While it’s completely normal for young puppies to experience anxiety as they settle into their new lives, it’s important to manage it the right way to stop it from growing with them!
So, what’s the best solution? With new technology widening the range of options, let’s take a look at the best high-tech and low-tech solutions for puppy anxiety.
Snuggle Puppy
A little comfort goes a long way in those first few weeks and months – and this is where the Snuggle Puppy comes in. Drawing on natural instinct, the soft, cuddly toy mimics the warmth and closeness of a mother or littermate, with its Real-Feel Heartbeat® and heat pack.
It’s different from any other anxiety aid, providing physical comfort during the transition from litter to home life, as opposed to distracting them like many others. It can also help to alleviate feelings of abandonment and loneliness, helping your pup see that time alone is not so bad.
Snuggle Puppy Original Snuggle Puppy Plush Dog Behavioral Aid Anxiety Relief
Calm your anxious pooch with the Original Snuggle Puppy! Designed in the USA, it’s paw-fect for your furry friend to cuddle, while providing soothing comfort as it relieves anxiety. This su-paw cute snuggle puppy helps reduce negative behaviors so there are no more sleepless nights for you or your best pal.
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An Old T-Shirt
A great DIY complement to the Snuggle Puppy is using an old T-shirt carrying your scent. Of course, it won’t provide the full comfort of a heated toy with a heartbeat, but it will provide some reassurance during bedtime or daytime separation.
You can also do both! In fact, PDSA recommends placing an item that smells like you in your puppy’s bed or crate to help them get settled and stay calm when left alone.
Interactive Toys
While comfort is the best first step to alleviating regular puppy anxiety, positive distractions can stop it from becoming full-blown separation anxiety once you start leaving them for longer periods of time.
Interactive toys are one of the best separation training tools, creating a playful, positive association with spending time alone. It also helps channel anxious energy into something fun, as anxiety is made worse by boredom and excess energy.
An interactive toy doesn’t necessarily need to be high-tech. Basically, anything that encourages your dog to, well, interact, can count.
Good low-tech interactive dog toy
Busy Buddy® Cravin Corncob
From barbeques on the weekends to entertaining your dog while you cook dinner on the weeknights, this toy is the perfect treat. Add up to 2 treat rings to the Busy Buddy® Cravin’ Corncob by unscrewing the ends and sliding them on. For double fun, you can smear nut butter (or even doggie toothpaste!) on the corn kernels to keep your dog entertained even longer.
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Routine Aids
Routine is one of the easiest and most effective ways to alleviate puppyhood anxiety, and keep it at bay as your dog ages. Predictability equals safety, and whilst it’s on us to keep our pups routined with structured mealtimes and walks, smart tech can help!
Mealtimes are one of the main staples of a dog’s routine, and smart or automatic feeders can help to make sure they’re kept consistent, even when life gets busy. Depending on the product, you may even be able to feed your pup remotely.
If you use wet food for your dog, I highly recommend checking out the new PetSafe FreshFeed.
Best Smart Dog Feeder for Wet Food
PetSafe FreshFeed Refrigerated Pet Feeder
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Treats & Environmental Aids
A great way to add to your chosen techniques is with supplemental treats and environmental calmers like room sprays and diffusers. They use herbal soothers like lavender to de-stress your pup naturally – just make sure you get one that’s appropriate for puppies! You can also go with pheromone-based diffusers, like the one below from Adaptil.
These should be seen as the cherry on top for super anxious pups, rather than a replacement for proper separation training. Some research also suggests calming sounds like white noise and classical music can help to keep dogs calm when left alone.
ThunderEase Dog Calming Pheromone Diffuser
Designed for use with the ThunderEase Calming Diffuser for Dogs (sold separately), this wall diffuser helps stop your furry friend’s problem barking, destructive chewing, and trembling along with other anxious behaviors.
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Specific Aids
If you notice that your pup’s anxiety is triggered by something specific, like noisy weather or car travel, there are also specific aids you can look into, like anxiety vests and pheromone collars. Again, just make sure they’re age-appropriate if they use scent!
Pet Cameras
If you’re worried about leaving your pup alone and want to keep an eye on them, a pet camera is a great investment. It can be especially useful if you’re trying to understand whether your puppy is genuinely distressed and needs extra help, or simply having a brief protest before settling down.
It can also help you to identify patterns and triggers for separation training. Some cameras even offer two-way audio and treat dispensing, which can help with training, but overall, it’s more of a tool for you than your pup!
Our favorite pet cam for puppy anxiety
Petlibro Scout Smart Camera
The Petlibro Scout Smart Camera goes beyond basic pet cams by using AI to actually understand what your pets are doing throughout the day. It can recognize up to five pets, tag their activity by name, and automatically capture moments like playtime, meals, and (of course) the occasional chaotic zoomies. You’ll get smart video summaries, instant alerts, and even a daily highlight reel—plus a full 360° view with auto-tracking so nothing slips by. It’s an easy way to keep an eye on behavior patterns, not just peek in randomly.
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Pet Monitors
Pet monitors take observation a step further. Depending on the product, they can track things like activity, sleep, and movement, helping you to build a better picture of your puppy’s behavior when you’re not there.
This can be especially useful if you’re concerned about their behavior and want to discuss it with a vet or trainer.
Our favorite pet health monitor
Maven Dog Health Tracker
Turn any collar into a smart health monitor. Maven tracks your dog’s heart rate, respiratory rate, activity, rest, hydration, and more—helping you catch early signs of illness before they become serious. Lightweight (just 14g), waterproof, and packed with vet-level insights, it’s like having a personal health assistant for your pup.
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FAQs
What age can you leave a puppy alone?
You can start leaving your pup alone from about three months old for short periods. Make sure they’ve got a secure, comfortable crate – pee pads will probably be necessary!
How long can you leave a puppy alone for?
Start with short 5-10 minute periods, and gradually increase it. 2-4 hours is the maximum for puppies under 6 months, as their bladders are still developing, and no dog should be left longer than 6 hours.
What are the signs of separation anxiety in puppies?
Typical signs of separation anxiety in puppies include excessive barking, whining, or howling when left alone, destructive chewing or scratching, toileting, and restlessness, as well as trembling, panting, drooling, or trying to escape.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to note that none of these approaches are mutually exclusive, and what’s best for your pup can depend on the stage of their puppyhood.
A good routine, for example, is essential for all dogs, but the addition of a comfort aid like a Snuggle Puppy or old T-shirt can make a world of difference for new pups as they settle into their new home.
Introducing an interactive toy when you leave them for longer periods can help to make it a fun experience, whilst calming treats and room sprays can act as the cherry on top if your pup’s anxiety is strong. Meanwhile, aids like vests and cameras can help you get on top of deeper or more specific issues.
Remember, never leave a pup with something soft or breakable if they’re prone to destructive chewing, and always make sure they get enough exercise and play to leave less room for anxiety!
