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

By Gavin Levenstein Last updated: 24 April 2025

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.

Jump to:

• Separation anxiety: step-by-step training plan
• Barking when left alone
• Destructive chewing
• Teach settle on a mat
• For cats: scratching, night vocalisation, boredom
• Tools that help
• When to seek a professional
• FAQs

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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.

See also: our Quiet Time/Settle guide for teaching calm on cue.

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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.

Want a deeper dive? Read our Quiet Time/Settle guide.

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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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Sources and further reading

• American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) position statements on punishment and training
• RSPCA guidance on enrichment and welfare
• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Canine and Feline Behaviour resources

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Related guides on TailMe

• Quiet Time Training: Teaching Your Dog to Settle Down
• How to Train a Dog That Guards Food or Toys
• Creating a Pet Play Zone at Home
• How to Help a Teething Puppy Without Losing Your Shoes
• Why Dogs Bark: Understanding the Root Causes Before You React

If you would like help choosing the right tools for your pet, our team is happy to recommend puzzle feeders, snuffle mats, treat dispensers, and trackers to match your routine and your pet’s personality.