The Parent Mindset
Mar 28, 2026
The Regression Detour: Why Your Dog’s Setback Is Part of the Separation Anxiety Journey
Your dog’s separation anxiety ‘regression’ isn’t failure—it’s their way of talking. Learn how to decode the message, adjust your training, and celebrate the micro-wins that matter.
Emma Suarez Berumen
Founder of Snout
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How to interpret your dog’s separation anxiety setbacks as messages
Picture this- you’ve spent weeks on separation anxiety training. You’re cruising through the desensitization protocol, hitting milestones, and your dog is finally making progress. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a crash. Your dog who was previously snoozing home alone for 30 minutes, is now pacing and whining only 10 minutes in.
This is a regression. Though it may feel discouraging – a regression is not a failure. It’s a normal part of the learning process and opportunity for you to gather information, learn, and adjust.
Snout Insight:
"Your dog’s ‘setback’ isn’t a step backward, it’s a conversation starter. The owners who succeed aren’t the ones whose dogs never regress, they’re the ones who learned to listen."
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The Regression Detour: How To Identify and Overcome Setbacks
A setback is not your fault. It’s normal to experience detours during your training journey. Here are a few common reasons a regression can happen:
Big life changes
Dogs – especially those with separation anxiety – are very sensitive to disruptions to the normal routine. Moving to a new home, having guests for an extended time, a new baby, or a change in work schedule or routine can be stressful experiences for your dog and lead to a setback in training.
Recovery Plan
Keep training easy! This is not the time to push.
Look for other signs of stress. Is your dog stressed in other contexts as well? More leash reactive or scared of noises? These should be addressed as well to ensure that your dog can decompress with the new changes.
Give your dog time to settle into the new space or routine. It can take dogs 2 weeks or longer to decompress and settle into a new environment. So be patient and give your dog time.
Go back to the last duration that your dog is successful and build it back up.
Added Too Much Too Fast
Separation anxiety training can sometimes feel like a balancing act- moving at a slow and steady pace, while still pushing forward to make progress. Sometimes the scales tip too far in the direction of pushing for exit time. If your dog is not ready for that push, you may end up with a regression.
Recovery Plan
Observe. Watch your dog’s body language closely during your exit. Take note of any subtle shifts in body language.
Identify the exit time your dog can actually handle based on how long they are relaxed during your exit.
Go back to move forward. For example if your dog relaxes calmly for 2 minutes, and then lifts their head with a lip lick at 2 minutes and 10 seconds, go back to a 1 minute 50 second exit and work your way back up.
Taking time off
Life goes on, even during separation anxiety training. Desensitization training is most effective when implemented consistently, but sometimes life gets in the way and we have to take time off for vacations, illness, or holidays. If you try to pick up right where you left off, you might realize your dog has regressed since your last training session.
Recovery Plan
Observe. Take note of any steps or that your dog finds stressful by monitoring their body language.
Identify a new exit duration by exiting and staying close so you can come back in before your dog’s stress escalates.
Go back to move forward. Start at the exit duration you identified and work your way back up. Slow and steady wins the race!
No reason at all!
Progress is not linear. Learning does not happen in a nice neat progression, especially when dealing with complex behaviors like fear and anxiety. Sometimes there is no identifiable cause for a regression- it just happens!
Recovery Plan
Take a deep breath. It can be disappointing when you’ve followed the training plan to a T and a regression happens anyway. But your dog will recover!
Follow the steps from the last section: Observe, Identify, and Go Back to Move Forward
Reflecting on your growth as a dog owner can be powerful, but it’s even more meaningful when you compare it to where you started. If you’re curious about how you can transform through this journey—from frustration to patience, from guilt to confidence—we’ve got the playbook for you.
Regression vs Variation vs Plateau
Separation anxiety training can be a bumpy road to recovery. While regressions are extremely common, there are other ups and downs that will happen along the journey.
Regression: A setback in progress. For example, the dog could previously sleep through a 10 minute exit with keys, but now starts pacing when they hear the sound of keys.
Variation: Exit time might fluctuate from day to day and that is normal – and helpful – in training. It’s a good idea to vary exit time so that it does not get too difficult too fast.
Plateau: You’re stuck at the current duration, unable to push forward. This is also common in separation anxiety training. It’s likely that something is still too challenging for your dog and you’ll need to go backwards and recover, or assess what else might be hindering your progress.
Snout Insight:
“Separation anxiety training is a journey you don’t have to take alone. Seek help from a veterinarian, trainer, or behaviorist if you’re feeling stuck!”
The Winding Road to Recovery
Separation anxiety training is a winding road, not a straight path. There may be detours and bumps along the way, but there will also be milestones and celebrations. You are learning the skills to help your dog succeed.
You’re not starting over – every setback is an opportunity to grow. Remember to celebrate every small win and be kind to yourself.
What to Pack for Your Next Training Dip
Pack these for your next "bad" day, and watch how quickly it turns around:
1. The Novel Treat
A new, high-value reward (spray cheese, freeze-dried liver) can re-engage your dog’s brain when their usual treats fail.
2. Your Voice Rescuing
Saying their favourite phrases ("Good boy!" "Who’s the best?") can reduce stress hormones while you’re gone.
3. The Reset Plan
A written plan (e.g., "Tomorrow: 20 mins with the new chew toy") removes the guesswork and panic from setbacks.
4. The Reminder Note
A simple note ("This is temporary. We’ve got this.") shifts your mindset from frustration to problem-solving.
5. The Micro-Win Tracker
Logging tiny victories (e.g., "Sat for 5 seconds longer") proves progress even when it feels invisible.
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