Dog Separation Anxiety | Pets at Home (2024)

In a 2022 survey, Petplan discovered that almost two-fifths (39%) of pet owners are worried about their work-life balance negatively impacting their pet’s wellbeing. If this is you, we hope the tips, tricks and advice below help ease your mind through the process.

How long can you leave a dog alone?

It's important to remember that how long your dog can manage on their own will depend on their individual needs. Some dogs are inclined to get very anxious when left, while others can manage better with the time alone. Regardless, as a rule of thumb don't leave your dog alone for more than a few hours at a time. The age of your dog will also come into play when deciding how long to leave them for. Generally, puppies and younger dogs will not manage on their own for as long as older dogs, so make sure you take this into consideration.

How do I prepare them?

You'll need to put in a little training if your dog is going to manage on their own. Just like being trained to sit or stay, you'll need to help your dog learn that being on their own is fine, and you will return.

1. Start by leaving your dog alone for a short amount of time, and gradually build it up. You might find that providing them with a distraction helps - such as their favourite toy or a food-based game. Some dogs might not take very well to being left, so it's essential you build up their tolerance slowly.
2. Once you've got your dog used to being alone, you can start to think about leaving them for a few hours at a time. Make sure your dog is comfortable before you leave the house. If your dog's not coping particularly well, you might notice them becoming anxious and even fearful as they begin to notice the signs you're about to leave them.
3. Upon your return, while it's great when your dog is pleased to see you, if they're particularly clingy and excited that you're home, it might be a sign that they're not coping well with being left. In this instance, you can purchase special Pet Tech to 'spy' on your dog when they're alone. This way you can identify their behaviour, and begin training as necessary. You can always contact your vet for more advice and information on separation anxiety.
4. It may be worth investing in a dog crate to help minimise their stress while left alone. Some people think it's a bit mean - but actually, it provides a safe space for them that they can call their own which might help them feel more secure when you're not around. You can make it feel super cosy and den-like for them.
5. Think about leaving the TV or radio on when you go out, as the sounds may help to keep your dog occupied and calm when they’re alone. You could even leave on one of our calming playlists.

Signs of separation anxiety in dogs

Being particularly social animals, dogs tend to enjoy company, which can of course make it difficult to deal with being left alone for long periods of time. In some cases, dogs who find this really challenging may start to show signs of anxiety or boredom… So, how can you help your pets to cope when they do have to spend time alone?

• Changing behaviour – do they spot you getting ready to go out? For instance, they may begin panting, pacing, whining or waiting by the front door, or following you around closely when they see you picking up your keys or putting on your shoes
• Barking or howling – can you hear them when you leave the house or arrive back? Perhaps your neighbours might let you know that they can hear your dog when you’re out
• Unexpected toileting accidents – even though your dog was fully housetrained previously to this, do you come home to ‘accidents’? Sometimes, this even includes being sick
• Destructive behaviour – particularly towards their bed, your furniture, home or belongings. They may scratch or chew at doors and windows, as though they’ve tried to escape
• Injured paws or gums - if your dog spends time in a crate when you aren’t home, you might find that they’ve pawed or chewed at the bars and injured themselves. If they are anxious, they may have drooled and got their fur or bed very wet

It can be challenging to establish whether a dog is feeling bored or whether anxiety is the problem, without witnessing how your dog reacts when they’re left. When vets and behavioural counsellors investigate cases of separation-related behaviour, they’ll often set up a camera to see what’s happening. Whatever the underlying reason, of course, none of us want our pets to feel so strongly about being left that they destroy things or hurt themselves.

If you are seeing signs of separation-related behaviour in your dog and would like some support, email or ring your vet team to arrange a time to discuss the problem, or speak to one of our in-store advisors who can help point you in the right direction.

If you feel you may need help keeping your pet entertained while you're away, visit our friends at Tailster who can provide you with pet-sitting and walking services.