How to Manage Common Pet Behaviour Problems (Barking, Chewing, Separation Anxiety)

At TailMe, we believe better behaviour starts with understanding. Below you will find calm, force-free steps to help with barking when left alone, destructive chewing, separation anxiety, and common cat issues like scratching and night-time meowing. We use both behaviour and behavior spellings so you can find what you need wherever you are.

Quick answer: what works and why

Most problem behaviours improve with a blend of management and training:

• Build alone-time gradually using desensitisation and counterconditioning, not punishment.
• Add daily mental enrichment: puzzle feeders, snuffle mats, lick mats, foraging games, training mini-sessions.
• Teach a reliable settle-on-mat cue for calm breaks at home.
• Support with smart tools: treat-dispensing toys, slow feeders, interactive toys, and GPS trackers for flight risks.
• If there is panic, injury, aggression, or no progress in 2–3 weeks, speak to your vet or a certified trainer/behaviourist.

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Separation anxiety: step-by-step alone-time training plan

What you are seeing is often fear-based behaviour. The aim is to change the emotional response to being alone from ‘panic’ to ‘safe and relaxed’. Go at your pet’s pace.

Before you start

• Vet check: rule out pain, illness, or age-related changes.
• Exercise and enrichment: provide a sniffy walk and a food puzzle before training.
• Set up a safe space: comfy bed, water, chew or lick mat, white noise or soft music.
• Choose a monitoring method: baby cam, pet cam, or smart treat dispenser with video.

Baseline

• Film a normal short absence. Note the exact time when first signs of stress appear (pacing, vocalising, drooling, door focus). That time is your current threshold.

Week 1–2: micro-absences at or below threshold 1) Rehearse departures without leaving: keys in hand, coat on, sit down again; repeat until boring. 2) Step outside for a duration shorter than your pet’s stress threshold (e.g., 10–30 seconds). Return before anxiety starts. 3) Repeat 5–10 reps daily, mixing very easy and slightly longer reps. 4) Feed calm: deliver a small treat when you return if your pet stayed relaxed.

Progress criteria: two to three sessions in a row with relaxed body language at the longest duration.

Week 3–4: build realistic absences 1) Add variability: 15s, 30s, 10s, 45s, 20s, 60s. 2) Insert easy enrichment on some reps (e.g., a lick mat as you step out, collected when you return). 3) Gradually move towards 5–10 minutes without signs of distress, then 20–30 minutes. Many dogs turn a corner around 30 minutes.

Helpful options

• Crate or pen: only if your pet already loves it. Crating does not fix anxiety on its own.
• Scent comfort: leave an unwashed T-shirt in their bed.
• Office return routine: two weeks before returning to work, schedule alone-time training daily at the time of your future commute.

If your pet panics

• Reduce duration immediately; aim for several easy wins.
• Contact your vet and a certified behaviour professional; medication or supplements can be genuinely helpful alongside training.

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Barking when left alone: environmental and training fixes

Barking is communication. Rather than suppressing it, reduce the triggers and teach what to do instead.

Management

• Block triggers: frosted film on windows, curtains closed, leave a radio on low.
• Pre-departure enrichment: sniffy walk + food puzzle lowers arousal.
• Safe zone: pick a quiet room and stick to it to build predictability.

Training 1) Teach settle on a mat (see section below). 2) Practise ‘door desensitisation’: handle the door, open and close it, sit down again until it’s boring. 3) Pair short absences with a chew or lick mat. Return before barking starts; gradually extend time. 4) For night-time vocalisation, ensure late toilet break and wind-down routine 30–60 minutes before bed.

If barking is explosive when you leave, assume separation-related distress and follow the alone-time plan above.

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Destructive chewing: management + enrichment

Chewing is normal, especially for puppies and adolescents. The trick is to direct it.

Management

• Puppy-proof: remove access to shoes, remotes, cables; use baby gates.
• Offer legal chews: rotate safe items daily to maintain novelty.
• Supervise or confine: use a pen or a dog-proofed room when you can’t watch.

Enrichment and training

• Daily brain work: snuffle mats, food puzzles, scatter feeding in the garden.
• Chew hierarchy: offer a chew that lasts 10–20 minutes after exercise to help your dog switch off.
• Swap cue: teach an easy trade—‘take this, drop that’—so you never need to chase.

If chewing appears frantic or your dog shreds doors or crates, treat it as possible separation anxiety.

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Teach settle/calm on cue

A reliable settle helps with guests, deliveries, and relaxing while you work from home.

What you need: a mat or bed, pea-sized treats.

