🐾 How to Create Separation Anxiety in Your Dog (Without Even Realizing It)

Separation anxiety is one of the most heartbreaking and preventable behavior issues we see in dogs today. And yet, it’s become increasingly common—especially in the post-pandemic era, where dogs spent months (or years) glued to their humans 24/7.

You know what makes it worse?

The very things we do out of love.

So let’s break it down. If you want to accidentally create a dog who can’t handle being alone, who screams in the crate, destroys furniture, or panics the second you grab your keys—here’s a step-by-step guide.

🚫 How to Create Separation Anxiety (Without Meaning To)

1. Pet your dog constantly

Any time they look at you. Every time they nudge your hand. Just keep the affection coming, no matter what.

2. Talk to your dog like a toddler

Narrate your every move. Whisper sweet nothings. Never let them sit in silence.

3. Let them follow you everywhere

The bathroom? Yep. Shower? Why not. Just make sure you’re never out of sight for more than 5 seconds.

4. Allow them to be on your lap, your chest, your feet—always

Physical contact at all times. Bonus points if they cry when you shift positions.

5.

Pet, soothe, and comfort them when they whine or bark

Especially if they’re anxious. That way, they learn anxiety earns attention.

6. Let your dog demand affection

And give it to them immediately. Reinforce that they control the dynamic.

7. Make them your emotional support animal—literally

Use your dog as a coping mechanism instead of creating a balanced relationship. No pressure, right?

8. Give them complete freedom

No rules. No boundaries. Let them decide where they go, when they go, and how they live.

9. Refuse to crate train

Why teach independence when you can just let them sleep in your bed forever?

10. Avoid correcting inappropriate behavior

Ignore jumping, barking, pacing, biting, chewing… just let them “express themselves.”

11. Avoid using ‘Place’ or structured downtime

Why teach them to settle when chaos is so much more fun?

12. Let them out of the crate when they whine or bark

This ensures they never learn how to self-soothe or wait patiently. Perfect!

13. Avoid training that makes them uncomfortable

God forbid your dog feel challenged or frustrated for five seconds. That would be “mean.”

What do you mean I can’t crawl into your skin???

😬 The Result? A Dog That Falls Apart Without You

By doing all of the above, what you’re really teaching your dog is this:

• You are their entire world

• They cannot function without you

• They are not safe alone

• They do not need to develop self-control, independence, or resilience

And when you finally do leave the house (because you have to eventually), your dog loses it. They cry. They chew. They pace. They panic.

Why? Because you accidentally taught them that they’re helpless without you.

🧠 But Here’s the Good News: This Is Fixable

Dogs can absolutely learn to be confident, calm, and independent—even if you’ve made every mistake on this list. But it takes structure. It takes leadership. And it takes you being willing to stop babying your dog and start preparing them for real life.

That means:

• Crate training (yes, even if they don’t love it at first)

• Structured routines

• Teaching “Place” to build impulse control and settle behaviors

• Correcting anxious energy, not comforting it

• Creating space between you and your dog—not just physically, but emotionally

You’re not being mean.

You’re giving your dog the tools to be okay without you—and that’s one of the kindest things you can do.

Affection isn't the enemy!

💬 Final Thoughts

Affection isn’t the enemy.

But unstructured, unlimited affection with zero leadership? That’s a recipe for anxiety, dependency, and heartbreak.

If your dog is panicking every time you leave the house, barking in the crate, or losing their mind at the first sign of distance—it’s not because they’re broken.

It’s because they were never taught how to be okay alone.

And that’s where we come in.

Our training programs are designed to build calm, confident, independent dogs that can handle real life—with or without you in the room.

Ready to get started? Reach out today. Let’s rebuild your dog’s confidence—one calm moment at a time.