How to Help a Puppy with Separation Anxiety

The excitement and overall emotion you feel when you bring home a puppy is indescribable and even a little overwhelming.

Cuddles, playtime and bonding come easily, but you might feel a little surprised when your puppy becomes distressed the moment they’re left alone. 

Separation anxiety in puppies is more common than you think. At Soothe and Settle, we support anxious and sensitive dogs at every stage of life.

In this guide, we’ll explore what separation anxiety in puppies looks like, whether all puppies experience it, if they grow out of it, and, most importantly, how you can help your puppy feel calm when you’re not around.

What Is Separation Anxiety in Puppies?

Separation anxiety happens when a puppy struggles to be away from their owner and becomes distressed.

Separation anxiety describes your puppy feeling distressed when they’re alone, and some common signs include crying and barking when you leave, destructive behaviour and following you from room to room.

Here are some common signs of separation anxiety your dog may show:

• Crying, howling, barking or whining when left alone

• Destructive behaviour, such as chewing and destroying furniture

• Following you from room to room

• Toileting

• Trembling or panting

• Repetitive behaviour, such as circling or pacing

Noticing these signs early on will help you support your puppy as soon as possible before their anxiety increases.

Do All Puppies Have Separation Anxiety?

No, not all puppies develop separation anxiety, but most puppies experience some level of discomfort when left alone at first.

Factors that can affect whether puppies experience separation anxiety include being separated from their mother at a young age, being genetically predisposed to anxiety, or a lack of mental stimulation in their environment.

Do Puppies Grow Out of Separation Anxiety?

This is a very common question, and the answer is sometimes, but it’s not likely.

Some puppies’ confidence naturally increases as they grow up, especially if they’re gently taught that alone time is safe and temporary. However, others may carry separation anxiety into adulthood.

This is why it’s key to be patient, consistent and use the right calming tools to support your puppy and prevent anxious behaviours from becoming habits.

How to Calm a Puppy with Separation Anxiety

Helping a puppy with separation anxiety is all about building confidence slowly and kindly. 

Here are 5 ways to calm your puppy’s separation anxiety:

1. Start Small with Alone Time & Pair It with Calm Associations

It’s crucial to start small. Start by stepping out of the room for a few seconds and calmly returning, then a few minutes, gradually increasing the duration.

Our goal is to make alone time less threatening and even positive. Pairing alone time with something soothing is a fantastic way to do this. 

You can offer a calming chew or settle your puppy with a comforting toy before you leave to help create a calm association with your absence.

2. Support Your Puppy with Calming Supplements

To make the process of teaching your puppy to be alone easier on their developing nervous system, consider supporting them with gentle, natural calming supplements.

Our Valerian Compound and Skullcap and Valerian tablets relax your puppy, without making them feel sleepy, allowing them to remain calm enough to learn that being alone is safe. 

Herbs such as skullcap and valerian can relax your puppy, without making them feel sedated, making it easier to teach your puppy to be alone.

These supplements are most effective when given before practising alone time, helping your puppy associate separation with a relaxed state rather than fear.

3. Create a Designated Calm Space

Having a specific, calm space will enable your puppy to associate that are with relaxation, and ease their anxiety when you leave. 

Creating a designated space for your puppy with their favourite blanket, toys, and wheat bags signals to them that they’re safe when you leave the room.

Whether it’s a crate, pen or quiet corner, this space should feel familiar, warm and secure, so include their favourite blanket or bed and a familiar toy.

Adding wheat bags to their bed can provide gentle warmth, helping relax the body and calm the nervous system. Shop our selection of wheat bags now.

4. Build Independence During the Day

Encouraging independence is one of the best things you can do for your puppy’s separation anxiety, as, over time, it shows them that there’s nothing scary about being alone.

Even when you’re at home, it’s helpful to gently encourage solo time, such as resting in another room or playing quietly on their own and reward them with treats or toys when they handle it well.

Create short, positive periods of independence during the day to make alone time much easier later on, teaching your puppy that they don’t need contact to feel safe.

5. Keep Routines Predictable

Routines help your puppy feel secure. Make sure they have a consistent routine with regular feeding and walking times to help them understand what to expect from the day, reducing their overall anxiety.

Keep routines predictable with the same feeding and walk times, as predictability reduces your puppy’s overall anxiety.

Before alone time, ensure your puppy has gone to the toilet, had some mental and physical stimulation, and had adequate time to settle with supplements, toys, and their safe space.

The calmer you can make the rest of their day, the calmer they’ll feel when it’s time for you to leave.

How Soothe & Settle Can Support Your Puppy

Separation anxiety is common in puppies, but we hope this guide has shown you that it doesn’t have to be a part of their behaviour forever.

At Soothe and Settle, our mission is to help dogs feel calm, supported and understood from their first days at home and beyond.

Shop our collections now to take the first step towards calming your puppy’s anxiety today.