Steps 1) Introduce the mat: place it down, reward any glance or step towards it. 2) Target the mat: lure onto the mat, reward several times while they stand, then for sitting/lying. 3) Add a cue: say ‘settle’ as they lie down; feed slowly to reinforce calm. 4) Extend duration: add 5–10 seconds at a time, switching to slower, less frequent rewards. 5) Generalise: practise in different rooms, then with mild distractions (you standing up, walking past the door).

Goal: your pet can relax on the mat for 10–20 minutes while you read or work.

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For cats: scratching, night vocalisation, boredom

Scratching the sofa

• Provide good posts: tall (at least 80–90 cm), sturdy, and placed where your cat already scratches or near sleep spots.
• Match texture preferences: sisal rope or fabric for most cats; cardboard scratchers for horizontal fans.
• Make the sofa unappealing: cover with a throw temporarily; use double-sided tape on target areas.
• Reward the right choice: lure to the post with wand play and treat when claws touch.

Night-time meowing

• Rule out hunger and illness, then:
• Play-hunt-feed routine: 10 minutes of interactive play before bed, then a small meal via a puzzle or timed auto-feeder.
• Ignore the 3 a.m. serenade: respond during the day; at night, keep lights and chatter to a minimum.

Indoor cat enrichment (apartments too)

• Vertical space: shelves, trees, and window perches.
• Foraging: scatter kibble in snuffle mats or use rolling treat balls.
• Predictable routines: play, feed, rest cycles reduce frustration.
• Smart toys: interactive toys with auto shutoff to prevent overstimulation.

If vocalising is new or excessive, see your vet to rule out pain or cognitive changes.

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Tools that help (Puzzle feeders, treat dispensers, trackers)

We recommend tools as support, never as a replacement for training. Choose what fits your pet’s needs and energy level.

Enrichment for alone time

• Puzzle feeders and slow bowls: great for dogs that eat fast and need more mental work. Micro-tip: start with easy puzzles so success builds confidence.
• Snuffle mats: encourage calm sniffing. Micro-tip: sprinkle part of the daily ration to avoid extra calories.
• Lick mats: soothing for many dogs and cats. Micro-tip: use a thin smear of wet food or xylitol-free peanut butter; freeze for longer sessions.

Treat dispensers and cameras

• Smart dispensers: schedule tosses during short absences to pair alone-time with good things. Micro-tip: test on-camera while you’re home first.
• Two-way audio: handy for reassurance, but avoid repeatedly talking if it spikes frustration.

Trackers and safety

• GPS pet trackers for dogs and cats: essential for escape artists, fireworks season, and travel. Micro-tip: set up safe zones and test battery routines before longer absences.
• Consider the TailMe Infinity GPS Pet Tracker for day-to-day peace of mind.

For cats

• Interactive toys: wand toys, chase toys, and laser play with a physical ‘catch’ at the end.
• Auto-feeders: perfect for early-morning meowers—schedule breakfast for when you actually want to wake up.

Always supervise new toys until you know how your pet uses them.

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When to seek a professional (Trainer/Behaviourist/Vet)

Reach out sooner rather than later if you notice:

• Panic signs: drooling, soiling, frantic escape attempts, self-injury.
• Aggression, resource guarding, or bites.
• Regression after changes: house move, new baby, office return.
• No improvement after 2–3 weeks of consistent, low-stress training.

A certified behaviourist or force-free trainer can tailor a plan, and your vet can advise on medical or medication support when appropriate.

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FAQs

Q: What is the fastest way to calm a dog with separation anxiety? A: The quickest relief is management plus very short absences below your dog’s stress threshold, paired with soothing enrichment like a lick mat. Build duration gradually and speak to your vet or a certified behaviour professional for a personalised plan.

Q: Do puzzle feeders reduce barking and destructive chewing? A: Yes. Mental work lowers arousal and gives your pet a job to do. Start easy, keep sessions short, and rotate puzzles to maintain interest.

Q: How long can I leave my dog alone by age? A: As a guide: young puppies, 1–2 hours; adolescents, 2–4 hours; adult dogs, 4–6 hours depending on exercise and training; seniors vary. Aim for toilet breaks, a sniffy walk, and a food puzzle before and after.

Q: How do I stop my cat scratching the sofa without punishment? A: Provide attractive posts where your cat already scratches, make the sofa less appealing temporarily, and reward every post interaction. Punishment can create anxiety and more scratching elsewhere.

Q: What is the difference between management and training? A: Management blocks opportunities for the unwanted behaviour (baby gates, curtains, safe zones). Training teaches a better alternative and changes emotions using positive reinforcement, desensitisation, and counterconditioning.

Q: When should I see a vet or behaviourist? A: Any sign of distress, injury, aggression, or when progress stalls. Sudden behaviour changes can signal pain or illness.

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If you would like help choosing the right tools for your pet, our team is happy to match your routine and your pet’s personality.