Barking is a behaviour with many different functions. A dog barks to communicate with neighbouring dogs which is usually answered by other dogs barking creating an unstoppable chain. Or they can bark to alert others about potential danger, or in a higher pitch as a call to play. Barking can also be a personality trait. However, if your dog is barking when left alone, it may indicate that they are experiencing distress (also known as separation anxiety).
Is barking a sign that my dog has separation anxiety?
As mentioned earlier, barking has many different meanings, but context matters. When left alone, dogs experience a similar fear like puppies when separated from their mother at a very young age. So, we must distinguish the type of barking the dog is displaying when left alone to better interpret its function. For instance, an incessant barking that changes into a high-pitched howl can suggest the dog experiences distress.
However, it is important to remember that barking alone does not confirm separation anxiety. We always interpret barking alongside the dog’s overall behavioural picture. Likewise, not all dogs with separation anxiety bark. Some may pace, pant, drool, attempt to escape, eliminate indoors, destroy household items, or simply freeze in silence. Barking is only one possible sign of distress.
But why is my dog afraid if they are technically home?
Well, it is hard to explain since we cannot directly ask the dog what emotion they are feeling or what is happening, but we can make some pretty good guesses!
As the literature tells us, we know that “behaviours such as lunging, barking, snarling and biting are primarily influenced by emotions of fear, anger and frustration” (Reactive Dogs and Exercise by Linda Cooper).
Dogs can also develop separation-related behaviours (SRBs), such as barking or howling, pacing, toileting, or destroying household items when left alone, even if they have lived in the same home since puppyhood.
Advice such as leaving a shirt with the guardian’s scent on the dog’s bed may also be ineffective and, in some cases, may even increase frustration because the house already smells like you, but the dog knows when you are not physically present. And this is the key issue.
Was it my fault? No! Separation anxiety isn’t “over attachment”
Many guardians whose dogs show separation-related behaviours have been told that it was their fault because they cuddled their dog too much or allowed the dog to sleep on the bed, supposedly creating a hyper-attachment where the dog needs the human to cope. Recent studies tell us otherwise.
A study by Parthasarathy and Crowell-Davis (2006), Relationship between attachment to owners and separation anxiety in pet dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), showed that:
- Dogs with separation anxiety did not spend more time in contact with or near their owners during the attachment test than dogs without separation anxiety.
- Approximately 65% of dogs without separation anxiety also followed their owners from room to room.
Therefore, following owners around the house or wanting to be near them is not a reliable diagnostic sign of separation anxiety.
Should I just let them bark it out?
Preferably not.
Dogs barking because they are left alone may enter what is known as a negative mood state, which roughly translates to the activation of brain systems associated with fear and frustration while the body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Prolonged exposure to this state may have serious effects on a dog’s behavioural and physical health in the long term. Chronic stress can also affect sleep, immune function, digestion, and overall welfare.
So what do I do?
As a separation anxiety specialist, I work with a set of tools designed to help your dog overcome the fear of your departure as well as the anxiety of being left alone. This involves implementing careful and deliberate daily changes to the leaving routine, together with small and variable increments of exposure to alone time. Very much like overcoming a phobia, you would never think of going cold turkey and placing yourself inside a room full of spiders. The same logic should be apply to your dog.
Living with a dog who cannot cope when left alone can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. With the right guidance, patience, and a training plan tailored to your dog’s individual needs, many dogs can learn to feel safe when home alone. As a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT), I specialise in helping dogs overcome separation anxiety using evidence-based methods. If you think your dog may be struggling, I’d love to help you both take the first step.