On this page
After a difficult week, it can feel as though every departure went badly. After one quiet day, it is tempting to assume everything has improved. A simple written record gives you something more reliable than either impression.
We are dog owners, not vets or trainers. This free separation anxiety log is an observation tool, not a diagnostic test or training schedule. Copy or print the table below and use it alongside your dog's care plan.
Why keep a separation anxiety log
Memory tends to favor dramatic moments. You may remember the shredded cushion but forget that your dog rested comfortably during a shorter absence the previous day.
Once you have a few weeks of entries, look at the trend rather than single sessions. Our guide to separation anxiety progress signs, plateaus and setbacks has a weekly progress review checklist and a plateau, setback or red flag table to help you read your log.
Your log is especially useful if your vet starts a medication plan. Our guide on separation anxiety medication: what to ask your vet shows what to track week by week and what to tell your vet.
If your log shows injuries, escape attempts, missed meals or a sudden change, that is not a slow week. Read our separation anxiety red flags and when to call the vet.
A log keeps those observations together. It can show whether worry appears earlier, whether particular circumstances matter, and whether comfortable behavior becomes more consistent.
Dogs Trust's separation anxiety advice recommends filming dogs during absences and gathering videos, diaries, or notes to share with a vet. Your written log provides context for that footage.
Keep entries brief enough to maintain. Aim for about one to two minutes of writing a day when practical, although reviewing recordings or logging several departures may take longer.
Furbo 360° Dog Camera
A pet camera helps you identify the first visible sign of worry and its timing instead of guessing from the aftermath.
Check price on AmazonWe earn a small commission if you buy through this link, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure
What to record each day
Use one row for each absence. If you leave several times, add rows rather than combining different experiences into a single âgoodâ or âbadâ day.
Record:
- The date and actual departure time.
- How long you were gone, including brief practice absences.
- Where your dog stayed and whether anyone else was present.
- Signs observed, with the source identified.
- When the first concerning behavior appeared.
- Whether your dog settled: yes, no, or partly.
- What happened before departure and what changed that day.
In the final column, note relevant activity, a potty opportunity, food offered, visitors, weather or unusual noise, illness, or medication changes made by your vet. Record changes without deciding that they caused the behavior.
If worry starts while you prepare, write âbefore departure.â Do not force every observation into a minute after leaving.
Daily separation anxiety log
Use the print button under the table to print just this sheet and the weekly review (it prints in landscape so every column fits). You can also copy the columns into a notebook.
The first two rows are fictional examples, not recommended absence lengths. The five empty rows are yours to complete.
Daily separation anxiety log
Dog's name: ____________________ Week starting: ____________ Codes: B barking/howling/whining, P pacing, D damage, A accident, S salivating/panting, E escape attempt, R relaxed, F food interest changed, V vigilance. Leave missed days blank.
| Date | Left at | Time alone | Where the dog was | Signs seen (codes) | First sign of worry (minute) | Settled? (yes/no/partly) | What changed today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example only: Monday | 10:00 a.m. | 20 seconds | Living room | R, on camera | None observed | Yes | Potty break first; familiar routine |
| Example only: Tuesday | 2:15 p.m. | 2 minutes | Living room | P, B, on camera | 1 | No | Delivery noise; returned when worry appeared |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
âNone observedâ means no concerning sign was seen during the available observation. It does not prove there were no signs outside the camera's view.
Signs to log
Codes save space, but they do not establish a diagnosis. Add a few words explaining what happened.
| Code | What it means | Example note |
|---|---|---|
| B | Barking, howling, or whining | âB: barked toward door for about 4 minutesâ |
| P | Repeated pacing or restless movement | âP: walked between door and couchâ |
| D | Damage or destructive behavior | âD: scratched door; seen on cameraâ |
| A | Urine or stool accident | âA: puddle found on return; timing unknownâ |
| S | Salivating or panting | âS: panting while standing near exitâ |
| E | Escape attempt | âE: biting gate; returned immediatelyâ |
| R | Relaxed-looking resting | âR: loose posture, head down, normal breathingâ |
| F | Food interest changed | âF: stopped eating when door closedâ |
| V | Prolonged vigilance or rigid stillness | âV: remained upright facing doorâ |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Panting may relate to heat, activity, stress, or health. Food refusal and accidents also have several possible explanations. Use our Separation Anxiety Signs guide for context, then discuss concerning patterns with your vet.
How to fill in the log
Write the entry shortly after returning, once your dog's immediate needs are met. If you reviewed footage later, add that information without pretending you knew it earlier.
Use descriptions rather than judgments. âWhined near door from minute 1 to minute 2â is useful. âTerrible againâ tells you little.
Use seconds for very brief absences. For longer recordings, note the approximate minute without inventing precision.
Identify your source:
- âOn cameraâ for directly recorded behavior.
- âFound on returnâ when the timing is unknown.
- âNeighbor reportedâ for information from someone else.
- âNot visibleâ when your dog leaves the frame.
Define settling consistently. âYesâ means you observed comfortable resting; âpartlyâ means some settling with periods of concern. Quiet but rigid door-watching should not automatically become âyes.â
If you have no usable observation, write âunknownâ rather than choosing an answer. Our How to Record Your Dog When You Leave guide explains camera placement and recording limitations.
