One Common Separation Anxiety Trick Could Be Making Your Dog More Stressed

A familiar scent can be comforting for some dogs when they are left home alone, but one trainer says owners may be focusing too much on the object and not enough on building their dog’s ability to cope with separation

For Emily Ryan, leaving behind her worn T-shirt for her Cavalier King Charles spaniel puppy, Lady, became a simple way to offer reassurance during alone time, a common trick used by pet parents to help with separation anxiety. Lady appeared to find comfort in the shirt when Ryan spotted her through the pet camera, cuddling with it.

However, Chris Edge, founder of K9Edge Dog Training, told Newsweek that relying on a comfort item alone may not address the underlying challenges some dogs face when left alone. Leaving behind a shirt with an owner’s scent is not inherently a problem, he said. It is the association built around the item that determines whether it becomes comforting or stressful.

“The shirt isn’t doing the work,” Edge said. “It’s what’s attached to the shirt that’s having the effect.”

When Ryan first brought Lady home at 8 weeks old, the puppy struggled with being separated from her family.

“Whenever I would leave her in the pen, she would start crying and scratching at it,” she told Newsweek via email. “She would also try to dig her way out.”

The behavior happened consistently during the first few weeks as Lady adjusted to a completely new environment. Ryan said she initially tried letting Lady fall asleep in her bed before transferring her to the pen, but the pup would wake up and become upset.

Instead, Ryan focused on making the pen a comfortable and secure space by adding toys, a doggy bed, blankets and plush items. She also continued leaving behind clothing with her scent, including her T-shirt, after getting the idea online.

The approach appeared to help Lady build a positive association with the shirt. Ryan said her pup would play with it briefly before settling down and falling asleep with it.

Why a T-Shirt’s Comfort Comes From Association

Dogs do not automatically find an object comforting simply because it carries their owner’s scent. Instead, they respond to the experiences and emotions they associate with it.

If a shirt has consistently been paired with calm, positive experiences, it can become a reassuring cue. But Edge warned that if it only appears right before an owner leaves, it can become a signal that predicts a stressful period of isolation.

“It can become calming or just as easily become a predictor of extended absence and stress if the only time it is used is when we are leaving them alone,” Edge said.

The same principle applies to other tools owners often use to help dogs cope, including crates, playpens, baby gates, calming music and special treats reserved for departures.

The object itself is not what creates comfort, Edge said. It is the association a dog builds with it.

Building Independence Before Separation

Edge said one of the biggest mistakes owners make is focusing only on what happens at the moment they leave.

“My favorite saying is, ‘We can’t train in moments of crisis, we train for moments of crisis,'” he said.

Rather than only practicing departures, Edge recommends teaching calm behavior as a core life skill. This includes helping dogs relax independently, building separation in small steps and creating predictable routines.

“We can teach calm as a core behavior, teach independence in layers, teach relaxation and provide predictable routines,” he said.

By practicing these skills before longer absences occur, dogs can learn that time apart from their owners is safe and manageable.

When Comfort Items Can Help Dogs

A comfort item like a worn T-shirt can be useful when it is part of a larger approach focused on building security and independence.

“If the shirt has been paired with genuine relaxation, not panic, it can become another cue that reminds the dog’s nervous system that everything is fine,” Edge said.

Ryan said Lady has continued to improve as she has become more comfortable with her home and routine. The puppy can now sleep through most of the night, aside from one or two potty breaks, and returns to her pen without difficulty.

Ryan also emphasized that Lady does not spend all day confined to her pen. She plans on allowing her puppy more freedom as she gets older, including letting Lady sleep in the bed with her, but for now, the pup remains in the pen to avoid any chewing incidents.

While every dog responds differently, Edge said the goal is not to find a perfect comfort item, but to help dogs develop confidence and emotional resilience.

“Once we have the understanding of how we impact their response, we can support their independence for life,” he said.

For Lady, the T-shirt became one part of a larger routine that helped her adjust, but Edge said the long-term goal is helping dogs feel secure before they are left alone.

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This story was originally published July 15, 2026 at 4:35 PM.