Table of Contents
Introduction
Teaching a puppy to tolerate, and even enjoy, periods of solitude is one of the most critical and challenging aspects of canine development.
The common narrative often frames this challenge in terms of behavior modification, focusing on “fixing” undesirable actions like barking, chewing, or house soiling.1
This report posits that such a view is fundamentally incomplete.
Training a puppy to be alone is not merely about correcting bad habits; it is an act of psychological architecture, educational design, and systems engineering.
The behaviors observed are not moral failings but predictable, logical outputs of a biological system under stress—a system governed by the same deep-seated evolutionary drives for attachment seen in human children.
This analysis reframes the problem by moving beyond simple behaviorism.
It presents a comprehensive execution logic for fostering a puppy’s independence by synthesizing principles from three distinct and powerful fields.
First, from developmental psychology, John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory provides the foundational “why,” explaining the profound biological need for connection that drives a puppy’s distress.4
Second, from education, the concept of instructional scaffolding offers the pedagogical “how,” detailing a structured, supportive method for teaching new skills.7
Finally, from software engineering, the discipline of progressive load testing supplies a data-driven, non-emotional framework for systematically building a puppy’s resilience to the “stress” of being alone.8
By integrating these perspectives, this report provides a robust, humane, and effective architecture for building a confident, independent canine companion.
Section 1: The Canine Attachment Bond: A Psychological Framework for Understanding Your Puppy
To effectively train a puppy for solitude, one must first understand the powerful psychological forces at play.
A puppy’s relationship with its owner is not one of simple convenience; it is a direct parallel to the caregiver-infant bond described in human attachment theory.
The behaviors that owners find challenging are often the logical expression of a biological program designed for survival.
1.1 The Evolutionary Imperative: Why Puppies Are Programmed to Cling
Dogs are inherently social animals, a trait that makes them so compatible with humans.1
This social nature is underpinned by a deep, evolutionary drive to form attachments.
Attachment theory, originally developed by John Bowlby to explain the intense bond between human infants and caregivers, posits that individuals are born with an innate need to connect with a primary attachment figure to ensure survival.5
The primary goal of this attachment system is to maintain proximity to the caregiver, especially in unfamiliar or threatening situations.5
This programming is vividly demonstrated when a young puppy is taken from its mother and littermates and brought into a new home.
The initial distress, whining, and searching are not signs of manipulation but the activation of a powerful survival instinct.12
Behaviors such as following an owner from room to room, whining when separated, and constantly seeking physical contact are known as “social releasers”—instinctive actions designed to elicit care and maintain closeness with the new caregiver.6
The “velcro puppy” phenomenon is, therefore, not a behavioral flaw but the observable manifestation of an ancient survival program in action.1
The core challenge arises from a fundamental mismatch.
The puppy’s attachment system evolved in an ancestral environment where separation from the pack was a direct and often fatal threat.5
In that context, proximity-seeking was a life-saving adaptation.
The modern human household, however, is a radically different environment where separation—for work, errands, or social events—is routine, necessary, and safe.
The puppy’s biological “software” has not yet adapted to this new “hardware.” Consequently, the anxiety triggered by separation is not a defect in the puppy but a logical, albeit now maladaptive, response of its ancient survival programming operating in a novel context.
The goal of training is not to “fix” the puppy but to update its understanding of what constitutes a safe situation.
1.2 The Owner as a Secure Base and Safe Haven
Within attachment theory, a caregiver serves two critical functions: that of a “secure base” and a “safe haven”.4
A secure base is a trusted figure from whom a child feels confident enough to explore the surrounding environment, knowing they can return for support.14
A safe haven is the role the caregiver plays in providing comfort and safety when the child feels distressed or threatened.4
Research shows that securely attached children are more willing to explore independently, confident in the reliability of their secure base.16
For a new puppy, the owner is the sole provider of food, warmth, safety, and comfort—the owner is the secure base.
