Ava always thought she had done everything right for Missy. She had adopted her as a tiny, wiggly pup, showered her with love, trained her with patience, and ensured she had all the toys a dog could ever want. But despite Ava鈥檚 best efforts, something heartbreaking kept happening every time she left the house.

The neighbours complained about Missy鈥檚 barking. The furniture was scratched, the door frames chewed, and pillows torn apart. Ava was at a loss. She couldn鈥檛 understand why Missy, who was otherwise a happy and well-behaved dog, would react so destructively whenever she was alone.

Desperate for answers, she set up a camera to see what really happened after she walked out the door.

What she saw shattered her heart.

The moment the door closed, Missy鈥檚 happy tail stopped wagging. She ran to the door, whimpering. She paced back and forth, her eyes darting around in panic. She howled and ran from room to room searching for Ava. Minutes passed, then an hour, and she never settled.

Missy wasn鈥檛 being "bad." She wasn鈥檛 "acting out." She was terrified.

Separation anxiety is often misunderstood. Many pet guardians assume their dog is misbehaving when left alone, but in reality, these destructive behaviours stem from sheer panic. It鈥檚 not about stubbornness, defiance, or revenge鈥攊t鈥檚 about fear. For a dog with separation anxiety, being alone feels overwhelming and unbearable, much like a person experiencing a severe anxiety attack.

Dogs are social creatures by nature. While some adapt easily to alone time, others struggle immensely. Signs of separation anxiety can vary but often include:

Excessive barking or howling when left alone. Pacing, panting or drooling excessively. Loss of appetite or refusing to drink water when alone. Urinating or defecating indoors - even if fully house-trained. Destructive behaviour, such as chewing furniture, scratching doors, or tearing pillows.

These behaviours are not a dog being "naughty"鈥攖hey are desperate attempts to cope with their fear.

Ava knew that Missy wasn鈥檛 a "bad dog"鈥攕he was simply a scared dog who needed help. With the help of expert guidance, patience and understanding, Ava embarked on a journey to help Missy feel safe when alone.

There Is hope for dogs with separation anxiety

If your dog struggles with separation anxiety, know this: They are not broken. They are not being difficult. They simply need reassurance, guidance, and the right support to overcome their fears.

With patience and understanding, dogs like Missy can learn that being alone doesn鈥檛 have to be scary. If your furry friend is struggling, don鈥檛 lose hope鈥攈elp is available.

Dog separation anxiety can be effectively treated with the help of an expert, who works with dog separation anxiety issues.

These specialists can assess the severity of the anxiety and develop a customized rehabilitation plan that may include gradual desensitization, counterconditioning, and enrichment strategies to help the dog feel more secure when left alone.

With dedication and routine many dogs can overcome separation anxiety and develop a sense of calm and confidence when left alone.