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5 Smart Tricks to Ease Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety

Rachel M.
by Rachel M.
Published:  July 16th, 2025

Separation anxiety in dogs is more common than many pet parents realize. It can manifest as destructive behavior, excessive barking, whining, pacing, or even accidents in the house.


These are all signs that your dog is struggling to cope with being left alone. Luckily, with consistency and patience, you can ease your furry friend’s distress.


Here are five smart tricks to help your dog feel more secure when you're not around.


Disclosure: PetGuide may receive a small affiliate commission from purchases made via links in this article but at no cost to you. 

Anxious dog - image via Canva

Table of contents

1. Create a Calm Departure Routine

Dogs are incredibly perceptive and can pick up on the signs that you're about to leave, such as grabbing keys, putting on shoes, or even spraying perfume. These cues can trigger anxiety before you're even out the door.


To reduce this anticipatory stress:

  • Practice “fake” departures without leaving.
  • Avoid dramatic goodbyes or overly enthusiastic hellos
  • Use a specific word or cue (like “I'll be back”) to help your dog understand the pattern and build trust over time.


Over time, this routine teaches your dog that your departures are temporary and not something to dread.

2. Provide Long-Lasting Distractions

A mentally stimulated dog is far less likely to panic. Use puzzle games or treat-dispensing toys to keep their mind engaged while you’re gone.


Some popular options include:

  • Kong toys stuffed with dog-safe peanut butter or frozen treats
  • Snuffle mats that encourage foraging behavior
  • Puzzle feeders that challenge your dog to “solve” their way to a reward


These distractions not only make your absence less noticeable but also create positive associations with alone time.

Dog Puzzle Toy 3 Levels, Mental stimulating for Boredom - image via Amazon

3. Use Desensitization Training

If your dog becomes anxious even when you're gone for a short time, gradual desensitization can help. Start by leaving them alone for a micro amount of time and gradually increase the duration.


Here’s how:

  • Step outside for one minute seconds, then return before your dog gets anxious.
  • Slowly build up to longer absences over several days or weeks.
  • Reward calm behavior with praise or treats.

4. Make Their Space Comforting

Creating a safe, cozy environment can ease your dog’s anxiety. Some dogs feel more secure in a crate, while others prefer a gated-off room.


Make the space appealing with:

  • Their favorite bed or blanket
  • An item of your clothing that smells like you
  • Soft music or a white noise machine (there are even dog-specific playlists out there!)


This safe zone acts like a comfort cocoon, giving your dog a familiar, peaceful place to relax while you're away.

Orthopedic Dog Beds for Large Dogs - image via Amazon

5. Speak To Your Vet

If your dog’s anxiety is severe, your vet may recommend anti-anxiety medications. These generally aren’t a permanent solution but they can support your dog during training and transition periods.

Final Thoughts

Separation anxiety is tough on both dogs and their owners, but it's manageable with the right approach.


By understanding the signs and implementing these smart tricks, you're not only helping your dog cope, you’re also strengthening the bond between you.


With consistency, love, and a bit of creativity, your dog can learn that being alone isn’t so scary after all.  


Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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Rachel M.
Rachel M.

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Can Dogs Really Tell Time?

You might have noticed your dog waiting by the door just before you get home, or staring at their food bowl exactly when dinner should be served. It’s almost as if they can read the clock - but can dogs really tell time?Well, not exactly in the way humans do. Dogs can’t glance at a wall clock or count the hours, but they do have an impressive sense of timing - one that’s rooted in routine, body rhythms, and environmental cues. Let’s take a closer look at what science (and real-life dog behavior) tells us.Dogs and the Rhythm of RoutineDogs thrive on routine. They may not know it’s 7:00 PM, but they do know what 7:00 PM feels like. Their internal sense of time is shaped by:Habitual patterns (waking, eating, walking, sleeping)Biological rhythms (like hunger or energy cycles)Environmental changes (shifting light, temperature, or sounds)So when your dog waits at the window just before you return from work, it’s not because they’ve checked the time - it’s because their body has learned the rhythm of your schedule. Over time, their brain connects environmental clues and physical sensations with your arrival.The Power of Scent and SoundDogs also rely heavily on scent and sound to track time.As strange as it sounds, some scientists believe dogs might use the fading of your scent in the house as a marker of how long you’ve been gone. The longer you’re away, the weaker your scent - helping your dog estimate the passage of time.They’re also sensitive to audio cues: the rumble of a familiar car engine, footsteps in the hallway, or even the click of a neighbor’s routine can signal what’s about to happen.Do Dogs Understand “Later” or “Soon”?Dogs don’t think about time in the abstract the way we do - they live very much in the moment. So while your dog may understand that a certain cue (like you grabbing the leash) means something is about to happen, they probably don’t understand “in five minutes” or “after dinner” the way a child might.

Dogs Are Helping People Deal With Stress More Than Expected

If you’ve ever found your shoulders unknotted simply by petting your dog after a long day, you’re definitely not alone. But now science at the University of Denver is showing just how powerful that furry comfort can be.A new study led by the University of Denver’s Institute for Human‑Animal Connection (IHAC) has uncovered something pretty remarkable: pet dogs don’t just reduce stress, they actually help regulate it in a more nuanced, biological way than researchers expected.Researchers recruited 44 dog‑owning participants and randomly assigned them to two groups. One group brought their dog to a mildly stressful lab test, and the other group faced it alone. The test involved giving a job‑interview style speech and doing mental math under pressure.During the study, researchers measured heart rate, salivary cortisol, and alpha‑amylase (a stress enzyme), and had participants rate their anxiety. What they found was pretty fascinating! Although both groups saw increases in stress, those with their dogs present had significantly lower spikes in heart rate and cortisol. Heart rate rose about 14.6% with dogs present vs. 26.7% without. And cortisol responses were more than 50% lower when a dog was by your side.What surprised researchers is that salivary alpha‑amylase actually only rose in the dog group, by 97.6%, suggesting not just suppression of stress, but a healthy, balanced response. Participants in the dog‑present group sometimes ended with cortisol levels even lower after recovery than when they first arrived. A sign of faster stress recovery.According to IHAC communicators, “dogs may be able to support a balanced, intermediate stress response. Instead of just reducing the stress response, a dog can actually help to maintain regular stress levels”.Although participants didn’t report significantly less anxiety in self‑ratings (that metric was about the same whether the dog was present or not), the physiological signs tell a different story. It turns out our heart, our hormones, and even specific enzymes respond better when our dogs are with us, even if our minds think otherwise.This study breaks ground by measuring several biological systems at once, something previous research lacked. IHAC hopes to expand this work, exploring whether dogs might help with chronic stress, anxiety disorders, or recovery from trauma. In fact, upcoming work from DU researchers will look at service dogs with veterans dealing with PTSD, mapping long‑term hormone changes and even protein biomarkers over months of pairing.The goal is ambitious yet relatable: uncovering how dogs, our partners, confidants, and fluffy overlords shape our bodies’ stress responses, not just our minds.So what’s the practical takeaway? Even on hectic days, carve out a few minutes to connect with your dog. Sit on the couch together, take a short walk, or let them curl up beside you while you breathe deeply. It’s not just sweet, it might actually cut your cortisol and keep your heart rate steadier.And if someone ever downplays your pup’s value beyond fetch games or cuteness? Share the facts. Dogs are scientifically shown to be better at regulating stress than parents, partners, or close friends in some respects, and just as helpful on our toughest days.So next time someone says your dog is just a pet, smile knowingly. You're not only living with a furry companion, you might be living with your best therapist yet.Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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