The entire home is the new, vast environment to be explored.
The ultimate goal of alone-time training, therefore, is to teach the puppy that it can safely “explore” the state of solitude because its secure base is reliable and will predictably return.
The panic often labeled as separation anxiety is the primal terror of the secure base vanishing without explanation or guarantee of return.
This understanding reveals that training for solitude is not an isolated activity.
A secure base is built upon a history of consistent, sensitive, and responsive care.4
This means that every positive interaction contributes to the puppy’s ability to cope with being alone.
Each time an owner responds predictably to the puppy’s needs—providing food when it’s hungry, play when it’s bored, or comfort when it’s scared—they are making a “deposit” into a metaphorical “bank of trust”.19
A puppy with a high balance in this account is far more likely to believe that its owner’s departure is temporary and their return is certain.
The effectiveness of any formal training protocol is therefore directly dependent on the quality of the overall relationship.
An inconsistent or neglectful relationship creates an insecure base that cannot possibly support the psychological stress of being left alone, no matter how perfectly the training exercises are executed.
1.3 Differentiating Normal Distress from Pathological Anxiety: Secure vs. Insecure Attachment
It is crucial to distinguish between normal separation distress and pathological separation anxiety.
Separation distress, such as brief whining or barking, is a normal and expected behavior in a securely attached individual when separated from their caregiver.4
In contrast, an insecure attachment can lead to exaggerated and extreme reactions, including debilitating anxiety and panic.16
Canine separation anxiety is not mere unhappiness; it is a clinical disorder often compared to a human panic attack, characterized by involuntary physiological responses.1
Symptoms are severe and include trembling, excessive salivation, loss of bladder control despite being house-trained, and frantic escape attempts that can lead to self-injury.3
This distinction is critical because it dictates the appropriate response.
A puppy experiencing normal distress may settle on its own, whereas a puppy in a state of panic cannot.
Punishment is not only ineffective against a panic attack but is actively harmful, as it serves only to increase the animal’s fear and further damage the security of the attachment bond.21
These divergent responses can be understood through Bowlby’s concept of the “Internal Working Model” (IWM)—a cognitive and emotional template for how relationships function, formed from early life experiences.4
If a puppy’s early interactions with its owner are consistently positive and responsive, it develops a secure IWM: “My caregiver is reliable and trustworthy; when I have a need, it will be M.T.” Conversely, if its experiences are inconsistent, neglectful, or punitive, it may develop an insecure IWM: “My caregiver is unpredictable; I cannot be sure my needs will be met, so I must escalate my signals (e.g., bark louder, become destructive) to get a response.” The behaviors seen in separation anxiety are the puppy acting out this insecure IWM.
It is not just reacting to the present moment of being left alone; it is reacting based on its entire history of interactions and its deeply ingrained prediction of what will happen next—abandonment.
This explains why preventing separation anxiety from the outset is far easier than treating an established case; from day one, the owner is shaping the puppy’s foundational worldview.1
Section 2: System Diagnostics: Differentiating Separation Anxiety from Other Alone-Time Issues
Before implementing any training protocol, a correct diagnosis is essential.
The behaviors a puppy exhibits when left alone can stem from various root causes, and misdiagnosing boredom as severe anxiety, or vice versa, will lead to ineffective interventions that can worsen the problem.
A systematic diagnostic approach is required to differentiate true separation anxiety from other common alone-time issues.
2.1 The Clinical Profile of Separation Anxiety
True separation anxiety presents with a specific and recognizable cluster of symptoms.
Critically, these behaviors are exclusively tied to the owner’s absence and often begin even before the owner has left the house.
