🐾 How Do I Know If My Dog Has Separation Anxiety? Causes, Symptoms & Training Tips

Does your dog act like two completely different animals depending on whether you're home or away?

You're not alone. Many dog owners experience this Jekyll and Hyde behaviour — calm and obedient when you're around, but destructive and anxious when left home alone.

🚨 Common Signs of Dog Separation Anxiety

If your dog:

• Barks excessively when left alone
• Chews furniture, clothing, or shoes
• Scratches at doors
• Paces or whines until you return

…they may be suffering from separation anxiety, one of the most common behavioural issues, especially since the pandemic.

🧠 What Is Separation Anxiety in Dogs?

Dogs have separation anxiety because they are afraid, they are scared you are leaving them, and they don't know if you are going to come back or not.

This condition is often misunderstood — we tend to interpret dog behaviour through a human lens, but dogs think in terms of pack structure, leadership, and routine.

🐕 Passive Dominance: A Hidden Contributor

In many homes, dogs subtly train their owners. This is known as passive dominance, and it can look like:

• Demanding to go outside repeatedly without purpose
• Insisting on constant petting or attention
• Rushing ahead during walks or being first to answer the door

These behaviours reinforce your dog’s belief that they’re in charge — which can heighten anxiety when their “pack” (you) disappears.

🦴 How to Treat Separation Anxiety: Leadership & Training Tips

To help your dog feel secure, you must establish leadership to your dog in a canine way. Here’s how:

1. Practice Separation While You're Home – start with short periods and increase the time

• Pop your dog in another room on their doggy bed
• Scatter food over the backyard to keep them occupied
• Avoid letting your dog be with you constantly

2. Use Crate Training Positively

• Introduce the crate as a safe, cozy space — not a punishment
• Add comfy bedding and favourite toys
• Crate your dog for short periods while you're home so they associate it as their haven

3. Minimise the Fuss

• Avoid dramatic greetings or goodbyes — keep departures low-key
• Desensitise your dog’s anxiety by mimicking your leaving routine without leaving
• Keep your dog entertained with chew toys, like Bark Busters GameChanger® or Kongs

🐶 Happy Dogs = Happy Families

Dogs with behavioural issues aren’t “bad” — they’re stressed. By providing leadership and consistent training, you help your dog relax and trust that their pack is strong, even when you're not home.

🌏 At Bark Busters we specialise in helping dogs of any age, any breed, with any issue.

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