Triggers and causes

Some dogs have learned to handle separation from their people better than others, but it’s perfectly natural that being left may make your dog feel anxious. Triggers for separation anxiety problems can include:

• When a dog moves to a new home too many times. Dogs with a rescue background are often at risk of developing separation anxiety.
• A disruption or a change in the household, such as losing a family member or moving.
• Major schedule changes, such as a transition from remote work to office work. For some dogs even the beginning of a work week after the weekend may be enough of a change to make them feel anxious.

Dogs adopted from a shelter develop separation anxiety much more often than dogs who spend their whole lives with a single family. There is also some possibility of a genetic factor in separation anxiety. Also, dogs who have never learned to be alone at a young age may be at risk of developing separation anxiety.