This “pre-departure anxiety” can manifest as panting, pacing, or shadowing the owner as they perform departure cues like picking up keys or putting on shoes.13
The most acute distress typically occurs within the first 15 to 30 minutes following departure.22
Destructive behaviors are not random but are often intensely focused on escape routes such as doors, windows, and crates, representing a frantic effort to reunite with the owner.1
This destruction can be so severe that it results in self-injury, such as broken teeth, scraped paws, or damaged nails.3
The physiological signs of panic are prominent and involuntary: excessive salivation or drooling, heavy panting, trembling, and an elevated heart rate.1
It is also common for an otherwise perfectly house-trained dog to urinate or defecate as a result of overwhelming stress.3
These are not the actions of a naughty dog, but of an animal experiencing a profound panic attack.
2.2 The Profile of Boredom, Lack of Stimulation, or Other Issues
In contrast, behaviors stemming from boredom or a lack of mental and physical stimulation present differently.
While the outcome might also be a chewed object, the underlying emotional state and the nature of the behavior are distinct.
Destruction caused by boredom is often performed “relatively calmly” and may be intermittent, with the puppy engaging in the behavior for a while before napping or resting.1
The puppy is essentially finding its own entertainment, which could involve raiding a trash bin, exploring the contents of a laundry basket, or engaging in exploratory chewing on a table leg.22
This chewing is typically less frantic and more investigative than the desperate gnawing associated with anxiety.26
Barking in a bored dog is often triggered by external stimuli—a mail carrier, a passing car, or another dog barking outside—rather than being a continuous vocalization of internal distress.13
These issues can frequently be resolved by increasing the puppy’s daily exercise, providing more mental stimulation through training and puzzle toys, and managing the environment to reduce triggers.1
The key differentiator is the emotional state: boredom is a state of under-stimulation, whereas anxiety is a state of fearful over-stimulation.
2.3 The Diagnostic Tool: The Webcam
The most reliable way to distinguish between these conditions is through objective observation.
A webcam or pet monitor is an indispensable diagnostic tool, allowing the owner to see precisely how the puppy behaves when it believes it is alone.1
Veterinarians and behaviorists rely on this data, as it is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis based solely on the aftermath of a destructive episode.24
The use of a webcam is analogous to a cardiologist using a Holter monitor to record a patient’s heart activity over 24 hours.
It provides objective, real-time data that transforms guesswork into analysis.
The footage allows an owner to assess the onset of the behavior (does it start immediately upon departure?), its intensity (is the pacing frantic or casual?), and its duration (is the whining constant or intermittent?).
This data is not only essential for the initial diagnosis but also becomes the primary monitoring tool for tracking progress during the training protocol described in the next section.
The following matrix provides a practical, at-a-glance guide for analyzing evidence and differentiating between separation anxiety and other issues.
| Behavioral/Physiological Cue | Manifestation in Separation Anxiety | Manifestation in Boredom/Other Issues |
| Vocalization | Persistent, high-pitched, distress-based whining or howling, often starting shortly after departure. 1 | Intermittent barking, often triggered by external sounds or sights (e.g., mail carrier). May stop and start. 1 |
| Destruction | Frantic and focused on escape points (doors, windows, crates). Can result in self-injury. 3 | Exploratory chewing on a variety of “interesting” items (e.g., shoes, furniture, trash). Less frantic in nature. 22 |
| Elimination | Urination or defecation in a previously house-trained dog, occurring as an involuntary physiological stress response. 1 | Unlikely, unless related to incomplete house-training or a medical issue. The puppy is not emotionally distressed. 1 |
| Activity/Pacing | Constant, restless pacing, often in a fixed, repetitive pattern. An inability to settle or relax. 12 | Intermittent periods of activity interspersed with long periods of rest or napping. 1 |
| Physiological State | Obvious signs of distress: excessive drooling, salivating, panting, and trembling. 21 | Generally calm physiological state when not actively engaged in a behavior. 1 |
| Timing of Behavior | Behavior begins before or very shortly after the owner leaves. The first 15-30 minutes are typically the most intense. 13 | Behavior can occur at any time, often after the puppy has rested and is seeking stimulation. 1 |
| Owner’s Return | A hyper-aroused, frantic greeting that is difficult to calm down from. The puppy may appear overly excited and wet from saliva. 13 | An excited and happy greeting, but the puppy generally settles more quickly. 30 |
Section 3: The Training Protocol: An Engineering Approach to Building Resilience
Once a proper diagnosis has been made, a systematic, step-by-step training plan can be implemented.
