Leave the Night-light On, Mom! Top 12 Tips for Canine Separation Issues

Separation-related problems can be challenging but there are ways to help your pup. photo: Adobe Stock

Teaching a child that she can fall asleep peacefully, alone in her room, is a well-known parenting process. But how do you teach a dog to feel comfortable when left alone?

Numerous canine welfare industry professionals suspect that as Covid restrictions start to lift and people begin to return to work, pet dogs - many of which were newly adopted during Covid - may experience separation-related problems. Only time will tell how widespread this phenomenon may be. But in preparation, the San Francisco Animal Care & Control Behavior and Training Department has compiled its Top 12 tips for nipping separation issues in the bud.

Separation-related problems for dogs cover a broad spectrum. Some dogs may experience a few minutes of intermittent, frustrated, mild barking and then settle down peacefully for a nap. Others may exhibit full-blown, medically diagnosed separation anxiety and present more serious

panic behaviors, such as self-harming, intense pacing, a need to escape to reunite with the owner, home destruction, and digging and chewing beyond natural puppy boredom. Countless dogs fall somewhere in between.

Helping your dog feel more comfortable and secure when left alone can be a lot of fun and is not as hard as it sounds! The following simple tips can be used successfully right now in your home to help prevent separation-related distress or problems. Please note that these recommendations are not designed to modify extreme pre-existing separation anxiety. If your dog is experiencing serious anxiety and panic, see your veterinarian immediately and seek the assistance of a certified professional dog trainer.

Don’t Delay, Start Today

If you have not left your dog alone in quite some time, today is the day. Understand that the longer you put off this valuable skill-building exercise, the harder it may be for you and your dog to succeed.

Have Patience

If you have recently moved or adopted a dog, it is reasonable to assume that he or she will need time to transition to a new routine, home, neighborhood, or family. Mild separation-related problems will likely fade away within a few weeks.

Alone Time Is FUN Time

Teaching your dog to associate your departure with something it loves is key. There are a host of very successful learning tools you can use, such as mouth-watering food puzzles or fun hunt-and-seek games. You can research some of our favorites online, including Nina Ottosson puzzles, stuffed frozen Kongs, Snuffle Mats, Hide-A-Squirrel plush toys, and interactive tumbler-type treat dispensers. An old standby is to sprinkle a generous handful of kibble throughout the room your dog will stay in right before you leave your home. As the dog eventually catches on to this simple hide-and-seek game, tuck some kibble pieces in, under, and on top of things in the room to add difficulty. When offered consistently, any and all of these positive associations will have your dog nuzzling you out the door.

Ping Pong

Contrary to what you may have heard, do not make your time away successively longer each time. You want to avoid accidently increasing your dog's frustration or distress with predictably longer sessions. Instead, build in success by ping-ponging the length of time you are gone. For example, today you might leave for 10 minutes in the afternoon; tomorrow, try 5 minutes in the morning and then 15 minutes in the evening.

Sounds Good

Leaving on talk radio or a chatty television channel like HSN or QVC can help mask outdoor sounds your dog may overreact to with excessive barking. White noise machines can also assist in muffling environmental sounds.

Eliminate Before You Vacate

Take your dog for a 15- or 30-minute relaxed neighborhood walk before you leave your dog alone. The opportunity to stretch its legs and wee and pooh will surely add to the dog’s comfort. However, take care not to engage your dog in high aerobic activities before your departure. Such activities can keep the dog’s adrenaline higher than you want when it’s alone.

This Bed Is Just Right

We all know every dog has its own preferences regarding just about

everything. As your dog’s personal P. I., it’s your job to discover which alone-time location provides it with the most comfort and security. Be observant. Is your dog most secure in a cozy den-like crate, lying on one of your tee shirts and chewing on a Benebone? Or is your dog most comfortable loose in your living room, secured by baby gates, snoring on the couch? If your dog feels secure alone in your car because it has a 360-degree visual connection to the world, try positioning it near a home window before you leave. Find out what is just right for your dog.

Clear the Decks

In preparation for leaving your dog alone safely in a designated room, put

yourself in its paws and scan the environment from its canine point of view. Remove any and all household items that may entice your dog to chew, gnaw, or swallow. Taking just a few minutes to do this will help you avoid hindering your dog’s progress and instead encourage its success.

Say No to No

If you return home to find your dog has had an accident or made a bit of a mess, do not punish your dog. Simply put, he or she will sense you are intensely unhappy but will not understand why. Punishing your dog creates confusion and frustration. Instead, while you tidy up, take careful note of the place where you left the dog in your absence. This can be invaluable when you are investigating its alone-time location preference.

Be a Good Neighbor

Contact your neighbors and let them know you are working with your dog to help it feel more confident and comfortable when left alone. Make them aware that they might hear some barking or whining, and ask if they will be participants in your training process. Give them your phone number and ask them to contact you directly if they hear excessive barking.

Don’t Leave Me This Way

Sometimes leaving our dogs is harder for us than for them. Take this into consideration. Make your departures as normal and easy-going as they would be if you didn’t have a dog. Try to avoid over-fussing, and just ignore your dog 5-10 minutes before your departure. The same rings true when re-entering your home. Your goal is to normalize this procedure for you and your dog.

I Spy

Ever wonder what your dog does when you are gone? Set up a video camera or mobile phone and record your dog’s behavior after you’ve departed. This will give you an accurate picture of what your dog looks and sounds like when alone and valuable insight into what’s working for your dog and what’s not.

Preparing your dog for life after Covid by teaching it to rest and sleep confidently when alone is important to its overall health and well-being. Dogs, like young children, need a great deal of rest each day. The average young puppy requires approximately 16-20 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, while the average adult dog needs 12-14 hours. 

Try each of these 12 simple tips to help your dog have successful, restful time alone. And remember: start today!