What is separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety is an involuntary panic disorder experienced by some dogs, which usually presents itself through three main behaviours: Vocalisations Toileting Destruction Many dogs will show one or more of these behaviours when experiencing alone time, along with many other stress related behaviours such as pacing, drooling and panting.

Do food toys help with separation anxiety in dogs?

Food toys do not cure separation anxiety Unfortunately, food toys are often ineffective in treatment for separation anxiety cases. Many dogs will not eat when anxious and so may leave the toy untouched until their owner returns. Even if they do use the food toy whilst their owner is gone, there are negative consequences that can come of this: - The dog is only distracted for the time that it is eating the food, and eating the food itself does not mean they are not feeling anxious. As soon as they finish eating, their anxiety will build again. - If you are filming your dog whilst gone, this can give you a false representation of how long they can cope. - The presentation of the food toy can become a negative cue that you are about to leave. In these situations we have essentially conditioned the dog that the toy is a bad thing.

Does exercise help separation anxiety?

Exercise doesn't solve separation anxiety problems. Although exercise is essential for a dog generally, it is not a solution in itself for separation anxiety. An exercised dog is just a tired dog. They will still have the ability to panic, feel anxious and afraid and so will have very little impact during alone time. Exercise is just a small part of the picture in helping to treat a dog with separation anxiety, along with a number or other measures.

Is my dog behaving out of spite?

Your dog is not behaving our of spite. One of the common misconceptions about separation anxiety is that the dog is intentionally exhibiting the behaviours as it is resentful that you have left them. Unlike humans, dogs do not have the cognitive ability to behave out of spite. They are behaving this way because they are panicking.

Does spoiling a dog create separation anxiety?

Spoiling your dog has no impact on whether it will suffer separation anxiety. “Spoiling activities such as allowing the dog on the owners bed or feeding the dog from the table also were not associated with separation anxiety” – Gerrard Flannigan and Nicholas H Dodman 2001. The scientific understanding of separation anxiety is that it is an evolutionary trait in almost all social animals. Like PTSD, OCD, generalised anxiety and phobias, separation anxiety is an involuntary panic disorder, essentially A fear of being alone.

Should I crate my dog if it has separation anxiety?

Crating a dog is not a solution in itself for separation anxiety. Confinement anxiety (fear of being confined in a small space, crate or pen) has been found to be strongly linked to separation anxiety. Although general crate training is great for many reasons and allows a dog to have a safe space when their owners are home, it can be in-effective in helping dogs with separation anxiety behaviours. With separation-related behaviours, crates will only work to contain the dog from destroying items or toileting in the house, and not to treat the anxiety itself. Crating your dog does not stop the panic they are feeling and they may actually feel less anxious being free in the house.

Can separation anxiety be cured?

Separation anxiety will not go away on its own, but it CAN be treated. The best method for treating separation anxiety is a process called Systematic De-sensitisation. This is a specific programme of exposing your dog to micro-separations at a very slow pace, and at a level where they remain relaxed at all times. Their panic level (threshold) is determined on the individual dog's behaviour and body language whilst experiencing alone time. Through separation anxiety training, the dog determines the pace every step of the way.

What do you need to start separation anxiety training?

Separation anxiety training is performed online, therefore all you need is: - Cameras or smartphones - Separation anxiety is best treated remotely with the use of internal cameras, phones or laptops. This enables us to monitor our dog's natural behaviour without the presence of a stranger. - Internet - A good internet speed is essential. - Commitment to training - Owners need to be very committed and patient to deal with separation anxiety. Progress is often measured over months rather than weeks, and regressions are very common.

Where do I start with separation anxiety training?

It is important when starting your separation anxiety training journey that you contact a specialist. CSAT's (Certified separation anxiety Trainers) have had extensive training and understand how to read a dog's body language and identify individual stress signals. I have had the pleasure to train to be a CSAT with Malena DeMartini, and can help you to create a personalised training programme which helps your dog to understand that alone time can be safe.

Let Them Sniff! Why Scent Games Are So Good for Dogs

Did you know your dog explores the world through their nose? While humans rely mostly on using our eyes, dogs use their amazing sense of smell to gather information about everything around them. This is the reason that scent games (also known as nose work) are one of the best ways to keep dog happy and mentally stimulated, as will as being great fun.

What Are Scent Games?

