Addressing Separation Anxiety in Puppies

Separation anxiety in puppies has a variety of causes but overcoming this issue isn’t as difficult as you think. It requires some trial and error, but its possible to relieve the stress that both you and your puppy are feeling.

One thing to remember: This isn’t a quick fix, but it can be a permanent one!

As a professional dog trainer, the first thing I recommend to clients is crate training. This is useful not only to ease anxiety, but also for potty training and boundary training. People often shudder at the idea of keeping your dog in a crate, but its all a matter of perspective. A crate is not a place to send your puppy as punishment. It should NEVER be a place you send your dog in a moment of anger or frustration. A crate is your puppies space. It is safe, and comfortable, and ALL theirs.

For a full breakdown of crate training (and how to utilize it for potty training) see our article “Crate Training: Maintain Your Sanity”. You can also find helpful reviews of crates and how to choose one here.

Building a foundation for your puppy from day one will help with separation anxiety as well. Don’t spend every second that you are home coddling your new family member (as difficult as that may be!) Put the puppy in another room for short periods of time. While you are cooking dinner, keep them in a pen or in the bedroom. Depending on their age and potty habits, I wouldn’t recommend letting them out of your sight but for older housebroken puppies past the teething stage, putting them in another “puppy proofed” room is a good option.

“Puppy Proofing” is explained with more detail our article “Things to Know Before Bringing Baby Home: Puppy Edition” with safety tips and tools to make your puppy’s homecoming safe.

Another technique for easing anxiety in puppies is simply to change up your routine. When leaving the house, don’t do everything the same every time. Put your keys in your pocket or purse hours before you leave (the sound is often a trigger). Wear your shoes around even when you aren’t getting ready to walk out of the door. Don’t love on your puppy and give them a long drawn out goodbye. Don’t even tell them goodbye. If they know you are leaving because of your routine (putting on shoes and jacket, picking up purse, phone, keys, kissing them on the head and baby talking them.. we’re all guilty of it) it gives them a trigger to become anxious.

They are smart enough to know when you do those things, it means you are leaving them.

Switch it up!

Separation anxiety is a very common issue. Tackling it in puppies is much easier than when they are adults (but that is fixable too! See “Separation Anxiety in Adult Dogs and How to Fix It”). Remember for your puppy’s safety it is best to not leave them unsupervised for long periods of time, but your life doesn’t have to completely stop.