Some dogs feel safest when they’re close to their favorite person, which is why separation anxiety can be so challenging for bonded pups.
By Siddhika Bhat, certified dog trainer and behaviorist, founder of Wagabonding: Dog Training and Beyond
Separation anxiety. We toss that term around like a frisbee at the dog park! It’s often blamed for every whine, bark, or shoe chewed in our absence. But what if your dog isn’t having a full-blown existential crisis over you leaving? Maybe they’re just bored and not-so-fond of alone time. The truth is, many dogs experience isolation distress, which is less about you (sorry!) and more about the absence of any companionship. In this guide, we’ll break down the difference, so you’ll know whether your pup is a clingy poet at heart or just needs a Netflix playlist.
This article will help you differentiate between separation anxiety and isolation distress, offer tips for managing these behaviors, and show you when it's time to consult a veterinary behaviorist.
Separation Anxiety vs. Isolation Distress
To a well-meaning pet parent, separation anxiety and isolation distress may look quite similar. They tend to have similar symptoms and behaviors in dogs. However, there’s a significant difference between the two concepts.
Separation Anxiety
Separation Anxiety is when a dog exhibits stress or panic as soon as they are separated from a specific person (or persons) to whom they are closely bonded. There could be a multitude of factors at play when a dog suffers from separation anxiety, such as:
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lack of early independence
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sudden changes in routine or environment
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traumatic experiences
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over attachment
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breed tendencies and instincts
Regardless of the reason, the presence of this individual may be soothing to the dog. Their absence may trigger mild to severe behaviors like howling, pacing, whining, urinating and defecating or destroying things.
Isolation Distress
Isolation Distress occurs when a dog simply dislikes being left completely alone. They may be calm if there is another person or even another pet around, but panic sets in when they’re left alone even for a few seconds. Isolation distress typically happens due to being coddled from an early age, constant human interaction (especially at the whim of the dog), lack of self-engagement or independence training or being left alone in a stimulated state of mind.
The reasons giving rise to separation anxiety and isolation distress are quite similar. Thus, it is easy to get confused and misinterpret these behaviors. Understanding which behavior your dog is exhibiting and the root cause of it will help determine the best plan of action to help them cope.
Confinement Anxiety
To complicate things further, dogs suffering from confinement anxiety also display symptoms similar to separation anxiety and isolation distress. Confinement anxiety occurs when dogs are confined to a small space (like a crate) and exhibit stress behaviors such as excessive drooling, pawing, or escape attempts. At times, these behaviors may take an extreme turn when the dog starts hurting themselves in an attempt to cope.
A dog with confinement anxiety doesn’t necessarily suffer from true separation anxiety. Recognizing this distinction is important because the solutions for each issue are different. For instance, crate training may exacerbate confinement anxiety but when done correctly, could be a helpful solution to separation anxiety.
Destructive behavior isn’t spite: it’s often a sign of stress, frustration, or isolation distress when dogs struggle with being left alone.
How to Tell If Your Dog Is Experiencing Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a learned behavior and a response to specific experiences or environments. It is not something they are born with. Thus, when you welcome a puppy home and see them whining the first couple of days when kept away from you, it is most likely to be isolation distress and not separation anxiety. Separation anxiety only happens when the dog is very closely bonded to a human. This takes time. Dogs with separation anxiety often display one or more of these behaviors when you're not around them -
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Continuous vocalization: barking, whining, or howling
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Chewing or destroying property (furniture, blinds, doors, drywall, etc)
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Attempting to escape from the house or a room
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Attempting to escape from the crate to the point of hurting themselves in the process
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Excessive drooling, panting, or pacing
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Licking a certain part of the body to the point of bruising themselves
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House soiling even though they're house-trained (typically in areas frequented by the human the most, such as bed, couch, laundry room etc)
Behaviors stemming from separation anxiety are often mistaken as spiteful behaviors. How many times have you caught yourself thinking, “Oh.. I left home and my puppy pooped on the couch out of anger!” Well, that behavior most likely happened due to separation anxiety. Relieving is a common coping mechanism in dogs. To confirm these behaviors, consider setting up a pet cam or ask a neighbor to observe your dog while you're gone. Record their actions to identify patterns or triggers.
Do Dogs Outgrow Isolation Distress?
It is possible to train a dog experiencing isolation distress. But, it is highly unlikely that they will outgrow it on their own. Untrained dogs usually grow into behaviors, and not out of it. Meaning, trusting the dog to cope with isolation on their own will only lead to more problematic behaviors in future. If you look at it from the dog’s POV, if behaviors like destruction, soiling etc helped them cope with anxiety before, they are only likely to repeat these behaviors.
It is imperative to train your dog to be independent. They have to be taught the art of self engagement. With time, some dogs may grow more resilient, but most require intervention to learn how to relax when home alone.
Do Puppies Outgrow Separation Anxiety?
Puppies are naturally more prone to separation anxiety due to their dependence on their owners. This usually gets worse when we coddle our puppies and don’t let them be independent. It is natural to want to overprotect your pup and be around them all the time. It is even more tempting when they keep following you around all the time and refuse to leave your sight. But remember that this over-attachment may be doing more harm than good to your dog.
Depending on the level of anxiety, it is possible to help them overcome this phase with consistent training, proper socialization and the right mix of physical and mental stimulation. The earlier you start helping them develop coping mechanisms, the less likely they are to grow into adult dogs with chronic separation anxiety.
Regular enrichment and confidence-building activities can help dogs feel more secure and reduce anxiety when it’s time to be on their own.