Scent games are different activities that challenge your dog to use their nose to find hidden treats, toys, or specific scents. These games help tap into your dog’s natural instincts and turn sniffing into a rewarding and enriching experience.

The best thing about scent games is that they are easy to set up, can be done indoors or outdoors and cost absolutely nothing.

Examples of scent games:

“The “Muffin Game”
“Find it” games.
Snuffling
Sniffy Walks
What’s in the box?
The "Cup" game
Puzzle toys that require sniffing and problem-solving

Image of a white dog with brown spots playing the Snuffle scent game with a snuffle mat

Why Are Scent Games So Beneficial?

1. Mental Stimulation
Scent work is great for exercising your dog’s brain. It needs focus, concentration, and problem-solving, all of which help tire your dog them out mentally. This can sometimes be even more than a walk!

2. Reduces Problem Behaviours
A bored dog will often demonstrate behaviours like chewing, digging, barking, or pacing. Scent games keep your dog engaged and satisfied, which can help reduce these unwanted behaviours, as well as keeping them happy.

3. Boosts Confidence
For shy or nervous dogs, succeeding at a scent game can be a huge boost to their confidence. The game is low-pressure and fun, allowing them to feel successful and safe.

4. Great for All Ages and Abilities
Whether you have a puppy full of energy or a senior dog with limited mobility, scent games can be tailored to any age or fitness level.

5. Builds Your Bond
Playing scent games together strengthens your relationship. You’re part of the fun and reward, which helps your dog associate you with positive experiences.

6. Satisfies Natural Instincts
Dogs love to sniff! It’s how they explore and make sense of the world. Scent games provide a safe, structured way for them to indulge this instinct.

Getting Started with Scent Games

Here are a few simple ideas to try:

Puzzle Toys

There are hundreds of puzzle toys available, all of which really tune in to your dogs need to sniff. Toys come in all different shapes and sizes with different difficulty levels.

“Find It!”

Simply throw a treat on the floor and ask your dog to “Find It”. When they do, celebrate by giving them another treat.

Start by throwing the treat near to you to make it nice and easy for the dog. As their confidence grows, throw the treat further away, and to make it even tougher, throw into a high grass area.

The “Muffin Tin Game”

Get out a muffin or cake tin, put treats in some of the cups, and let your dog sniff, discover, and eat said treats. If your dog is nervous of the metal cake tin, please don’t play this game.

Once they are comfortable getting treats out of the tin, add some difficulty by placing a tennis ball on top of each cup. Your dog now has to move the ball to get to the treat.

To make the game even more challenging, you can start filling some tins with treats, while leaving others empty. But you’ll want to make sure all of the cups are covered with a tennis ball.

“Pick a Hand”

Put some treats in one hand, while keeping the other hand empty.

Hold your hands behind your back while you are placing the treat in one of them, then hold them in front of you, offering them to your dog. Let them sniff both fists. Your dog will choose a hand by either pawing, licking or staring at it. Open your hand. If that hand contains treats, give them to your dog, if it is empty, say “oh dear”, and try again.

What’s in the Box?

Scrunch up newspaper and tissues and put it in a box. Pop some treats or kibble amongst the paper and let your dog find them.

Snuffling

Snuffle mats can either be bought online or are easy to make yourself. They offer mental stimulation for dogs and lots of fun. Hide food (treats, kibble, vegetables etc) in the mat.

Sniffy Walks:

It’s important to give your dog time and freedom to sniff when on walks. This is hugely beneficial and offers great mental stimulation for dogs.

The Cup Game

Take 2 or 3 cups.

Place a treat under 1 of the cups and allow your dog to sniff it out.

Now start to move the cups around and see if your dog can follow the treat.

Tips for Success

Start easy and slowly make the game more challenging.

Use high-value treats to keep your dog motivated.

Keep sessions short and fun—5 to 10 minutes is plenty.

Always end on a positive note with praise or a reward.

Final Sniff

Scent games are more than just playtime - they’re one of the best ways to enrich your dog’s life. They provide mental stimulation, reduce stress, and build your dog’s confidence. Plus, they’re easy and fun for you, too! So, grab some treats, hide them around the house, and let your dog do what they do best - sniff!

If you need help keeping your dog mentally stimulated, you may need to consider further training

The right help is out there, find out more on the button below:

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Written by

Katie Brill – CSAT / PACT-KSA / ABTC-ATI / KAD-AP
Separation Anxiety Specialist, Dog Training Instructor & School Dog Specialist

29th May 2025