Separation-Related Anxiety in Dogs: Raising Awareness During Canine Behaviour Month
Dogs are social animals that form strong emotional bonds with their caregivers. While many dogs cope well when left alone for short periods, others can experience significant distress when separated from the people they depend on. Known as separation-related anxiety, this common behavioural condition can have a major impact on both canine welfare and the human-animal bond.
As part of Forte healthcare’s Canine Behaviour Month, we want to help raise awareness of the behavioural challenges facing dogs today, encourage earlier recognition of behavioural concerns, and support veterinary professionals and caregivers in improving outcomes for affected pets.
What is Separation-Related Anxiety?
Separation-related anxiety occurs when a dog becomes distressed in the absence of their caregiver or when separated from an attachment figure. It is estimated to affect between 14-17% of dogs and is considered one of the most common canine behavioural disorders.
Importantly, dogs experiencing separation anxiety are not being “naughty,” “spiteful” or deliberately destructive. Their behaviour is driven by genuine emotional distress and should be approached with understanding, compassion and appropriate support.
Signs may include:
Destructive behaviour in the home
Excessive barking or vocalisation
Inappropriate urination or defecation
Pacing and restlessness
Escape behaviours
Salivation or panting
Hyper-attachment to caregivers
These behaviours typically occur when the dog is left alone or anticipates separation.
Why Awareness Matters
Behavioural health is an important part of overall canine welfare, yet behavioural concerns are often misunderstood or overlooked. Many caregivers may not realise their dog is struggling emotionally, while others may delay seeking help because they feel embarrassed or unsure where to turn.
Without intervention, separation-related anxiety can worsen over time, negatively impacting both the dog and caregiver. Chronic stress can reduce quality of life for the pet, while ongoing behavioural challenges may strain the human-animal bond.
The good news is that separation-related anxiety can be managed and early intervention often leads to better outcomes.
Supporting Dogs Through Early Intervention
Veterinary professionals play a vital role in recognising behavioural concerns, ruling out underlying medical issues and helping caregivers access appropriate support. Treatment plans often involve a multimodal approach, including:
Behavioural modification techniques
Environmental management
Routine adjustments
Caregiver education
In some cases, prescription medications like Reconcile
Behavioural programmes are generally more effective when introduced early, before anxiety behaviours become deeply established.
One example is the CALM Programme, developed by veterinary behaviourist Dr. Sarah Heath, which focuses on creating emotional stability, altering expectations of interaction, leaving predictive signals and modifying underlying emotional health where necessary.
Continuing the Conversation During Canine Behaviour Month
Throughout Canine Behaviour Month, we will be highlighting the importance of behavioural medicine and supporting conversations around common behavioural challenges affecting dogs and their caregivers.
Our goal is to encourage proactive conversations around canine behaviour, reduce stigma associated with behavioural disorders and support veterinary teams in educating pet owners about recognising early warning signs.
Behavioural challenges such as separation-related anxiety are more common than many people realise and increased awareness can help more dogs access the support they need sooner.
During the month, we will be sharing:
Educational resources
Behaviour-focused content
Practical caregiver advice
Veterinary insights
Behavioural management tools
Awareness materials for practices
By working together to improve understanding of canine behavioural health, we can help strengthen the bond between dogs and their caregivers while supporting better welfare outcomes.
As part of this initiative, we are also pleased to spotlight an upcoming CPD webinar from internationally-recognised, veterinary behaviour specialist Dr. Katrin Jahn titled:
The webinar which takes place on June 15th at 8pm, will explore the role of psychopharmacology within veterinary behavioural medicine, including:
Appropriate clinical indications for behavioural medications
Understanding neurotransmitter systems such as serotonin, dopamine and GABA
Integrating medication into a wider behaviour treatment framework
Strategies to improve clinical outcomes through multimodal care
Dr. Katrin Jahn is a double board-certified specialist in veterinary behavioural medicine with more than 25 years of experience in the field. Her webinar reinforces an important message: behavioural disorders require a comprehensive and compassionate approach that considers both emotional wellbeing and clinical management.
Educational initiatives like these are helping to increase understanding of behavioural medicine and empower veterinary teams to better support canine patients experiencing anxiety-related disorders.
Helping Dogs Thrive
Dogs rely on us not only for physical care, but also for emotional support and security. Recognising behavioural disorders as genuine welfare concerns is an important step toward improving quality of life for affected pets.
If a dog is showing signs of distress when left alone, early veterinary guidance can make a meaningful difference. With appropriate support, many dogs with separation-related anxiety can learn to cope more comfortably and confidently.
As we approach Canine Behaviour Month, we encourage veterinary professionals and caregivers alike to continue the conversation around behavioural health and help ensure dogs receive the understanding and support they deserve.
Click here to register for Dr. Katrin Jahn’s webinar.
For more information, visit the Forte Healthcare Canine Behaviour Month website.
Forte Healthcare is the marketing authorisation holder of Reconcile®, the first licensed fluoxetine for dogs.
