I’ve been practicing as a licensed veterinarian for over a decade, and anxiety-related behavior is one of the most misunderstood issues I see in dogs. Owners often come in convinced their dog is being stubborn, destructive, or “dramatic,” when in reality the dog is panicking. I’ve watched this misunderstanding delay proper help for months, sometimes years.

Separation anxiety and anxiety attacks aren’t rare problems, but they don’t always look the way people expect. They’re also not the same thing, even though they overlap. I’ll walk through how these issues show up in real life, using situations I’ve personally dealt with in my clinic and during home consultations.

How Separation Anxiety Actually Shows Up

Separation anxiety isn’t about a dog sentimentally missing you. It’s about fear. Real, physical fear that kicks in when a dog believes it has been abandoned or is unsafe alone.

One case that still stands out involved a young mixed-breed dog whose owner brought him in for “house-training problems.” The dog never had accidents when the family was home. Not once. But every time they left for work, the dog urinated near the front door and clawed at the doorframe until his paws were raw. That wasn’t a training failure. That was panic triggered by separation.

In my experience, the most telling symptom of separation anxiety is timing. The behavior happens shortly after the owner leaves, not randomly throughout the day. I’ve had clients set up cameras and watch their dog begin pacing within minutes, escalating into vocalizing or destruction.

Dogs with separation anxiety often fixate on exit points. Doors, windows, and even garage areas become targets. I once treated a dog who bent the metal bars of a crate outward with such force that it needed veterinary care for facial abrasions. That level of damage doesn’t come from boredom. It comes from desperation.

Vocalization is another common sign. Not the occasional bark, but sustained howling, whining, or screaming that neighbors complain about. One older dog I worked with would howl continuously for hours, then collapse from exhaustion. His owner assumed he was “talkative.” He was terrified.

Some dogs drool excessively or pant nonstop when left alone. I’ve seen puddles of saliva under door handles and soaked bedding after just an hour of separation. These dogs often refuse food or treats if given before the owner leaves. That detail matters. A dog that ignores high-value treats during alone time is not relaxed.

Subtle Signs Owners Miss

Not all separation anxiety is destructive or loud. Some dogs internalize it.

I remember a calm-looking retriever who never destroyed anything and never barked. The owner thought he was handling alone time well. But on video, the dog stood motionless by the door for nearly six hours, barely blinking, refusing to lie down. He wasn’t coping. He was frozen in stress.

Other dogs show it through excessive grooming. Licking paws until they’re inflamed, chewing tail fur, or rubbing their face against surfaces repeatedly. These behaviors often worsen specifically during absences, not overnight or during playtime.

One mistake I see repeatedly is punishing these behaviors after the fact. I’ve had owners scold dogs for chewing furniture or having accidents hours later. The dog doesn’t connect the punishment to the anxiety-driven behavior. What it does connect is the owner’s return with anger, which can actually intensify future anxiety.

What an Anxiety Attack Looks Like in a Dog

An anxiety attack in dogs is more acute. It’s sudden, intense, and often triggered by a specific stimulus rather than separation alone.

Thunderstorms are a classic trigger, but I’ve also seen anxiety attacks brought on by fireworks, construction noise, unfamiliar visitors, or even changes in routine. One patient began having panic episodes after a nearby building started heavy renovations. The sounds were unpredictable, and the dog’s reactions escalated quickly.

During an anxiety attack, dogs may tremble so hard that the floor vibrates. That isn’t mild shaking. It’s full-body, uncontrollable trembling. Heart rate increases dramatically, and breathing becomes rapid and shallow. Some dogs pace frantically, unable to settle no matter what you offer.

Others attempt to hide. I’ve pulled dogs out from behind washing machines, under beds, and inside closets where they wedged themselves so tightly they couldn’t turn around. That hiding behavior was driven by instinct, not logic.

A particularly alarming sign is loss of bowel or bladder control during an anxiety episode. I’ve seen dogs who are otherwise perfectly house-trained defecate or urinate during a panic attack, then appear confused or ashamed afterward. That’s not defiance. That’s a stress response.

Some dogs become unresponsive to their owners’ voices during an attack. They don’t respond to commands they know well. Their pupils may be dilated, and they may refuse food even if normally food-motivated. I’ve had clients wave steak in front of dogs who wouldn’t even sniff it during an episode.

Separation Anxiety vs. Anxiety Attacks

These conditions can exist together, but they’re not identical.

Separation anxiety was tied to absence. Anxiety attacks were tied to triggers. A dog with separation anxiety may panic every weekday morning when the family leaves. A dog with anxiety attacks may be fine alone but unravel during storms or loud events.

I’ve treated dogs who had both. One older terrier was calm all day while alone, but if a thunderstorm rolled in during that time, the anxiety attack compounded the separation distress. Those cases require careful management because the stress builds on itself.

Common Misinterpretations I See

One of the most damaging misconceptions is labeling anxious behavior as dominance or spite. I’ve never seen a dog destroy a couch out of revenge. I have seen dogs chew through drywall trying to reach their owners.

Another mistake is assuming a tired dog can’t be anxious. Exercise helps many dogs, but it doesn’t cure panic. I worked with a highly athletic shepherd who ran miles daily and still had severe anxiety attacks during fireworks. Physical fatigue doesn’t erase fear.

Crates are another misunderstood tool. For some dogs, a crate feels safe. For others, especially dogs with separation anxiety, it can amplify panic. I’ve seen dogs injure their teeth and claws trying to escape crates. Crating should never be a default solution without evaluating the dog’s emotional response.

What I Tend to Recommend — and What I Don’t

In my practice, early intervention makes a huge difference. Dogs that receive behavioral support before anxiety becomes entrenched tend to recover faster.

I’m cautious about quick fixes. I advise against punishment-based training for anxiety-related behaviors. It may temporarily suppress symptoms, but it doesn’t resolve the underlying fear.

I often recommend behavior modification plans that involve gradual desensitization to triggers, especially departures. That means teaching the dog that short absences are safe before building up to longer ones. That takes time, but it works.

In moderate to severe cases, I don’t shy away from discussing medication. I’ve seen the quality of life improve dramatically for dogs who were previously living in constant stress. Medication isn’t about sedating a dog into submission. It’s about lowering anxiety enough that training can actually take hold.

Living With an Anxious Dog

Dogs with anxiety were not broken. They’re sensitive. Many of them are deeply bonded, intelligent animals who struggle with unpredictability.

I’ve watched owners transform their relationship with their dog once they stop seeing the behavior as “bad” and start seeing it as communication. The dog isn’t acting out. The dog is asking for help in the only way it knows how.

Recognizing the symptoms early is the first step. From there, progress is possible. I’ve seen dogs who once panicked at every departure learn to nap peacefully while their owners are away. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen with patience, consistency, and understanding.

That’s been one of the most rewarding parts of my work — watching fear give way to trust, one small step at a time.