, don't leave your dog alone where it can reach a window, or in a crate it panics in. Arrange a sitter, daycare or a friend instead.6,2 AAHA calls separation anxiety "a behavioral emergency."6

Is it separation anxiety or something else?

Try our free Separation Anxiety Checker. Answer 11 quick questions to see whether the signs point to separation anxiety, and get a step-by-step plan and printable practice log to discuss with your vet.

Start the Separation Anxiety Checker

What the Research Says

  • Training helps most dogs. In a UK controlled trial, 81% of dogs improved after 12 weeks of independence training and gradual alone-time practice, while untreated dogs didn't change.8
  • Medicine adds to training. In the 229-dog trial behind one FDA approval, 73% of dogs given medicine plus a training plan improved significantly by 8 weeks, compared with 51% given the plan alone.12,13
  • A second dog doesn't fix it. In a Swiss-led video study of 77 dogs left home alone, dogs living with another dog weren't calmer than dogs living alone.14
  • Punishment is linked to more problems. In a UK and Irish study of 145 puppies, more punishment at six months was linked to more separation-related behavior.15
  • Not all of it is anxiety. In 762 dogs with separation-related problems, researchers found four distinct groups, including frustration at being shut in and plain boredom.16

Separation Anxiety or Something Else?

Vets also say "separation-related problems" or "separation distress," because not every dog that misbehaves when alone is anxious. Some are frustrated, bored or reacting to noises outside.10,17,2 The key clue is that the behavior happens only, or mostly, when your dog is alone.3

What you seePoints to separation anxietyPoints to something else
When it happensOnly when alone, starting within minutes3,2Also when you're home: house training, marking, boredom or play3
DestructionAimed at doors, windows or the crate, sometimes with broken teeth or torn nails3,18Chewing anything, anywhere, in a young dog, even with you home3
AccidentsOnly when alone3Also when you're home, small marks on upright surfaces, or leaking while asleep: house training, marking or a medical problem3
Barking or howlingStarts soon after you leave and keeps going, often with pacing and drooling3Only at passing people or noises19
Food toysIgnored while alone6,20Eaten, then the dog rests20
On cameraPacing, panting, whining, staring at the door, escape attempts2,21Mostly resting after a short settling period21
Only on stormy or noisy daysPossible, as the two often occur together2,22Noise fear2
Panics in a crate, fine loose in the houseNot on its ownConfinement anxiety2

Following you around the house is normal and doesn't mean your dog will develop separation anxiety. What matters is how your dog copes when you leave.2 See dog barking and dog peeing in the house.

Fear, frustration or boredom?

A large study sorted dogs with separation-related problems into four groups:16,17

  • Exit frustration (about 17%): tries to get out where you left, scratching or chewing the door.
  • Reacting to outside triggers (about 29%): reacts to sights and sounds outside and takes it out on objects.
  • Anxious and withdrawn (about 36%): panicky and distressed, but rarely tries to escape.
  • Boredom (about 18%): milder, inconsistent signs.

In a small Hungarian study, dogs that cope poorly with frustration barked and scratched at the door sooner, while fearful dogs whined more and tried harder to escape.23 The researchers caution against choosing treatment from the group alone, so let your vet or a behaviorist tailor the plan.16

Signs of Separation Anxiety

  • Barking, howling or whining after you leave3,2
  • Chewing, digging or scratching at doors and windows3
  • Peeing or pooping indoors only when alone3
  • Drooling, panting, pacing, trembling or restlessness2,11
  • Not eating treats or food toys left for them11,20
  • Escape attempts, sometimes with injuries3
  • Distress as you get ready to leave, and an over-the-top greeting when you come back2,3

Many dogs show quieter signs that owners never see, which is why AAHA suggests filming your dog when you're out.6,11 A lowered head and tucked tail when you get home isn't guilt. It's your dog trying to calm you down.24,4

How Common Is It?

