21 Loving Dogs Breeds With Separation Anxiety

Last Updated/Info Checked on March 20, 2023 by Linda Michaels

Dogs and their association with humans aren’t a new thing. The two evolved together and so did their companionship so much so that some dogs develop a condition called separation anxiety when the owners are far away.

It’s characterized by barking, breaking things, defecating in the wrong areas, howling, and panting.

Many breeds are prone to the condition, but it could hit just any dog regardless of the breed. 

As for the ones that have been documented to be more sensitive and less tolerant of loneliness, here’s a list of dog breeds with separation anxiety.

Dogs Breeds With Separation Anxiety – A List To Take Care of

Make sure you can fulfill the following breeds’ demand for high attention and love to stay away from anxiety. 

1. Labrador Retriever

Score: ⅖

Labradors once fetched fish and nets for fishers. Their close association has made them one of the most loving breeds you can find.

They want to stay close to their owners. Any neglect, reprimand, or out-of-the-way habits may lead to separation anxiety. 

2. Cocker Spaniel

Score: ⅕ 

Cocker Spaniels also get attached to their families and sometimes beyond the healthy threshold. They’ll want attention 24/7 with games, walks, exercise, or anything that will keep them beside you.

Leaving them alone without proper early socialization will lead to separation-related problems.

3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Score: ⅕ 

They retain their spaniel characters of hunting, chasing small creatures, and entertaining their noses all day long.

However, their transition into companion dogs has brought intolerance to loneliness. You’ll have to put in the effort to teach them that being alone isn’t an existential crisis.

4. German Shepherd

Score: ⅖

GSDs lie on the extremities of the dog personality spectrum. They could be aloof like huskies but the moment they bond with someone, their shift toward the extreme loyalty edge is imminent.

There’s no turning back from there, so make sure you do everything to save it from slipping into separation anxiety because it will when not handled with care. 

Want to know more about German Shepherd separation anxiety, I’ve written a complete article on that.

5. Bichon Frise

Score: ⅕ 

Bichon Frise is a tiny dog that looks like a toy. That’s exactly what the breed’s main role in the dog world is. It’s here to fill your world with love and warmth.

Early socialization and loneliness desensitization can make it a tough dog to stay home for a long time. Without it, however, you’ll have no luck keeping it from anxiety.

6. Vizsla

Score: ⅕

Vizsla is super active as apparent from its body structure. Keeping these dogs in an apartment isn’t a good idea and leaving them alone for a long time is the worst. They are quite sensitive, so any neglect on your part won’t go unnoticed.

7. Border Collie

Score: ⅕ 

Border Collie is also quite sensitive. They don’t take reprimands well and ignoring their needs will definitely make them anxious. Do not give them a single reason to think you’ve stopped loving them.

In return, they will shower you with endless love and also do a good herding job on the farm. Like Vizsla, Collies don’t like cooped-up environments.

8. Jack Russel Terrier

Score: ⅗ 

They are lively and independent. The boundaries they have around themselves keep them happy and healthy. It’s like a love, hate relationship. You expect it to be obedient but at the same time, they’ll find reasons not to.

In all of this, what they can’t compromise on is your sustained supply of attention. A lapse in that will push the dog to anxiety. 

9. Australian Shepherd

Score: ⅖

Australian Shepherds love doing a job. You may not want to deny them that or keep them in your house without any physical activity.

They will eventually start showing disruptive behaviors because staying put is unusual for them. They have to keep on moving.

10. Toy Poodle

Score: ⅕ 

Boredom seems like the number one trigger for anxiety in Poodles. Toy Poodles, however, also have one more added to that – being denied the lap.

Since they were created to be companion dogs, reducing your attention by not cuddling or showing love will be disastrous. 

11. Shetland Sheepdog

Score: ⅖ 

This breed is one of the easiest to train in the dog world. At the same time, they are also highly sensitive. They understand minute changes in the routine and become impatient about the outcome.

In the end, all these translate into emotional instability, leading to separation anxiety.

