A pet camera caught the moment a 6-month-old puppy panicked after being left alone, not knowing his owner would only be gone briefly.
An owner who runs her dog’s Instagram account, @itslilphilly, shared in an April 6 video of her 6-month-old mini Bernedoodle—a mix between a Bernese mountain dog and a poodle—the moment panic set in for the pup as she left the house. Unable to settle, the puppy named Philly began to pace around the house, returning several times to the door as he looked for signs that she might be coming back.
The pet camera captured, within seconds, the dog softly whimpering as his whole world left him alone, which then escalated into barking. But little did he know that the separation would only last a few moments. His owner stepped outside for six minutes to collect the mail.
After watching the footage back, the owner wrote in the caption: “It’s safe to say, he is still sad when we leave.”
As the minutes passed, which seemed like a lifetime for Philly, the energy began to shift. Still clearly unsettled, the puppy eventually calmed himself and sat on the couch, but even then, he didn’t fully relax. He remained alert, head angled toward the door, eyes fixed on it.
As soon as he heard the faint sound of the door opening, everything changed.
The puppy instantly sprang to life, bolting off the couch and sprinting toward the entrance in a burst of excitement, as if the separation never happened at all.
While the moment may appear intense, experts note that young puppies are still learning how to cope with being alone and may show separation-related behaviors as part of normal development. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), puppies are especially prone to distress when separated from their owners and may cry, bark, or become restless as they adjust to independence.
The AKC notes that these behaviors are common in newly introduced puppies and are often tied to the transition from constant companionship with their mothers and littermates to short periods of separation, rather than a diagnosed behavioral disorder.
With gradual training and repeated short absences, most puppies can learn to feel more comfortable when left alone. The AKC recommends keeping a pup’s first few days at home calm and structured, with consistent routines for feeding, potty breaks and sleep to help the puppy adjust. Owners might want to create a secure, comforting space, such as a doggy crate, along with familiar-sounding items like heartbeat-style toys or soft bedding to ease nighttime anxiety.
Pet owners flooded the comments with emotional reactions, many sharing similar stories, and as of Wednesday, the Instagram clip had over 154,000 views.
“Separation anxiety is so real. Stay strong, Philly. It gets easier, promise,” wrote a viewer.
A second person said: “My dog still does this, and he is 9! I give him a whole pep talk just to take the trash out.”
Others suggested crate-training the pup, leaving on the radio for him to listen or giving him an interactive toy to keep him occupied.
Newsweek reached out to @itslilphilly via email for additional information and comment.
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