Separation Anxiety in Dogs: 2026 Survey Data & Statistics

When we first surveyed dog owners about separation anxiety back in 2020, most dogs had their people home around the clock. Six years later, hybrid schedules and return-to-office mandates have changed the picture, and so has the research. Several large studies published between 2024 and 2026 give us a much clearer (and, in places, surprising) view of how many dogs struggle when left alone, which dogs are most at risk, and what actually helps.

We pulled together the most recent peer-reviewed studies and large-scale owner surveys from the U.S. and U.K. to create this 2026 update. Every number below links to its original source.

Key Takeaways

• About 9% of U.S. dogs show moderate to severe separation-related behavior, according to a 2025 re-analysis of more than 43,000 dogs in the Dog Aging Project.
• That’s far lower than the 86% figure that made headlines in 2024. Same dogs, different analysis.
• 24% of new adopters report separation distress in their dog during the first months after adoption.
• Nearly 1 in 3 “pandemic puppies” (30.9%) showed separation-related behavior at 21 months old.
• Dogs that are never left alone were more likely to show distress when they are (15%) than dogs regularly left for five or more hours (8%).
• 52% of pet parents say their own separation anxiety has increased, and 40% would take a pay cut to work from home with their pet.

How Many Dogs Have Separation Anxiety in 2026?

The honest answer is: it depends on how you measure it. And the last two years produced a perfect example of why.

In 2024, a study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior analyzed owner surveys for more than 43,000 dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging Project and reported that 85.9% of dogs showed moderate to severe separation- and attachment-related behaviors, and that 99% of dogs had at least one behavior problem. The numbers went viral.

In 2025, University of Pennsylvania researchers James Serpell and Lauren Powell, the team behind the C-BARQ behavior questionnaire the survey was based on, re-analyzed the same dataset. Their re-assessment found that about 9% of dogs show moderate to severe separation-related behaviors, with fear- and anxiety-related behaviors in the 14% to 28% range. The difference came down to how behaviors were categorized and scored. For example, a dog that follows you from room to room or gets excited when you come home isn’t the same as a dog that panics when you leave.

Other large studies land in a similar range when they look specifically at problem-level separation behavior:

The pattern is clear: across the general dog population, clinically significant separation anxiety affects somewhere around 1 in 10 dogs. But the rate climbs sharply in certain groups: young puppies, dogs acquired during the pandemic, and recently adopted dogs.

Separation Anxiety Rarely Travels Alone

Separation problems often show up alongside other fears. A 2026 study in Veterinary Research Communications using the same Dog Aging Project data found that 84% of dogs showed at least mild fear or anxiety in everyday situations (excluding grooming), with 42.9% showing at least mild fear of sudden or loud sounds and 47.4% showing some anxiety around unfamiliar dogs.

Behavior professionals interviewed for a 2026 Scientific Reports study across Denmark, Sweden, and Norway said noise sensitivity was the problem they most often saw alongside separation-related problems. They also flagged two life stages as vulnerable: adolescence (roughly 6 to 18 months) and old age, when cognitive decline can trigger new separation problems in senior dogs.

Who’s Most at Risk?

Puppies and adolescent dogs

In the Royal Veterinary College’s Generation Pup study, nearly half of 6-month-old puppies (46.9%) showed at least one separation-related behavior, most commonly pacing (14.5%), whining (7.6%), and spinning or circling (6.9%). Breed, sex, and where the puppy came from showed no significant link.

Pandemic puppies

Many dogs bought during COVID-19 lockdowns had little early practice being alone. At 21 months, 30.9% of U.K. pandemic puppies were classified as having separation-related behavior. Dogs that also showed attention-seeking or fearful behavior were more likely to struggle, as were dogs with younger owners (ages 25 to 34).

Newly adopted dogs

Moving to a new home is a major life change. In a 2026 survey of more than 22,000 adopters from 112 U.S. shelters and rescues, 24% of dog adopters reported separation distress in the first months after adoption. Giving a new dog time to settle in, and starting short, positive alone-time practice early, can help.