This protocol moves from theory to direct application, integrating the principles of architecture, educational pedagogy, and systems engineering to build psychological resilience in a structured and humane Way.
3.1 Foundational Architecture: Designing the Safe Space
The first step is to construct the physical environment where the puppy will learn to be alone.
This “safe space”—whether a crate, an exercise pen, or a puppy-proofed room—is the physical manifestation of the “secure base”.31
It must be carefully designed and built
before it is used for confinement.
Simply purchasing a crate and shutting the puppy inside is akin to building a house without a foundation and expecting it to withstand a storm.
While crate training is widely recommended for its ability to reduce anxiety and assist with house training, it frequently fails due to common implementation errors.32
These mistakes include using the crate for punishment, selecting a size that is too large or too small, leaving the puppy confined for too long, and failing to make the space comfortable and positive.33
It is critical to understand that a puppy experiencing panic inside a crate is not learning; it is being traumatized, which will only create a stronger negative association with confinement.21
The solution lies not in the physical object of the crate, but in the positive association the puppy forms with it.
The primary work is not “getting the puppy into the crate” but “making the puppy want to be in the crate.” This requires a dedicated period of conditioning where the crate door remains open and all positive events—high-value treats, special toys, and even meals—occur exclusively inside it.31
The physical crate is merely steel and plastic; the
feeling of safety, comfort, and positive anticipation associated with it is the architectural foundation that must be built first.
3.2 Instructional Scaffolding: The Gradual Release of Responsibility
With the safe space established, the training can begin.
This process is best understood through the pedagogical framework of instructional scaffolding.
In education, scaffolding is a method where a teacher provides significant temporary support to a student learning a new skill, then gradually removes that support as the student demonstrates proficiency.7
This model is often described as “I do.
We do.
You do”.7
This exact progression is mirrored in expert advice for teaching a puppy to be alone.36
- “I Do” (Demonstration with Full Support): The owner first teaches the puppy that settling calmly in its safe space is a highly rewarding behavior, all while the owner is present and providing constant praise and reinforcement. The puppy learns the desired end-state behavior in a completely safe, supported context.36
- “We Do” (Guided Practice with Partial Support): The owner begins to “release responsibility” in microscopic increments. They might move a few feet away, then return and reward. They might walk out of the room for one second, then immediately return to reward calm behavior. The puppy is actively practicing the skill of being alone, but with an extremely high level of support (the owner’s immediate return) that ensures success.31
- “You Do” (Independent Practice): Only after the puppy has demonstrated mastery and confidence in the “We Do” phase can it be expected to practice independently for longer, more meaningful durations.
Rushing this scaffolding process is a primary cause of failure.
It is the pedagogical equivalent of teaching a child the alphabet and then asking them to write a five-paragraph essay.
Many owners inadvertently skip the crucial “We Do” stage, moving directly from being with the puppy 24/7 to leaving it for 30 minutes or more.
This removes all support at once, setting the puppy up for failure, confusion, and panic.
The gradual, incremental nature of the process, ensuring mastery at each step before proceeding, is the absolute core of the method.31
3.3 Progressive Load Testing: Systematically Increasing Alone Time
The final component of the protocol provides a data-driven, non-emotional model for the “We Do” and “You Do” phases: progressive load testing.
In software engineering, load testing involves applying a simulated, gradually increasing workload to a system to observe its performance, identify bottlenecks, and find its breaking point before it fails in a real-world scenario.8
This analogy provides a powerful framework for increasing a puppy’s tolerance for solitude.
In this model:
- The “System” is the puppy’s emotional regulation capacity.
- The “Load” is the duration of time it is left alone.