Weekly review
At the end of the week, spend a few minutes reviewing the entries together.
Separation Anxiety Log for Dogs: Free Printable Daily Tracking Sheet: weekly review
- How many days were logged, and how many absences were recorded?
- Which days or departures have missing information?
- Were the absences similar enough to compare?
- Did the first sign of worry start later or earlier than last week?
- Did your dog settle more consistently during comparable absences?
- Were concerning behaviors briefer, less intense, or more persistent?
- Did recovery after your return become easier or take longer?
- Were there new signs or changes in health?
- Did routine, visitors, noise, weather, or caregiver arrangements change?
- What should you discuss with your vet or behavior professional?
After one week, look for preliminary patterns and gaps in the record. After two weeks, compare the overall direction under similar conditions.
One to two weeks provides a useful review window, not a deadline for improvement. Some dogs need much longer observation and professional support.
How to read your log
Look for repeated patterns rather than treating individual entries as a score.
| What you notice | What it may mean | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| More relaxed resting during comparable absences | May indicate improving comfort | Continue the agreed plan without rushing increases |
| Worry starts earlier across several entries | May suggest the current challenge is too difficult | Shorten practice and review with your professional |
| One difficult day after unusual noise | May reflect a temporary change in circumstances | Note the context and make the next practice easier |
| Several blank days followed by one calm entry | Provides too little information to establish improvement | Resume honest recording; do not count blanks as calm |
| Longer absences but more pacing | May represent increased endurance rather than comfort | Prioritize behavior over duration |
| Less barking but more rigid vigilance | May indicate a change in expression, not reduced worry | Review footage and seek help interpreting it |
| Comfortable short absences but distress on longer ones | Often means comfort has not generalized to that duration | Arrange care and return to manageable practice |
| New accidents, appetite changes, or unusual panting | May have behavioral or medical contributors | Contact your vet |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
A later first sign of worry is encouraging only in context. A dog who appears increasingly tense before that point is not necessarily becoming more comfortable.
When the log says slow down
Step back when signs repeatedly start earlier, recovery takes longer, or new behaviors appear. Do not wait for damage or loud barking before adjusting.
The useful question is whether the exercise remains comfortable, not whether your dog completed a planned duration.
Reduce the next practice to an easier level and arrange suitable care for necessary longer absences. Our Separation Anxiety Training Plan explains gradual absence work; this sheet records the response rather than prescribing the next increase.
If worry appears during shoes, keys, or bags, note it and read our Departure Cues guide. For repeated setbacks or unclear signals, ask a qualified professional to review the footage.
Sharing your log with a vet or trainer
Bring the complete record, including difficult entries and missing days. A polished-looking diary is less useful than an accurate one.
Add a short summary: what changed, what concerns you most, and which entries have matching video. Label clips with dates and timestamps so the professional can find relevant moments.
Our Separation Anxiety Vet Visit Prep guide includes a fuller history checklist.
Ask how often updates should be sent and which observations matter most for your dog. A log supports assessment and decision-making; it does not replace veterinary care or qualified behavior guidance.
Common mistakes
- Logging only successful or particularly difficult departures.
- Treating a missing day as a comfortable day.
- Guessing when behavior started without footage.
- Combining camera observations with assumptions.
- Increasing absence length just to create a better-looking record.
- Counting silence, eating, or stillness as automatic relaxation.
- Ignoring changes in health or daily circumstances.
- Treating the log as a score for your dog instead of a record of how they cope.
If there was no absence that day, write a separate note such as ânot alone; sitter present.â That is useful management information, not a successful alone-time trial.
When to get help now
Contact your vet promptly about self-injury, dangerous escape attempts, sudden behavior changes, or refusal to eat or drink. Explain whether appetite and drinking changes occur only during absences or also while you are home.
Active injury, breathing difficulty, collapse, or suspected poisoning requires urgent veterinary attention.
Stop distressing observations rather than continuing for a complete entry. Do not keep a panicking dog in a crate because you are documenting it.
A partial log is enough to request help. Your dog's safety comes before collecting a full week of data.
Helpful products
Picks on this page are a research-based assessment of features and intended use â not hands-on testing. We earn a small commission if you buy through the Amazon links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure
These are support tools chosen from research, not from personal testing.
| Product type | Why it helps | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pet camera: Furbo 360° camera | Shows the first visible worry sign and its timing | Live view lets you return early if worry starts. Limitation: needs steady 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and saved video history needs the paid Furbo Nanny subscription (free live view only). Alternative: an old phone or tablet running a free camera app. |
| Classic rubber stuffable food toy: KONG Classic | Offers a familiar activity during suitable departures | Write down whether your dog eats it while alone. Limitation: some anxious dogs will not eat when alone, and that is worth writing in the log rather than a reason to push food. Alternative: a lick mat. |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
An old phone or tablet running a suitable free camera app may replace a dedicated pet camera. Check recording capability and keep equipment safely out of reach.
Log what happens after the food finishes too. A toy can briefly occupy your dog without establishing comfort throughout the absence.
Bottom line
Keep the record short, specific, and honest. Log every absence, preserve missing information as missing, and review patterns across comparable days.
The purpose is to understand your dog and support better decisionsânot to produce a perfect diary or a steadily rising absence duration.