Dogs going through big changes

Nordic behavior professionals pointed to moving, rehoming, divorce, and changed work schedules as common triggers. That last one is especially relevant as more employers call staff back to the office.

Home Alone: How Long Are Dogs Left, and Does It Matter?

According to the PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report 2024:

• 19% of dogs are left alone for five or more hours on a typical weekday (up from 15% in 2022, but down from 24% in 2019).
• 26% of dogs are never left alone on a typical weekday.
• 11% of dogs show signs of distress when left alone.

Here’s the surprising part. Distress was most common among dogs that are never left alone (15%), compared with 12% of dogs left for up to four hours and 8% of dogs left for five hours or more. The pandemic puppy study found something similar: dogs regularly left for more than four hours had lower odds of separation-related behavior than dogs never left alone.

This doesn’t mean long absences are good for dogs. Five-plus hours alone is still more than many dogs should handle regularly. What it does suggest is that dogs who never practice being alone may never learn to cope with it. Short, predictable, positive alone time matters.

And most dogs do manage: in the Dogs Trust National Dog Survey 2024, which covered more than 430,000 U.K. dogs, owners said 80% of dogs regularly relax when left home alone. Even so, separation anxiety was among the behaviors owners found most problematic.

Pet Parents Feel It Too

Separation anxiety isn’t just a dog problem. A 2023 OnePoll survey of 2,000 pet parents for PetMeds found:

• 52% have felt an increase in their own separation anxiety in the past two years.
• 44% worry about their pet experiencing separation anxiety.
• 48% say their pet follows them to the door and looks sad when they leave.
• 40% would take a lower salary to work from home and stay closer to their pet.
• On average, pet parents start missing their pet just 37 minutes after leaving.

That bond runs deep. In the Dogs Trust National Dog Survey 2026 (180,000 participants), 96% of owners said having a dog benefits their mental health, 35% had cancelled social plans to stay home with their dog, and 15% had changed jobs or work patterns for their dog. In the U.S., an estimated 71 million households (53%) own a dog, according to the American Pet Products Association.

For many people, their dog is a real part of how they manage stress and anxiety. If that describes you, it’s worth knowing that an emotional support animal (ESA) recommended by a licensed mental health professional can come with housing protections that help you keep your dog by your side.

Signs Your Dog May Have Separation Anxiety

Separation-related behavior happens when a dog is alone or separated from a specific person, and usually starts within minutes of your departure. Common signs include:

• Barking, howling, or whining after you leave
• Pacing, spinning, or restlessness
• Destructive chewing or digging, especially at doors and windows
• Peeing or pooping indoors when the dog is otherwise house-trained
• Drooling or panting
• Escape attempts
• Following you closely and getting distressed as you prepare to leave

A pet camera is one of the easiest ways to see what really happens after you walk out the door. If you notice these signs, talk to your veterinarian first to rule out medical causes.

What the Research Says Helps

Several of the newest studies point to practical, evidence-based habits, especially for puppies:

• Keep hellos and goodbyes low-key. Puppies whose owners fussed over them on return were six times more likely to show separation-related behavior.
• Give young puppies a safe, enclosed space at night. Puppies kept in a crate or room overnight at 16 weeks or younger had significantly lower odds of separation problems.
• Protect their sleep. Puppies getting 9 or more hours of sleep per night early in life were less likely to develop separation-related behavior.
• Avoid punishment-based training. Using two or more aversive training methods greatly increased the odds of separation-related behavior.
• Practice alone time early and often. Build up gradually, starting with a few minutes and staying below the point where your dog gets stressed.
• Consider a companion or midday help. In the pandemic puppy cohort, having another dog in the household was linked to lower odds of separation-related behavior. A dog walker or daycare can also break up long days.
• Get professional help for severe cases. A veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist can build a desensitization plan and, when appropriate, prescribe medication. Two drugs are FDA-approved for canine separation anxiety: clomipramine (Clomicalm) and fluoxetine (Reconcile), both intended to be used alongside behavior modification.

