Why I Don’t Recommend Tethering for Dogs with Separation Anxiety
Tethering is often suggested as a simple management tool for dogs who struggle to cope alone. You might hear it recommended by trainers, online forums, or even well-meaning friends as a way to stop a dog from following you or becoming overly attached.
As a separation anxiety trainer, I do not recommend tethering as a solution for separation anxiety. In fact, for many dogs it can make the problem significantly worse. In this post, I want to explain what tethering actually is, how it differs from other forms of lead use, and why it can increase distress, stress, and long-term anxiety rather than resolving it.
What Is Tethering?
Tethering usually refers to attaching a dog to a fixed point using a lead, waist belt, or furniture so they cannot move freely. The goal is often to prevent the dog from following their owner, to encourage independence, or to stop attention-seeking behaviour.
In the context of separation anxiety, tethering is sometimes suggested as a way to teach a dog that they do not need constant proximity to their person. The idea is that if the dog is physically prevented from following, they will eventually learn to settle and cope.
Unfortunately, this approach misunderstands both canine behaviour and the emotional roots of separation anxiety.
Tethering vs Settled Lead Training
It is important to make a clear distinction between tethering and using a lead in a way that supports a dog’s emotional wellbeing.
For example, I am comfortable with a dog being on a lead that you are holding while you sit in a café or restaurant. In that situation, the dog is still socially connected to you. They can see you, feel safe, and choose to settle while remaining part of the environment.
Tethering is different. The dog is restrained and prevented from following, often while the owner moves away or ignores them. The loss of choice and social access is the key difference. One supports regulation, the other removes agency.
Following Is Natural Behaviour for Dogs
Dogs are social animals. Following their caregiver is not a flaw, a bad habit, or a sign of manipulation. It is normal, adaptive behaviour.
From an evolutionary perspective, staying close to a trusted social figure increased safety and survival. For many dogs, especially those with separation anxiety, following is a coping strategy. It helps them feel secure in an unpredictable world.
Trying to stop this behaviour through physical restraint does not address the underlying fear. It simply blocks the dog’s ability to seek comfort.
How Tethering Can Cause Distress
When a dog with separation anxiety is tethered and prevented from following their person, the emotional experience is often one of panic, frustration, and helplessness.
The dog still wants proximity. The need has not disappeared. What has changed is their ability to act on it.
Many dogs show clear signs of distress when tethered. These may include pacing, vocalising, freezing, panting, lip licking, or attempts to escape. Others may appear to shut down, which can be mistakenly interpreted as calm.
Tethering Can Make Separation Anxiety Worse
Separation anxiety is rooted in fear. Tethering does not reduce that fear. In many cases, it amplifies it.
Repeated exposure to situations where a dog feels trapped and unable to reach their caregiver can heighten overall stress levels. A chronically stressed nervous system is far less capable of learning new coping skills.
This makes actual separation anxiety training much harder. Instead of working with a dog who feels safe enough to learn, you are working with a dog whose stress bucket is already overflowing.
The Risk of Learned Helplessness
One of the most concerning outcomes of tethering is learned helplessness.
Over time, some dogs stop showing obvious signs of distress. They may no longer vocalise or attempt to follow. This is often seen as success.
In reality, the dog has learned that expressing their fear does not result in comfort or safety. They stop trying, not because they feel better, but because they feel powerless.
The fear is still there. It has simply been suppressed.
What I Recommend Instead
Effective separation anxiety training is not about forcing independence. It is about building safety, predictability, and trust.
The approach I recommend is gradual desensitisation. This means very slowly and systematically teaching the dog that being alone is safe, starting well below their anxiety threshold.
Training is tailored to the individual dog. Absences are introduced in tiny, manageable steps, with progress guided by the dog’s emotional state rather than arbitrary time goals.
This method is ethical, kind, and backed by science. It prioritises the dog’s wellbeing and works with their nervous system rather than against it.
When dogs feel safe, independence develops naturally. It cannot be forced, and it certainly cannot be achieved through restraint.
Final Thoughts
Tethering may look like a quick fix, but for dogs with separation anxiety it often creates more harm than help. It suppresses behaviour without resolving fear, increases stress, and risks long-term emotional fallout.
If your dog struggles with being alone, they do not need less support. They need the right kind of support.
Separation anxiety is treatable, but only when we prioritise empathy, science, and the emotional experience of the dog.
If you are looking for separation anxiety training that is compassionate, science-led, and centred on your dog’s wellbeing, you can find out more about training with me here.
