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Why does my dog get so anxious and scared when I leave him alone?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | spayed | 13 lbs

Why is my dog so anxious when I leave the house?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on July 14th, 2018

Separation anxiety is a fairly common behavioral problem in dogs. Dogs are very social animals who form strong bonds to their owners, so it can be very scary and upsetting for them when you leave them alone at home. This problem generally requires professional help to treat effectively, so I would recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate Ariel in person and help you put together a detailed plan to work on her anxiety. You can search for one in your area here: www.dacvb.org

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on January 3rd, 2019

    Poor Ariel! Some dogs have anxiety disorders that can cause them to be afraid of normal, everyday things. There are things that can be done to help dogs like this (usually a combination of medication and careful training or behavior modification to help her learn that the world isn't so scary), but I'm afraid there are no "quick fixes" that I can advise you about in a forum like this. Because of this, I would recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate Ariel in person and help you put together a detailed plan to help her with her anxiety. You can search for one in your area here: www.dacvb.org

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