Macy Moore
Owner, MoorePetLove · Oakville, ON
Separation anxiety is one of the most misunderstood things in the dog world. It gets blamed for a lot of behaviour that's actually just boredom, but real separation anxiety is genuinely distressing for dogs — and for the owners who feel guilty leaving for work every morning. Here are five signs to look for, and what you can do about it.
One of the clearest signs of separation anxiety is pre-departure anxiety — your dog starts showing stress the moment they realize you're leaving. This might look like pacing, whining, or following you from room to room as you get ready. It often starts when they see you pick up your keys or put on your shoes. Real anxiety begins before you're even out the door.
If your dog chews furniture, scratches at doors, or shreds things only when you're gone — not when you're home — that's a separation anxiety flag. Dogs with anxiety aren't being bad. They're coping with panic the only way they know how. Punishing them when you get home doesn't help because they've completely moved on from what happened hours ago.
A dog that vocalizes for hours when alone — something your neighbours might helpfully mention — is showing distress. This is different from a few barks when someone walks past. Continuous vocalization is your dog expressing genuine distress.
A fully house-trained dog who starts having accidents when alone may be so stressed they lose control. This is especially notable if they're perfectly clean when you're home.
Does your dog follow you room to room, even to the bathroom? Some velcro-ness is normal and sweet — but extreme dependency on your presence is often paired with severe distress when you're gone.
Real separation anxiety usually needs a combination of behaviour modification work (ideally with a certified trainer), possibly medication in severe cases, and management strategies that reduce the total amount of alone time. For many dogs, daycare a few days a week makes a massive difference — not just because it tires them out, but because they're with someone instead of alone. A calm home-based daycare is often better than a big facility for anxious dogs specifically, because there's less stimulation and more actual companionship.
I've worked with lots of dogs who struggle when left alone. A small-group, calm home environment is often exactly what they need. Let's do a meet and greet and see how they settle.