19/09/2026
Really see the dog in front of you
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19e33Nr56a/?mibextid=wwXIfr
There is some really interesting research looking at free-ranging domestic dogs and what happens naturally as puppies develop.
So what happens naturally?
In the first few weeks of life, puppies are highly dependent on their mother and other members of their social group. They are born relatively helpless and spend much of their time feeding and sleeping.
Around 3 weeks, free-ranging puppies become mobile.
By around 10–11 weeks, they were observed travelling independently to collect food as suckling declined. So yes, puppies absolutely start developing independence quite early.
But developing the ability to do something independently isn’t the same as suddenly becoming socially independent.
And this is where I think the distinction gets lost.
The dispersal research I found followed free-ranging dogs and looked specifically at when dogs actually left their natal area.
The dogs that survived the first four months entered the juvenile stage at around 4 months of age.
The study defined the juvenile period as approximately 4–12 months.
During this period, some dogs dispersed from their home area, with juvenile males being the predominant dispersers.
So the point at which a dog is capable of finding food independently at around 10–12 weeks is very different from the point at which some free-ranging dogs naturally begin leaving their natal area altogether which occurs during the juvenile period, particularly between approximately 6–12 months.
And I think that’s really interesting when we consider the advice sometimes given to people with very young puppies. Of course it doesn’t mean that our pet dogs should be expected to live like free-ranging dogs they obviously don’t. But I think it gives us something interesting to think about when we talk about independence.
“They need to learn to be alone.”
“Don’t let them follow you.”
“Ignore them.”
“Leave them to cry.”
But independence doesn’t have to mean isolation.
A puppy can develop increasing independence while still having access to a secure social base.
Just like children, I think there’s an important difference between being capable of doing something alone and feeling safe doing it alone.
And, of course, our pet dogs are individuals.
Some dogs are naturally more independent.
Some breeds have been selected to work at a distance from people, while others have been bred specifically for close human contact.
Some individuals are simply more susceptible to separation-related problems than others and this can be influenced by genetics and health.
And size may be another consideration. We have deliberately bred some dogs to be extremely small, and a very small dog experiences the physical world very differently from a much larger dog. We shouldn’t assume that every dog, simply because it is a dog, will have the same level of confidence or resilience.
This is also why I think the internet can be such a rabbit hole when it comes to separation.
Some people advocate leaving puppies to cry it out.
Some people naturally, without even thinking about it, create an environment where their puppy develops independence beautifully. Their puppy has a comfortable place they feel safe in to rest that was not done by force, people move around the house, doors are opened and closed, people come and go, and separation happens as part of ordinary life rather than a training exercise.
And some people don’t realise their dog is struggling at all.
Because their dog isn’t barking.
They aren’t destroying anything.
They aren’t toileting.
They have no camera, so they don’t actually know what their dog does once they leave.
The dog may simply be pacing, watching the door, unable to settle or remaining hypervigilant.
Interestingly, recent RVC research actually demonstrated this problem one puppy’s owners believed it slept while they were away, but video showed it pacing, howling and whining for the entire absence.
Then there are households that are incredibly busy.
The dog may naturally get lots of opportunities to sleep away from people simply because life is happening around them.
Another dog may live in a very quiet household where their person is there almost all the time.
Same species. Completely different experience.
So when we are talking about preventing separation-related problems, I don’t think the question should simply be:
“How do I make my puppy independent?”
I think we need to ask:
“Does my puppy feel safe enough to become more independent?”
Because dependence isn’t automatically a problem.
A puppy seeking proximity to their caregiver isn’t necessarily becoming over-dependent.
And allowing a puppy to sleep near you, follow you around or seek reassurance doesn’t automatically mean you’ve created separation anxiety.
Equally, forcing separation because we are frightened of creating a “velcro dog” isn’t necessarily teaching independence.
Sometimes it can actually make separation unpredictable and when a dog is already struggling, repeatedly exposing them to more separation than they can comfortably cope with isn’t the same as building confidence.
This is why I think separation work is such a specialist area at times.
It’s not simply about teaching a dog to stay in another room.
It’s about understanding what that individual dog is experiencing when their social partner becomes unavailable.
Their age.
Their developmental stage.
Their genetics and breed.
Their previous experiences.
Their relationship with their people.
Their environment.
Their ability to settle.
What they actually do when alone.
And importantly, whether they are genuinely comfortable or simply quiet.
There is some really encouraging research emerging around prevention too. Recent RVC work found that calm departures and gradually helping puppies experience absences naturally without becoming distressed may help puppies adjust to being alone.
So if you’re currently falling down the separation rabbit hole, I’d really encourage you to step back from the endless lists of “do this, don’t do that”.
Look at your dog.
Because what works beautifully for one dog may be completely inappropriate for another.
And if you’re struggling with separation, there are people who specialise specifically in this area. It’s such a niche and complex subject that I would much rather see people seek help from someone who works extensively with separation-related behaviour than try to navigate hundreds of conflicting internet opinions.
One person I highly recommend for this is Stephie Guy at Calmer Canines.
Sometimes getting the right specialist involved early can save an enormous amount of stress for both you and your dog.
And perhaps the biggest thing I want people to take away from this is:
We cannot rush a dog into independence.
We need to help them develop the confidence to choose it.