12. Yorkshire Terrier

Score: ⅖

Just like multiple toy breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier, too, cannot tolerate loneliness for long. They may be one of the popular toy dogs suitable for apartment life, but everything they’re known for shatters the moment you start leaving them for a long time.

We at doggomag highly recommend that you raise another pet with it to keep it company and focus on its early socialization.

13. Maltese

Score: ⅕

The Maltese are another toy dog; another case of high sensitivity, and low tolerance to loneliness. It is also used as a therapy dog, which should tell you how much it will get hurt from your changed behavior.

Before owning the breed, make sure that you can easily cater to its high-performance needs which include agility courses, frequent walks, playing, and so on.

14. Greyhound

Score: ⅕

Greyhound is also a sensitive breed. Since they were bred to chase big games such as deer, they were supposed to form a close association with the hunters. This led to their vulnerability when left alone.

Therefore, refrain from doing that for long or without training or desensitizing them prior to it.

The breed has many qualities because of which it outshines others in agility, obedience training, and hunting. Letting them slip into separation anxiety in one way or another reduces their overall performance. 

15. Dachshund

Score: ⅗ 

This breed will keep you on your toes for a greater part of the day. Its energy reserves don’t seem to finish. You may think their small legs put some limits on their movements, but they will surprise you with their agility.

No wonder they make awesome show dogs and wait for it… hunters. Personality-wise, they require training for everything – from being good to other dogs to staying home without breaking things around when you are away.

16. Weimaraner

Score: ⅕

Weimaraners make excellent companions, given you fulfill their daily needs of exercise and attention. That’s because they were bred as gundogs, helping hunters hunt big game just as greyhounds.

Besides that, they also have a high tendency to have separation anxiety in common. I advise crate training as one of the training regimes to help them cope with loneliness.

17. Siberian Husky

Score: ⅕ 

Huskies originated in Siberia as working dogs. They used to pull sleds in groups, thus, staying alone was not experienced often.

The same is true for them even now. Their tolerance for staying alone hasn’t changed over the years. Leave them alone for a long time and they lose their minds.

However, staying with them but not tending to their high-activity demands also leads to a disaster. Being impressive escape artists, you’ll see them leave you for a better life in the woods.

Related: Husky separation anxiety

18. Chihuahua

Score: ⅕ 

Small size but big personality, the Chihuahua will keep you by your side at all costs. It’s a toy breed, so it demands attention and love from you – attention in terms of not leaving it alone in the house.

Besides that, the dog requires little effort in training and grooming. It’s a blessing for apartment dwellers. However, all of that doesn’t come without taking the dog for walks or focusing on its early training. 

19. Whippet

Score: ⅖ 

Whippets have gracefully transitioned from hunting dogs to family companions over the years. That does not mean that their inner hunters stay asleep throughout their years.

It manifests in the form of high energy. Give them enough chances to release that and they’ll even become your apartment’s life.

However, their high sensitivity does not let them stay alone for long. To help them cope with it, early training or a dog buddy would suffice. 

20. Bernese Mountain Dog

Score: ⅕

One of the four Swiss Mountain Dogs, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a loving fellow. But their love comes at a cost of high shedding, drooling, and barking. The last one makes them apt and capable watchdogs.

Your neighbors, however, may complain about their louder-than-normal barking. Reprimanding them for that would be counterproductive as they are highly sensitive.

The same is the case with leaving them alone or neglecting them. They are prone to separation anxiety.

21. Great Dane

Score: ⅕ 

The Gentle Giant, as it’s called, is truly a gentle dog. The first looks always intimidate the onlooker but close association with the breed shows how good-natured they are.

Unlike French Bulldogs, their relationships with owners sometimes transcend the boundaries of love into dependency. That’s where the alarm bells ring because they slip into separation anxiety easily when neglected. 

Conclusion

So these were the dogs that are prone to separation anxiety more than other breeds.

To tone down the tendency of this behavior, early socialization, desensitization to your departure or arrival, or adopting a new dog buddy for it will help.

Take good care of these sensitive pups because they give a lot in return for a little attention and love.

I hope this guide about “Dogs Breeds With Separation Anxiety” was helpful to you, that being said have a good day.