Separation anxiety is a behavior disorder that causes a dog, and even some cats, to panic at the idea of being apart from their favorite human. It is one of the most common behavior issues seen by veterinarians and trainers, and it can be stressful for both pets and owners. The anxiety often starts the moment the owner leaves and doesn’t let up until they return, whether they are gone five minutes or five hours.

The distress can be so overwhelming that a pet may become destructive, bark or howl endlessly, pace, salivate or even have accidents despite being house-trained.

My dog, Stewie, had a mild case of separation anxiety. He was a pacer when I was away, but he wasn’t destructive. After a while, he usually settled down and napped. For many owners, though, the behaviors are far more int

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