Separation Anxiety: What Pets Feel, What We Feel, and How to Support Them

Separation Anxiety: What Pets Feel, What We Feel, and How to Support Them

Author: Janet Marlow May 2, 2026 Duration: 6:27


Welcome to We’re All Ears, where we explore the emotional and sensory lives of animals—and how they experience the world around them.

Today we’re talking about separation anxiety. Not just from the pet’s perspective, but from the pet parent’s as well. Because separation is never one-sided.

When a dog or cat is left alone, it isn’t simply “quiet time.” It’s a sudden shift in their entire sensory world. The familiar sounds disappear. The subtle rhythms of the home change. The presence of their person—arguably their strongest sense of safety—is gone all at once. What remains can feel unpredictable. For many animals, this triggers a stress response. You may see pacing, vocalizing, destructive behavior, or even withdrawal. These responses are often misunderstood as disobedience or lack of training, but they’re not. They are biological. Animals are wired to stay connected to their environment, and especially to the sensory cues that signal safety.


In Pet Acoustics: We're All Ears!, host Janet Marlow explores the intricate relationship between animals and the soundscapes they inhabit. As a Sound Behaviorist and founder of Pet Acoustics, Janet guides listeners through a nuanced auditory journey, revealing how creatures great and small perceive frequencies and noises invisible to human ears. This podcast isn't just about cute pets; it's a deep dive into the science of hearing, behavior, and emotional well-being. You'll discover how everyday sounds-from household appliances to city traffic-can trigger profound reactions in animals, influencing their stress levels, moods, and even their health. Each episode is built on the premise that by understanding the acoustic world from an animal's perspective, we can forge deeper, more harmonious bonds with our companions. Whether you're a pet owner, an animal lover, or simply curious about the hidden sensory experiences of other species, this series offers a unique blend of research, practical advice, and captivating stories. Tune in to hear conversations that will change how you listen to the world alongside your furry, feathered, or scaled friends.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 46

Pet Acoustics: We're All Ears!
Podcast Episodes
The Ones Who Know First: A Pet Mother’s Day Reflection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:30
Welcome to We’re All Ears—where we explore the world as animals experience it… through sound, behavior, and the subtle signals that shape their well-being.Today’s episode is a quiet one. A reflective one.Because this is…
Why Cats Fear the Carrier and How to Change the Experience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:25
Hi everyone, I’m Janet Marlow, founder of Pet Acoustics, and welcome to We’re All Ears—where we explore the science of how sound shapes the emotional lives of animals.Let me start with a question.Why is it… that the mome…
When One Dog Loses Another: Helping Your Dog Through Grief [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:29
Hello, and welcome to We’re All Ears, where we explore the emotional lives of animals through the lens of sound, behavior, and connection.I’m Janet Marlow, Certified Sound Behaviorist and founder of Pet Acoustics.Today,…
From Passion to Profession: Becoming a Certified Sound Behaviorist™ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:23
Welcome to We’re All Ears, where we explore the science of sound, the emotional lives of animals, and how hearing health is transforming the way we care for pets.I’m Janet Marlow, founder of Pet Acoustics and Certified S…
Things Only Dog Parents Understand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:51
Welcome to We’re All Ears. I’m Janet Marlow, sound behaviorist, composer, and founder of Pet Acoustics and today we’re talking about something that makes dog parents smile immediately:The quiet, beautiful, slightly quirk…
Things Only Cat Owners Understand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:04
Welcome to We’re All Ears.Today’s episode is dedicated to a very special group of people…People who have lint rollers in every room.People who’ve accepted that black clothing is now a memory. People who say things like,…
Sound is Biological For Our Pets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:34
One of the most meaningful shifts happening right now in animal care is the recognition that sound is not just something animals hear—it is something their nervous system uses to regulate their body and behavior.For deca…