Field Guide · Glossary
Isolation distress
Reactivity and fearDistress that a dog shows when left with no company at all, which eases when any person, and sometimes any other animal, is present.
How it works
Veterinary references describe two patterns within separation-related problems. Some dogs become distressed when separated from one or more specific people. Other dogs become distressed only when they are completely alone. Isolation distress is the second pattern. The signs can look identical to separation anxiety: whining or howling, pacing, drooling, scratching at doors, house soiling and an inability to settle, often starting within the first fifteen to thirty minutes. The difference matters for planning, because a dog who is comforted by any companion can often be kept below the point of panic with a sitter, a neighbor or daycare while the slow work of building tolerance for being alone goes on.
What it looks like
A dog howls and claws at the front door every time the household leaves, so a trial is set up. On the first day a neighbor she barely knows sits in the living room while her family goes out, and she naps for the whole two hours. On the second day her person stays home but goes into a closed room, and she stays relaxed. Both days point to being alone as the trigger.
Commonly confused with
- Separation anxiety
- Separation anxiety, in the narrow sense, is distress at being apart from a particular person, so another person being home does not help. Isolation distress is distress at being alone, and the company of almost anyone settles the dog.
Related terms
Gear that helps
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Treat-dispensing pet camera
See, talk to, and toss a treat to your dog while you're out. We reach for one two ways: watching how a dog handles being alone during separation work, and checking in on a pet-sitting client between visits. Heads up: some models need a paid plan to unlock the camera.
Sources