- The “Key Performance Indicators” (KPIs) are the observable signs of stress (whining, pacing, panting, lip licking) monitored via webcam.1
- “Performance Degradation” is the point at which calm behavior gives way to low-level anxiety signals.
- The “System Crash” is a full-blown panic attack (frantic barking, destruction, elimination).
The process follows a clear engineering methodology:
- Baseline Test (Smoke Test): First, establish the system’s baseline performance. Can the puppy handle 10 seconds alone? 30 seconds? This initial, short-duration test determines the starting point.40
- Gradual Load Increase: Increase the duration (the “load”) in small, planned increments. For example, move from 30 seconds to 45 seconds, not from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.8
- Monitor KPIs: During each test, watch the webcam for signs of stress.1 If the puppy remains calm at 45 seconds, the system is stable at that load. If it begins to whine, the performance bottleneck has been identified.
- Analyze and Retest: The data from a failed test is not a failure of the puppy, but valuable information. It indicates the system’s current limit is approximately 40 seconds. The next session should not push past this limit but should instead work at or just below it to build capacity and reinforce success.10 This is the essence of
progressive overload—applying just enough stress to stimulate adaptation without causing injury (panic).41 - Endurance Testing (Soak Testing): Once a puppy can calmly handle a certain duration (e.g., 20 minutes), it is beneficial to repeat that duration several times over a few days. This “soak test” ensures the system is stable and reliable at that load before increasing it further.8
This model fundamentally shifts the owner’s role from that of a “trainer” focused on obedience to that of a “System Reliability Engineer” focused on performance and stability.
The question changes from “How do I make my dog obey?” to “What is the current capacity of my puppy’s emotional system, and how can I apply a productive level of stress to increase that capacity without causing a catastrophic failure?” This framework removes emotion and guesswork, empowering the owner with a professional, analytical approach to building resilience.
Section 4: Advanced System Management and Optimization
The core training protocol forms the engine of the process, but its success is supported by a range of complementary strategies.
These can be thought of as system management and optimization techniques that ensure the core system is running under the best possible conditions.
4.1 Managing System Inputs: Exercise, Enrichment, and Rituals
Just as a software system’s performance is affected by its inputs and background processes, a puppy’s ability to cope with being alone is heavily influenced by its physical and mental state.
Leaving a puppy that is full of pent-up energy is analogous to running a stress test on a server that already has high background CPU usage—it is far more likely to fail.
Ensuring a puppy is well-exercised physically (through walks and play) and mentally (through training and puzzle toys) before a training session makes it far more likely to settle and rest.1
A tired dog is a calm dog.1
Furthermore, providing an engaging, high-value activity like a food-stuffed puzzle toy (e.g., a frozen Kong) at the moment of departure serves two functions.
It helps combat boredom and, more importantly, it creates a positive association with the owner leaving—a process known as counter-conditioning.21
The owner’s departure begins to predict something wonderful rather than something terrifying.
Departure and arrival rituals are also critical inputs.
Making a big, emotional deal of leaving or returning elevates the owner’s absence into a major “event,” which can heighten anxiety.1
A calm, low-key departure and return helps to normalize the experience.
Additionally, varying the routine of departure—picking up keys at random times without leaving, putting on a coat and then sitting down to watch TV—can desensitize the puppy to these pre-departure cues and prevent the buildup of anticipatory anxiety.1
4.2 Troubleshooting Common Error Codes: Destructive Behavior and Vocalization
Destructive chewing, digging, and excessive barking are the most common signs of a puppy struggling with being alone.3
These actions are frequently misinterpreted as disobedience or spite.
However, within the systems framework, it is more accurate and effective to view them not as moral failings but as “error logs.”
When a software program crashes, an engineer does not scold the computer; they analyze the error log to understand why it crashed.
