Built on gradual exposure and watching your dog
The method starts below meaningful worry and changes according to what you observe.
Free separation anxiety training app for dogs Calm starts with small steps.
SettledSolo is a free dog separation training app. It helps you build comfortable alone time one observable, manageable departure at a time: plan each session, time it reliably and record what your dog actually did.
- No account or subscription
- No streaks or pressure
- Your training stays on your device
Start below worryBegin with something your dog can already manage.
Watch the dogThe target is a ceiling, never a reason to push on.
Adapt without judgementA difficult session simply makes the next one easier.
How it works
Separation anxiety training is slow and can be emotional. SettledSolo breaks it into one decision at a time, and you can always make the next step easier.
Plan something manageable.
Start from a duration you have already seen your dog handle comfortably.
Leave, watch and listen.
Use a camera when you can. If concern appears, returning early is the right call.
Record what really happened.
The next suggestion responds to your observation, with the reason shown in plain English.
What the free app does
The core of SettledSolo costs nothing and needs no account. It runs in your browser and installs to your home screen on iPhone and Android.
A plan that adapts
Each suggested duration starts from what your dog already manages, moves in small steps after calm sessions and never gets harder after a difficult one. The reason is always shown.
A reliable departure timer
Keeps accurate time while you watch your camera app, lock your phone or switch apps, with an optional reminder to head back before the target.
Warm-ups and cue practice
Short practice departures before the main one, and at-home practice for keys, shoes and other departure cues.
A record you can share
Log how your dog was, the signs you noticed and any notes, then print a readable summary for your vet or trainer.
Progress you can read
Charts and milestones that follow steady progress rather than streaks or pressure.
Private and offline
Training stays on your device and works without a connection. Backup, CSV export and optional account sync are built in.
For the minutes you are away
Before you go, the app shows today's plan. While you are away, the screen shows the time and a large button for coming back. When you return, a few quick questions about your dog shape the next step.
- Know whyEvery suggested duration comes with a clear reason.
- Stay in controlCome back early, pause, or make the next session easier.
- Keep the useful detailsSee patterns without turning training into a diary.
You do not need to prove anything today.
One calm repetition is useful. If your dog looks worried, come back. Progress is more than a longer time: what matters is that being alone feels safe to your dog.
What the evidence supports, and where it stops
The approach follows published research where it exists, and says so plainly where the app is using its own rule of thumb instead.
No clinical prescription or fixed formula
Step sizes are conservative planning suggestions. You can always make them easier.
Clear about which parts are rules of thumb
The evidence page separates published findings from SettledSolo's own cautious choices.
Common questions
Is there an app for dog separation anxiety?
Yes. SettledSolo is a free separation anxiety training app for dogs. It suggests gradual alone-time sessions that start from what your dog already manages, times each departure and keeps a record of what you observed. It supports training; it does not diagnose separation anxiety or replace a vet or qualified behaviour professional.
How is SettledSolo different from other separation anxiety apps?
It is free, with no subscription or trial, and works on iPhone and Android. The timer keeps accurate time while you check your camera app. The plan never gets harder after a difficult session. If you record self-injury or an escape attempt, it pauses timed training and points you to your vet. Your record stays on your device unless you choose to sync it or share a summary.
Does SettledSolo work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. It runs in any modern browser and can be added to your home screen on iPhone or Android, where it opens like an app and works offline. There is nothing to download from an app store.
What does installing SettledSolo mean, and is it safe?
SettledSolo is a progressive web app (PWA): a website that you can add to your home screen, where it opens and works like an app, including offline. Installing it only adds an icon for this same website. Nothing comes from an app store, it cannot see your other apps or files, and it gets no extra permissions; notifications are used only if you turn them on. You can remove it at any time, like any other app. On iPhone, installing is also the best way to keep your training record, because Safari can clear a website's saved data after a week unused.
Is SettledSolo only for dogs already struggling with separation?
No. The same calm, gradual approach can also support puppies or newly adopted dogs learning comfortable alone time. Severe or escalating distress should involve professional support.
Does the app tell me to leave my dog until they react?
No. Setup starts from a duration you have already observed your dog manage comfortably. The app does not use deliberate distress as a baseline test.
Do I need an account or a payment card?
No. Core training works locally and is free, with no signup wall or trial that silently converts. Optional account backup and cross-device sync are available where enabled, and any future paid feature would require clear opt-in.
Is the generated target a clinical prescription?
No. SettledSolo uses evidence-supported behavioural principles, while its exact software step sizes are cautious rules of thumb, not clinical rules. The reason for each recommendation is shown in plain English.
When should I ask a professional for help?
Pause timed departures and seek veterinary or qualified behaviour support for self-injury, destructive escape attempts, rapidly escalating distress, or repeated sessions that cannot stay manageable.
Build comfortable alone time, gradually.
Your first plan takes less than a minute to set up. No account required.
Begin your first planOptional support
The training plan, timer, history and downloads stay available without payment. You can make an optional one-off contribution; it does not unlock app features. Checkout will show the amount and terms before you confirm. Payments are handled by Ko-fi; SettledSolo never receives your card details.