Studies disagree because they define the problem differently. Clear, frequent separation anxiety affects roughly 1 in 20 to 1 in 5 adult dogs, and many more show milder signs that owners may not notice.22,25,8,26 A Finnish survey of 13,715 dogs put it at 5% to 6%, and UK surveys found about 13% of dogs showing signs at any one time.22,8 In UK rescues, about a third of dogs given up for behavior problems were given up for separation problems.8

Why Some Dogs Get It

  • History: dogs adopted from shelters or that have had several homes are more likely to have it.3,18
  • Sudden changes in routine: a move, a new schedule, a family member leaving, or going back to work after a long time at home. In a 2020 UK study, about 1 in 10 dogs developed new signs, and dogs whose time alone dropped most during lockdown were at higher risk.3,27,28
  • Never learning to be alone: puppies that are rarely left alone may be at higher risk.2,20
  • A frightening event while alone, such as a thunderstorm or fireworks.2,20
  • General fearfulness and noise sensitivity: dogs with separation problems are more likely to be fearful or noise-sensitive.22,29

Breed isn't a strong predictor. A Finnish study found more problems in mixed breeds and Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers, but a UK puppy study found no breed link.22,15 Studies haven't found a consistent link with sex or neutering either.26,15

Film Your Dog First

Video is one of the most useful things you can bring to your vet.2,6 Set up a phone or pet camera aimed at your dog's bed or the door, leave as you normally would and record at least the first 30 minutes.30,20 A dog without separation problems spends most of its time alone resting.21 Your vet will also check for medical causes, such as urinary problems, kidney disease, pain or, in older dogs, cognitive decline.3,30 See dog dementia.

How to Help a Dog With Separation Anxiety

  1. Stop the panic episodes. While you work on the problem, leave your dog alone as rarely as possible, and never longer than it can currently cope with. Use a sitter, daycare, a friend or take your dog along.2,3,31
  2. Make leaving and returning boring. Keep departures and greetings calm and low-key.3,9
  3. Take the meaning out of departure cues. Pick up your keys or put on your coat several times a day without leaving, until these cues no longer upset your dog.3,2
  4. Practice very short absences. Start with stepping out of sight or out the door for a few seconds, and lengthen the time gradually, always returning before your dog gets upset.3,24 Many vets use a "safety signal," something new you use only during practice, such as a particular radio station.2
  5. Give a long-lasting food toy as you leave, and put it away when you get back. Eating it is a good sign; dogs in real panic ignore food, so a toy is not a treatment on its own.3,6
  6. Exercise and enrichment. A walk before you leave helps, but exercise alone won't fix true separation anxiety.24,31

Expect weeks to months. Mild cases may improve within a few weeks, but dogs with panic often need several months.2,3 The ASPCA's example plan builds from seconds to 40 minutes in small steps before making bigger jumps, but go at your dog's pace.3 UK animal charities advise not leaving any dog alone for more than about 4 hours.11,10

What Not to Do

  • Don't punish or scold, even when you come home to a mess. Your dog can't link it to the earlier behavior and will start to dread your return.3,8,24
  • Don't let your dog "cry it out." It can teach your dog that being alone is terrifying.11,32
  • Don't crate a dog that panics in a crate. Many dogs hurt themselves trying to get out. A safe room behind a baby gate is often better.6,3,26
  • Don't use bark or shock collars. They punish a frightened dog and can make the panic worse.33,19,34
  • Don't get a second dog as a fix. Most dogs with separation anxiety miss their people, not other dogs.26,14,31
  • Don't try "pack leader" or dominance methods. They don't address fear.35,31

Medication for Separation Anxiety

Only a veterinarian can confirm separation anxiety and prescribe medicine. Never give your dog human medicines or someone else's prescription. Medicine works best, and is labeled, as part of a training plan: it lowers panic so your dog can learn, but it doesn't replace the training.12,36,5 AAHA advises starting it early for dogs in clear distress, and AVSAB says it shouldn't be a last resort.6,37

Medicine typeWhat it's forHow it's used
SSRI-class antidepressantFDA-approved for separation anxiety in dogs; lowers everyday anxiety so training can work38,12Given daily, long term, with a behavior plan. Some dogs improve in 1 to 2 weeks; full effect can take up to 8 weeks12
Tricyclic antidepressantFDA-approved for separation anxiety in dogs over 6 months old; same purpose39,36Given daily, long term, with a behavior program; a generic version is available40
Alpha-2 agonist given before you leaveFDA-approved in 2026 for separation anxiety and noise fear; eases panic during an absence41,42Given by mouth shortly before the dog is left alone. Ask your vet whether it's available yet41,5
Other fast-acting anti-anxiety medicinesPrescribed off-label to blunt panic during absences you can't avoid while a daily medicine starts working5,2Given before departures; your vet will usually have you try the first dose while you're home5

