12 Dog Breeds Prone to Stress and Hate Being Left Alone When You Travel – Is Yours on the List?
Do you wonder why your pet gets stressed when you are on the move? Extended absences from their owners cause some specific dog breeds to experience elevated stress and loneliness. Knowing how your pet is affected is essential and can promote happiness if you travel frequently.
This list provides 12 dog breeds that show severe anxiety when left alone, alongside explanations for their behavior. This list includes surprising breeds that oppose solitude.
Labrador Retriever
Although Labrador Retrievers continue to top the list of America’s favorite dog breeds, they show extreme sensitivity when left alone. Due to their affectionate character traits, Labs suffer separation anxiety if they spend extended time away from their owners.
The failure to provide constant attention leads to destructive expressions of stress through furniture chewing and excessive barking. Interactive toys or organizing a doggy daycare service during time away from home will help to minimize separation anxiety in dogs.
Border Collie
Although Border Collies possess remarkable energy and intelligence, they struggle when left alone. These working breeds require ongoing mental engagement and human interaction, so they will experience stress when alone.
Border Collies left alone without proper interaction will start to display destructive behaviors such as persistent whining or yard digging. If your travels are frequent, you should search for a dog walking service or make daily appointment times for interactive play with your pet.
Chihuahua
Despite their small size, Chihuahuas develop strong bonds with their owners because of their bold personalities. Border Collies strongly dislike separation because of the need to remain close to their people.
Certain animals experience mindset stress, which causes physical trembling, fearful vocalizations, and refusal to eat when their owners are absent. Pet cameras allow you to check on your pets while you are gone, which creates comfort for both the owner and the pet.
German Shepherd
The ferocious loyalty of German Shepherds accounts for their appealing nature. Their intense loyalty makes them highly vulnerable to separation anxiety among dog breeds.
Certain German Shepherds begin destructive chewing and excessive drooling in response to separation stress. German Shepherds need structured daily exercises and routine steps to feel secure in their surroundings.
Poodle (All Sizes)
This breed dislikes solitude regardless of whether it appears as a Standard, Miniature, or Toy Poodle. Poodles always require human companionship because of their social intelligence, which keeps them actively engaged with people.
When they find themselves alone, poodles experience depression and a lack of enthusiasm for their favorite activities. Treat-dispensing puzzles entertain them mentally when you are absent from the house.
Beagle
Beagles’ pack animal characteristics create an insatiable need for ongoing companionship. Prolonged isolation often makes them feel abandoned, which results in agitation.
After becoming stressed, Beagles show their discomfort through continuous howling and attempts to escape. Providing your pet dog with a canine or feline companion will remain calmer when you travel.
French Bulldog
French Bulldogs dislike separation from their owners because their affectionate personalities make them clingy. They depend emotionally, which leads them to seek continuous human presence.
The stress response in French Bulldogs involves excessive walking and rapid respiratory work. Pet sitters help maintain your dog’s sense of presence while you travel, or video calls enable your pet to see you from afar when away from home.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
As a lap dog breed, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel demands direct human attention to feel fulfilled. When they experience loneliness, mental health problems become prevalent.
Canine animals show distress through excessive self-licking or choosing not to engage with toys. A crate decorated with items such as blankets creates a comfortable space that reduces anxiety during solitude.
Maltese
Maltese dogs exhibit sweet, affectionate qualities but suffer greatly when separated from their owners. They develop separation anxiety when they rely too much on human interactions.
A Maltese dog expresses its distress through continuous crying and body trembling. A calming environment emerges when dogs relax with your shirt, bearing your scent and soothing music in the background.
Australian Shepherd
This breed needs mental stimulation and exercise to stay content during the day. The absence of physical exercise and mental stimulation makes Australian Shepherds bored and stressed, especially during extended periods of solitude.
When Australian Shepherds experience frustration, their response manifests in destroyed cushions and chewed shoes. Training this breed and organizing a reliable caretaker will go a long way toward ensuring the dog is happy wherever you go.
Golden Retriever
A gentle and loving personality is a core trait of Golden Retrievers who create robust attachments to their human companions. Extended periods alone trigger stress, which manifests in their clingy and destructive actions.
The use of pet-approved lavender scents, together with teaching your pet short periods of alone time, improves their ability to maintain calm during your absences.
Dachshund
Dachshunds maintain a powerful connection to their owners, which turns their curiosity and courage into separation anxiety problems. Dachshunds dislike being abandoned without company in new locations.
Excessive barking from anxious Dachshunds often results in the dogs displaying hyperactive behaviors. When you place your pet with a reliable caregiver or at a daycare facility, they will get the necessary attention.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.