3 Ways to Deal with Separation Anxiety in Your Dog
Separation anxiety in dogs is a common yet challenging issue that can be equally stressful for both you and your fur bud. Whether it's constant barking, destructive behavior, or visible signs of distress, your dog’s struggle to be left alone can impact your daily life too. But don't worry—there are effective ways to ease their anxiety and build their confidence. Let’s dive in to three practical methods to help your dog cope and foster a calmer environment for both of you!
1. Gradual Desensitization
Gradual desensitization involves exposing your dog to their triggers at a very low intensity where they continue feeling safe enough to not adversely react to it. Teach your dog to feel comfortable being on their own by gradually building up the amount of time they spend in your absence. You do not have to leave the house for the initial step. In fact, you don’t even have to leave the room!
Start by letting your dog be for just a few minutes to begin with. Be in the same room but get busy with an activity that doesn’t involve you interacting with your dog. Do not give any attention to your dog even if they ask for it. As your dog starts getting comfortable in self engagement, start leaving the room for a few minutes and come back. Do not make a big deal about walking in and out of the room in order to avoid signaling that something significant is happening. Slowly increase the duration over days or weeks.
2. Counterconditioning
The key principle of counterconditioning is replacing a negative association with a positive one.
Make alone time a positive experience by leaving your dog with something enjoyable, like a puzzle feeder or a long-lasting chew toy. Consider using the crate as a space for fun self-engagement activities for your dog. You can build a positive association by limiting these fun activities to only inside the crate. This helps them associate your absence with something they love, rather than something to panic about.
3. Calming Aids and Activities
Calming aids like pheromone diffusers, calming collars, or anxiety wraps are known to be beneficial in helping anxious dogs cope. Synthetic pheromones are designed to replicate the calming, natural chemicals a mother dog releases to soothe her puppies. When released into the environment, they can help reduce stress and anxiety in dogs by creating a sense of security.
Dogs tend to perform activities like licking, chewing, sniffing and shredding to relieve anxiety and stress in a variety of situations. Observe your dog closely to understand what kind of displacement behaviors your dog performs in conflicting situations. You can also try a variety of activities to know what works best. For instance, try leaving your dog in the crate with a frozen lick-mat with their favorite ingredients. Licking helps relieve anxiety and will help build a positive association with being confined.
Consult your veterinarian first to ensure these are appropriate for your pet.
A veterinary behaviorist can help identify whether your dog is experiencing separation anxiety, isolation distress, or another form of stress.
When Should You See a Veterinary Behaviorist?
It is a common misconception that veterinarians and behaviorists must be consulted as the last resort. In reality, it is best to consult them as a precautionary measure in order to prevent any mishaps from taking place. They may be able to indicate and make you aware of signs and symptoms that you may have missed. When dealing with anxiety in dogs, it is best to take help from experts.
If your dog's anxiety feels unmanageable or isn’t improving with training, it’s time to consult a veterinary behaviorist—a veterinarian who specializes in animal behavior. Work with them on a customized treatment plan, which may include behavior modification techniques or even the use of anti-anxiety medications, if necessary.
Ignoring early signs of separation anxiety may lead to long-term health consequences. Make sure to intervene as early as you possibly can.
Activities to Reduce Separation Anxiety and Isolation Distress
A healthy lifestyle is indubitably a better alternative to short-term treatments and medication on any given day. The solution and action plan for separation anxiety and isolation distress may be different from each other; but the preventative measures may overlap. Here are some activities to include in your dog’s daily routine to prevent and/or reduce these behaviors -
Mental and Physical Stimulation
A well stimulated dog is a calmer dog. Depending on your dog’s energy levels and health condition, provide a healthy balance of physical stimulation (walks, cardio, high energy play sessions) and mental stimulation (sniffing games, interactive toys, lick and chew toys).
Dogs that receive a good mix of physical and mental stimulation are typically better at decision making in a variety of scenarios. For instance, a calmer dog will choose to assess the situation and react in a calmer way at the sound of a doorbell as compared to a highly stimulated dog that may choose to bark on impulse.
Music or White Noise
Leave a calming playlist or white noise machine may help relieve anxiety. You could also play a show on TV to mimic human sounds for your dog. Knowing that there are humans around could be quite comforting for many dogs.
Doggy Daycare
For dogs with isolation distress, having company, whether it’s other dogs or humans, can help reduce their anxiety. Well maintained Doggy Daycares provide healthy socialization. However, it’s best not to rely on daycares as a permanent solution as they get dogs used to a high-energy play routine that you may not be able to keep up with on a daily basis.
Training Sessions
Enroll your dog in training classes that improve their confidence and improve their bond with you. You could also choose to train your dog at home with the help of virtual trainers and online videos in order to help them cope with separation anxiety and isolation distress. Training is one of the best ways to bond with your dog. Doing it yourself is even better because you know your dog best.
Helping Your Dog Thrive
Whether your furry companion struggles with separation anxiety, isolation distress, or confinement anxiety, understanding the root of their behavior is key to helping them feel safe and secure.
Invest the time to teach your dog how to cope, and celebrate small victories along the way. With consistency and plenty of patience, most dogs can overcome their anxiety and adjust to being alone. If you’re unsure how to begin, enlist the help of a certified trainer or veterinary behaviorist to guide you through the process.
A happy, independent dog is a joy to come home to, and they deserve to feel calm even when you’re away.
Siddhika Bhat, Certified dog trainer and behaviorist and founder of Wagabonding.
For more tips and info from expert Dog Behaviorist Siddhika Bhat, check out these articles:
Positive Reinforcement vs. The Rest: Why It's a Clear Winner for Dog Training
When Good Puppies Go Rogue: Dealing With Puppy Potty Training Regression
Ask The Expert: The Biggest Myths About Puppy Training: And Why They’re Wrong