I asked chat gpt to give me the top 10 issues owners of dogs with separation anxiety struggle with.
Here they are and my top line thoughts and advice for each one of them.
🐾 1. Working from Home vs Going Back to Work: how to ease the transition back to the office without causing distress.
That will of course look very different for each one of you.
I suggest to find someone to look after your dog while you work on building happy home alone duration on the days you work from home, or weekends.
Once your dog is happy with one hour +, start creating a routine around it that will eventually mirror you heading off to the office.
🧹 2. Destructive Behaviours When Left Alone: Chewed furniture, scratched doors, torn blinds. Often shared with frustration, guilt, or embarrassment.
Your dog is clearly having a hard time being alone!
My short-term advice: find a good daycare or dog sitter and try your best to avoid leaving your dog to cry it out, as it will only make their anxiety worse.
My long-term advice: seek professional help.
🎥 3. Watching Their Dog on Camera: many of you talk about using pet cams and feeling anxious or helpless watching your dog pace, cry, or howl when home alone.
And I 100% empathise with anyone who is in this situation.
As per point 2, manage while you heal your dog overcome their fears.
🚪 4. Dog Won’t Let Them Leave the House: dogs becoming overly clingy even as owners put on shoes or pick up keys. Some dogs block the door, bark, or even nip to prevent departures.
As per point 2 and 3: your dog is obviously struggling with being home alone and is already getting very stressed around you preparing to leave. So please don’t, if you can manage. It simply won’t go away on its own.
🐕🦺 5. Confusion Around Crate Use: debates about whether the crate helps or makes things worse.
It looks like there are still debates about whether the crate helps or makes things worse. As per my previous posts on this topic, most dogs with separation issues also experience confinement anxiety. Simply crating your dog is NOT the solution
🧠 6. Misunderstanding the Root of the Problem: owners are unsure whether it’s “just bad behaviour,” boredom, or true anxiety. And all the conflicting advice from online sources creates even more confusion.
So let me clear this up for you once and for all: it’s never just bad behaviour. And whether it’s boredom or anxiety, your dog needs help!
💵 7. Feeling Overwhelmed by the Cost of Support: balancing vet checks, behaviourist fees, trainers, dog walkers, calming products, etc. and feeling stuck between wanting help and affording help.
My training costs are based on the time I need to invest in helping you and your dog. And the goal is of course to eventually eliminate your current costs of daycares etc, as your dog will be able to be happy home alone.
Also, I offer payment plans and I’m working on providing alternatives such as group courses and self-study programmes soon.
⏰ 8. Time Commitment of Training: frustration with how slow separation anxiety training can be and wishing for a quick fix, but struggling to stay consistent with gradual departures.
I’m afraid to say that overcoming separation related issues takes time and a lot of effort. There are no quick fixes. I always do my very best to fit the departure training into my client’s day to day, making it as smooth running as possible, as I totally understand it’s a grindstone!!!
😔 9. Emotional Toll and Guilt: owners feeling like they’re letting their dog down or being “trapped” at home. Continuously having to cancelled plans which puts a strain on their relationships with their dog, or even anxiety mirroring their dog.
This is something I hear A LOT. And I’ve been there myself a few years ago. It’s really REALLY tough.
Firstly, I never want you to feel judged or misunderstood. I’m here for you as much as I’m here for your dog. I want to help you and your dog live a happy and fulfilled live together and I am here not only to teach you how to work with your dog on these issues, but also to be your cheerleader along the way. We are in this together!!
🐾 10. Pressure from Friends, Family, or Vets: getting told to “just let the dog cry it out” or “he’ll get over it.” Feeling unsupported or misunderstood in how seriously they take their dog’s distress.
Another topic I hear about from my clients a lot, unfortunately. I’m sure most friends and family members mean well, but simply don’t know better (vets have no excuse here tbh). The ‘old school’ approach of leaving the dog to cry it out is even still used even by some professional dog trainers!!!!
And of course this is NOT the right approach and it’s been proven to be damaging to the dog in more than one way. Not only will it damage your bond with your dog (after all you’re supposed to be their safe place, then one who understands them and their needs), but it will also make their anxiety worse, in most cases. And if you are one of the few who’s dog stops barking, eventually, that doesn’t mean they are over it. That means they’ve given up (“learned helplessness” which is akin to depression). AND THAT IT NOT OK!
Did it miss anything? And which one most resonates with you?