Dog owners have been urged to keep an eye on their dog's mood when they're left home alone - and make some simple changes that could help ease their separation anxiety
06:00, 08 Jan 2026Updated 09:22, 08 Jan 2026
Every dog owner has seen the sadness in their pet’s eyes when they leave the house for even one minute - and the pure joy that follows when they return. But unfortunately, we can't reassure our pets by telling them we'll be back home in a while, and that they don’t need to wait by the door until we return.
However, there are certain things you can do to ease their anxiety when you need to leave your house - and it all starts with training. Sharing what runs through a dog’s mind when you leave them at home alone, TikTok user @pawfyshop said: “When you leave, your dog doesn’t just ‘miss you’ - they panic like a toddler who lost their mum. Learn how dogs experience separation anxiety, feeling panic like young children. Discover tips to help your pet cope better!”
He suggests leaving them with an item of your clothing so they can smell you while you’re away, or leaving them with a task to complete - such as a snuffle mat.
It comes after the RSPCA warned owners against leaving their pets to ‘cry it out’ while they’re away, saying this advice is “neurologically damaging.”
A statement warns: “Working out why your dog reacts badly to being left alone can be tricky — especially as research shows that half of dogs suffering from separation-related behaviour won’t show any signs when you’re with them.”
To help them feel more at ease when home alone, you can leave your dog a ‘special’ toy so they have something to play with while you’re out of the house.
“Always make sure that your dog has exciting things to do when you’re not with them. You can give your dog a long-lasting chew, such as a stuffed Kong toy, a meat-flavoured chew or a treat ball when you plan to go out,” the statement adds.
“Make sure that they enjoy using it when you’re there. If your dog then doesn’t use it when you’re away, this may be a sign that your dog is worried when you’re out.”
Owners can also encourage their pet to relax when they're on their own by taking them out for a walk before they plan to leave the house.
The statement adds: “Try to take your dog for a walk before you go out so that they have the opportunity to go to the toilet and exercise.
“Return half an hour before you plan to leave and make sure they’re not hungry. You can feed them a small meal before you leave or leave a food toy — your dog will be much more inclined to relax if they’re fed.”
However, if you’re planning on leaving your dog for more than four hours at a time, the RSPCA recommends booking a dog sitter - especially if your dog isn’t used to being left home alone for long periods.
“We recommend that you don’t leave your dog alone for more than four hours; for puppies, much less. However, if your dog struggles with being alone, they may start feeling anxious within minutes of you leaving - or even before you leave,” the statement adds.
“Using a dog sitter or dog walking service means that someone can keep your dog company and take them for a walk. This is a good way of easing the stress they may feel when you’re not there.”