Beagle Separation Anxiety (Or Is It FOMO?)
Separation Anxiety or FOMO? Why It Matters
Separation anxiety is one of the most common (and most misunderstood) issues I see in beagles — and it's no surprise when you consider what they were bred for.
Beagles are a true pack breed. They were never meant to be left alone. So when your beagle panics the moment you close the door, it’s not stubbornness or bad behaviour — it’s instinct.
But here’s the important bit: not all barking, chewing or whining is separation anxiety.
Sometimes it’s simply that they think you’ve forgotten them — so they panic and howl to get your attention, or chew something out of frustration.
And did you know that toileting or destruction isn’t always anxiety-related? Some beagles learn early on that these behaviours make you magically appear — so they repeat them when left alone, hoping it’ll bring you back.
So what’s the difference between FOMO and separation anxiety?
- FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is more like your beagle being nosy or frustrated. They want to be where the action is — especially if they think something fun is happening without them.
- Separation anxiety is emotional distress. It’s fear-based. They’re not trying to get to you for entertainment; they’re trying to get to you for safety.
Signs of true separation anxiety can include:
- Barking, howling or whining the moment you leave
- Destructive behaviour near doors or windows
- Pacing, panting, or drooling when left
- Toileting when they are toilet trained
So why doesn’t traditional training work?
Because separation anxiety isn’t a training issue — it’s an emotional one.
No amount of “ignoring bad behaviour” or leaving food puzzles will teach your beagle to feel calm when alone.
In fact, distraction-based methods often make things worse, because your beagle still doesn’t feel safe — they just now associate being alone with more confusion.
Beagles use their voices when communicating
Traditional training says a dog shouldn't go over threshold — meaning they shouldn’t be barking, howling, or panicking.
But beagles are smart, and many have already learned that this kind of behaviour gets them what they want.
Whether it’s getting out of the crate, getting a treat, or making you come back into the room — barking and howling has worked for them before.
What your beagle really needs is a reset.
We teach your beagle that being alone means feeling calm and sleepy — not scared.
Training starts inside the home using a barrier like a crate or stairgate, so they learn they can’t always follow you.
Through gradual exposure and helping them switch off before you leave, we build emotional regulation step by step.
Only once that’s going well do we move to outside training.
Beagles are a pack breed — it’s not natural for them to be alone, but with the right support, we can teach them it’s okay.
Vet Assistance
In some cases Kellie has to liaise with your vet in regard to medication and treatment plans when it's clear that the beagles anxiety is too extreme for them to learn any of the training.