Panic, Not Mischief

True separation anxiety is a panic disorder, not bad behavior. Left alone, the dog feels real terror: racing heart, flooding stress hormones, frantic attempts to escape, and barking that can last for hours.

Anxiety looks very different from plain boredom. A bored dog chews one shoe, gets it out of his system, and curls up for a nap. An anxious dog claws at the door frame trying to get out, drools until his chin is wet, paces in tight circles, and sometimes hurts himself. Boredom is restless. Anxiety is desperate.