Similarly, a puppy that has frantically chewed a doorframe is producing an error log that reads: “SYSTEM PANIC: ATTEMPTED TO ESCAPE TO RECONNECT WITH SECURE BASE”.3
The behavior is a symptom of distress, not a “naughty” choice.12
This reframing is fundamental.
It shifts the owner’s response away from punishment—which is ineffective, increases anxiety, and is akin to yelling at the error log—and toward troubleshooting the underlying bug.21
The solution is not to address the symptom (the chewing) but to fix the root cause (the puppy’s panic at being alone) by returning to the systematic training protocol and reducing the “load” to a level the system can handle.
4.3 When to Escalate: Engaging Professional Support
Even with the best protocol, some systems have complexities that require specialized expertise.
If a puppy shows signs of extreme panic, if there is a risk of self-injury, or if progress completely stalls despite consistent training, it is time to escalate.
This is the equivalent of a junior engineer escalating a critical system failure to a senior architect or a specialized consultant.
The first step in an escalation pathway is a consultation with a veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical conditions that could be contributing to the anxiety and to discuss the potential for anti-anxiety medication as a supportive tool.21
For severe behavioral cases, engaging a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT), a certified separation anxiety trainer (CSAT), or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (DACVB) is the appropriate next step.1
These professionals can provide a highly specialized assessment and treatment plan tailored to the individual puppy’s needs.
Recognizing the limits of one’s own expertise and knowing when to call for help is the mark of a competent and responsible system manager, not a failure.
Conclusion
This report has deconstructed the common and often frustrating problem of a puppy’s inability to be alone, rebuilding it within a new, integrated framework.
The analysis demonstrates that this issue is not one of disobedience but of attachment security, a concept deeply rooted in evolutionary psychology and mirrored in human development.
The distress a puppy feels when left alone is a legitimate, biologically programmed response to a perceived threat—the loss of its secure base.
The path to fostering a calm, independent puppy is therefore paved with a combination of empathy and engineering.
The proposed model requires the owner to adopt a sequence of roles.
First, they must be a Secure Base, establishing a foundation of trust through consistent, responsive care.
From there, they must act as an Architect, thoughtfully designing a safe and positive physical environment.
Next, they become a Teacher, using the principles of educational scaffolding to guide the puppy through the learning process with structured support.
Finally, they assume the role of a System Reliability Engineer, using the data-driven methodology of progressive load testing to systematically build the puppy’s emotional resilience.
By abandoning the ineffective cycle of frustration and punishment and instead adopting this systematic, evidence-based approach, owners can successfully guide their puppies through a challenging but critical developmental stage.
This process does more than solve a behavioral problem; it forges a bond of deep trust, ultimately teaching the puppy to view solitude not as a source of terror, but as a state of peaceful and confident security.
Works cited
- How to Help a Puppy with Separation Anxiety – Purina, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.purina.com/articles/dog/puppy/behavior/separation-anxiety
- 14 Most common dog behaviour problems and how to fix them through training, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/pets/14-most-common-dog-behaviour-problems-and-how-to-fix-them-through-training/articleshow/123114761.cms
- Separation Anxiety | ASPCA, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/separation-anxiety
- Attachment and child development – NSPCC Learning, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-health-development/attachment-early-years
- Attachment theory – Wikipedia, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_theory
- John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory – Simply Psychology, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.simplypsychology.org/bowlby.html
- What Is Scaffolding in Education and How Is It Applied? | GCU Blog, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.gcu.edu/blog/teaching-school-administration/what-scaffolding-in-education-how-applied#:~:text=Scaffolding%20in%20education%20is%20an,allowing%20students%20to%20work%20independently.