Your vet will usually run blood tests first and recheck your dog regularly.6 Side effects can include sleepiness, a smaller appetite, weight loss and vomiting, and rarely seizures.13,36 Some medicines shouldn't be combined, so tell your vet about everything your dog takes.5 Never stop a daily medicine suddenly. Your vet will reduce it slowly once your dog has been calm for a while.5,43

Calming products

Pheromone diffusers and collars are safe and may help some dogs a little, but good evidence is lacking.44,45,6 Evidence for pressure wraps and calming supplements such as L-tryptophan and alpha-casozepine is weak.46,47,48 Use them only alongside a training plan. Background sound from a radio can mask outside noises, but it won't treat separation anxiety.11,31

Will My Dog Get Better?

Most dogs improve with treatment. In studies, about 6 to 8 in 10 dogs improved with a plan, more often when medicine was added.7,8,12 Signs can come back, especially after medicine is stopped suddenly or during big life changes, so keep practicing alone time.43,5 Dogs don't reliably grow out of separation anxiety on their own.31,49

Puppies and Newly Adopted Dogs

A young puppy crying for a short time when first left is normal. Teaching short, calm alone times from the first days is the best prevention.32,20,8 In a UK and Irish study, puppies that slept overnight in a crate or small room at 16 weeks or younger had fewer separation-related signs at six months.15 If your puppy panics, drools or tries to escape, talk to your vet now rather than waiting.9

The 3-3-3 rule (3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to learn the routine, 3 months to feel at home) is a popular shelter guideline, not a veterinary rule, and no study has tested it.50,51 It's a good reminder to be patient, but many dogs take longer: in a US study, most owners of adopted shelter dogs still reported some separation-related behavior at six months.52 Start teaching alone time from the first days rather than waiting it out.

When to See a Veterinary Behaviorist

Ask your vet about a referral if your dog injures itself, tries to escape, isn't improving with your vet's plan, or has several behavior problems at once.6,53 A board-certified veterinary behaviorist is a vet with years of extra training who can prescribe medicine; the titles "trainer" and "behavior consultant" aren't regulated.53 A first visit at a US university hospital costs about $475 to $605 (2024 to 2026 fee pages), plus rechecks and medicines. Prices vary by clinic and region.54,55 See anxiety in dogs and dog behavior problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you fix separation anxiety in a dog?

There's no quick fix. Stop leaving your dog alone longer than it can cope with, practice very short absences and build up slowly, keep departures calm, and ask your vet whether medicine would help. Most dogs improve over weeks to months.

What should you not do with a dog that has separation anxiety?

Don't punish your dog, let it cry it out, shut it in a crate it panics in, use bark or shock collars, or get a second dog as a fix.

Which dog breeds are prone to separation anxiety?

Breed isn't a strong predictor. A dog's history, such as coming from a shelter or having several homes, and sudden changes in routine matter more.

How can I quickly help my dog with separation anxiety?

Arrange for your dog not to be alone: a sitter, daycare or a friend. Give a walk and a long-lasting food toy before short absences, and call your vet about a fast-acting medicine for absences you can't avoid.

What is the 3-3-3 rule for dogs?

A shelter guideline for newly adopted dogs: about 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to learn the routine and 3 months to feel at home. It isn't a veterinary rule, and many dogs take longer.

What medications are used for separation anxiety in dogs?

In the US, two daily antidepressants and, since 2026, a medicine given before you leave are FDA-approved for separation anxiety in dogs. Only a vet can prescribe them, and they work best with a training plan.

Do puppies grow out of separation anxiety?

Not reliably. Brief crying is normal, but real panic tends to get worse without help. Teaching short, calm alone times early is the best prevention.

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Sources and further reading

This article was rewritten and fact-checked on October 30, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:

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About this article

Last updated : new page written using the 2015 AAHA behavior management guidelines, the Merck Veterinary Manual, FDA approval records, a 2026 peer-reviewed review of medicines, published studies from 2000 to 2026, the ASPCA, RSPCA, PDSA and IVIS-hosted proceedings; includes the research summary, a look-alikes table, causes, a step-by-step plan, what not to do, a medicines table, key takeaways and FAQ.

This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.