Methodology

This report compiles findings from peer-reviewed studies and large-scale owner surveys published or updated between 2020 and 2026, with an emphasis on research from 2024 to 2026. We prioritized studies with large samples and transparent methods, and noted sample sizes where they are small. Because studies define and measure “separation anxiety” differently (from owner-reported behaviors to clinical severity scales), figures across studies are not directly comparable. Owner-reported data may over- or under-estimate true prevalence. This article is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of dogs have separation anxiety?

The most recent large U.S. analysis, a 2025 re-assessment of more than 43,000 dogs, estimates that about 9% of dogs show moderate to severe separation-related behavior. Rates are much higher in puppies, pandemic-era dogs, and newly adopted dogs, ranging from about 24% to 47% depending on the study.

Is it true that 86% of dogs have separation anxiety?

No. That figure came from a 2024 analysis that grouped attachment behaviors, such as following an owner around, with separation distress. When the original questionnaire’s developers re-analyzed the same data in 2025, the rate of moderate to severe separation-related behavior dropped to about 9%.

Does leaving my dog alone cause separation anxiety?

Not necessarily. U.K. data suggests dogs that are never left alone are actually more likely to show distress when they are, compared with dogs used to regular time alone. Gradual, positive practice with being alone helps dogs learn to cope.

Which dogs are most likely to develop separation anxiety?

Research points to puppies and adolescent dogs, dogs acquired during the pandemic, recently adopted or rehomed dogs, dogs with noise sensitivity or other fears, and senior dogs experiencing cognitive decline.

Can separation anxiety in dogs be cured?

Many dogs improve significantly with a structured desensitization plan, changes to daily routine, and, in some cases, medication prescribed by a veterinarian. Mild cases often resolve with training alone, while severe cases benefit from working with a veterinary behaviorist.

Sources

1. Serpell, J. & Powell, L. (2025). Prevalence and severity of behavior problems in dogs in the United States: A re-assessment. Journal of Veterinary Behavior.
2. Beaver, B. V. (2024). The prevalence of behavior problems in dogs in the United States. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. Summary: Texas A&M Stories.
3. Beaver, B. V. (2026). Owner-reported prevalence and severity of fear and anxiety in dogs. Veterinary Research Communications, 50(4), 284.
4. Slater, M. R., Weiss, E., Levy, J. K., & Greenberg, M. (2026). Shelter to Home: Surveys of Early Post-Adoption Experiences with More Than 22,000 Dog and Cat Adopters. Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health.
5. Rehn, T. et al. (2026). Professional perspectives on recurrent characteristics of dogs with separation-related problems: a qualitative study in three Nordic countries. Scientific Reports, 16, 2627.
6. Dale, F. C., Burn, C. C., Murray, J., & Casey, R. (2024). Canine separation-related behaviour at six months of age: Dog, owner and early-life risk factors identified using the ‘Generation Pup’ longitudinal study. Animal Welfare, 33.
7. Brand, C. L. et al. (2024). Impacts of Puppy Early Life Experiences, Puppy-Purchasing Practices, and Owner Characteristics on Owner-Reported Problem Behaviours in a UK Pandemic Puppies Cohort at 21 Months of Age. Animals, 14(2), 336.
8. Salonen, M. et al. (2020). Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs. Scientific Reports, 10, 2962.
9. PDSA (2024). PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report 2024: Dogs.
10. Dogs Trust (2024). National Dog Survey 2024 Results.
11. Dogs Trust (2026). National Dog Survey 2026 Results.
12. PetMeds / OnePoll (2023). Both Pets and Pet Parents Feel the Strain of Separation Anxiety When Apart.
13. American Pet Products Association (2026). 2026 Dog Report: Strategic Insights from the 2025 National Pet Owners Survey.