- What is Load Testing in Software: A Comprehensive Guide – GoReplay, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://goreplay.org/blog/what-is-load-testing-software-comprehensive-guide/
- Load testing | Grafana Labs, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://grafana.com/load-testing/
- Software performance testing – Wikipedia, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_performance_testing
- Attachment Theory: Bowlby and Ainsworth’s Theory Explained – Verywell Mind, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-attachment-theory-2795337
- Puppy Separation Anxiety: Causes, Symptoms and How to Prevent It – NexGard SPECTRA, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://nexgard.com.au/pet-care/puppy-care/puppy-separation-anxiety
- Separation Anxiety in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/separation-anxiety-in-dogs
- Attachment Theory In Psychology Explained, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.simplypsychology.org/attachment.html
- John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory and Developmental Phases – Early Years TV, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.earlyyears.tv/john-bowlbys-attachment-theory-and-developmental-phases/
- Secure vs. Insecure Attachment | Better Brains for Babies, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.bbbgeorgia.org/secure-vs-insecure
- Bowlby’s Attachment Theory | We’ll Send It Over Now. Structural Learning, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.structural-learning.com/post/bowlbys-attachment-theory
- The 4 Attachment Styles and How They Impact You – Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/attachment-theory-and-attachment-styles
- 5 Ways To Form Stronger Attachment With Your Children, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://ctrinstitute.com/blog/stronger-attachment-with-children/
- Secure vs. Insecure Attachment: A Quick Reminder, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://theattachedfamily.com/membersonly/?p=1379
- Calm a dog with separation anxiety symptoms – Humane World for Animals, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/calm-dog-separation-anxiety-symptoms
- Home alone – separation anxiety in dogs – Blue Cross, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/home-alone-separation-anxiety-in-dogs
- John Bowlby and Attachment Theory: Stages and Working Model, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.attachmentproject.com/attachment-theory/john-bowlby/
- Separation Anxiety in Dogs – PetMD, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/behavioral/separation-anxiety-dogs
- Preventing Destructive Behavior in the Home | Richmond SPCA, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://richmondspca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Preventing-Destructive-Behavior-in-the-Home.pdf
- Destructive Chewing | ASPCA, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/destructive-chewing
- Puppy Barking: Expert Tips for Managing Noisy Puppies – Purina, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.purina.com/articles/dog/puppy/behavior/puppy-barking
- How To Stop Your Dog Barking Too Much – RSPCA, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/behaviour/barking
- How to Stop a Dog From Barking When They’re Home Alone – American Kennel Club, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/stop-dog-barking-home-alone/
- Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue Golden Rule Training Stopping Destructive Behavior in Dogs, accessed on August 11, 2025, http://www.homewardboundgoldens.org/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/44_Stopping-Destructive-Behavior-in-Dogs.pdf
- The Importance of Teaching Your Puppy How to Be Alone – American Kennel Club, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/leaving-puppy-alone/
- Leaving a Puppy Alone at Home for the First Time | BetterVet – The Vets, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://thevets.com/resources/pet-training/leaving-a-puppy-alone-at-home/
- 11 Common Crate Training Mistakes and How to Avoid Them, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.howtotrainadreamdog.com/crate-training-mistakes/
- Solving Common Puppy Crate Training Troubles – Jolly Pets, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://jollypets.com/blogs/your-pets-happiness-and-health/solving-common-puppy-crate-training-troubles
- Ask Crystal: Crate Training Troubleshooting – Blue Ridge Humane Society, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.blueridgehumane.org/crate-training-troubleshooting/
- Training your dog to be left alone – RSPCA, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/training/leftalone
- How To Train Your Dog To Stay Home Alone | Monroe Vets, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.monroeveterinaryclinic.com/site/blog/2022/05/30/how-to-train-your-dog-to-stay-home-alone
- Home Alone Training: How to Leave your Puppy Alone – Pet Coach SG, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://petcoach.sg/puppy-home-alone-training/
- What is Load Testing: Process, Tools, & Best Practices | BrowserStack, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://www.browserstack.com/guide/load-testing
- Types of load testing | Grafana Labs, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://grafana.com/load-testing/types-of-load-testing/
- The Science Behind Deload Weeks Explained | Breaking Muscle, accessed on August 11, 2025, https://breakingmuscle.com/deload-week/
