11/07/2025
⭐️Fridays Facts⭐️
Here are the breeds / types of dog that are most likely to be predisposed to having separation anxiety / distress👇
This is because stress and fear can in fact be passed on epigenetically. Also we need to be aware of the fact that their are certain factors that can express aggression and anxiety in a gene (turn it on) and lately I’ve seen evidence that colouration (brown and red coated dogs) are in some ways turning on this gene expression. (Ever heard that red heads are more feisty or that chestnut horses are problematic) There might be an element of truth to it after all but we don’t quite know what.
It also might just be that there is a higher prevalence of this in the current populations of dog due to the rise of red and brown cockerpoos and red labs or retrievers than ever before. 🐶
This would also explain the uptick in cases in daschunds. Where many are being bred for beauty instead of temperment which could be the mitigating factor here - whatever it might be, here are the five types of dogs most likely to have separation anxiety passed down through their family tree.🐕
1- All Gundogs - their sheer popularity means increased numbers of these dogs again being bred in general but also we must take into consideration that they are bred to work very closely with one handler. These are those dogs you often hear being called “Velcro dogs” I would say that we have selectively bred these dogs for amiability and therefore a love for their handler as standard which can easily become problematic🐶
2- All Sighthound breeds- again much like the gundogs this hunting breed too work very closely with a single handler and often get on very well in large groups and therefore thrive with some company, anything will do (people and other dogs are their preference) underneath their sheer ability lives a highly sensitive dog too.🐕 (I can confirm as I also have a lurcher with SA)
3- Border Collies, whilst not bred specifically sociability they do very much like a task and bond heavily with their handler add that to their almost compulsive need to work, without proper outlets these dogs become highly sensitive and hyper vigilant who often don’t cope well when somebody leaves the home. 🐾
4- Poodles, before they were bred to make designer crossbreeds (ps don’t come for me I have a CockerPoo with SA myself 🤦♀️ they were a highly intelligent water dog bred to retrieve waterfowl. Smart, sensitive again works 1-2-1 with their handler you can see why cockerpoos and cavapoos might have an even higher probability of having SA.🐩
5- Lastly I’ve added Daschunds to the list this because after Cockerpoos, these small dogs are now the second most likely breed I will encounter for separation anxiety. I think what we are seeing is also a mixture of large numbers, breeding for beauty rather than temperment and the unfortunate occurrence that these dogs are undutilised scenthounds, being bred smaller and smaller in an ever growing world who also have high risk factors that increase stress in general such as back problems and knee joint issues.🌭
🚨PS I Will be going live in 15 minutes to talk about this weeks topics
🚨🚨PPS you have 3 days to sign up for my FREE Home Alone Heroes 12 day challenge.
