Deep breath. Okay, let me tell you about the night that changed everything. Picture this: 9:47 PM, I’m in my pajamas doing session notes when I realize I haven’t seen Banks, my anxious labrador, in over an hour. Cue the full-blown panic attack while I’m tearing through my house calling his name, only to find him stress-napping under my bed because of construction noise next door.
That night, lying awake at 2 AM with my heart still racing, I ordered AirTags.
The Therapist’s Perspective: Anxiety Loves the Unknown
As someone who spends my days helping others manage anxiety disorders, I know firsthand that our brains are wired to catastrophize. When we don’t know where our dogs are—even for a few minutes—our minds immediately jump to worst-case scenarios. The dog door malfunction becomes “my dog is lost forever.” A quiet afternoon nap becomes “something terrible has happened.”
This anticipatory anxiety doesn’t just affect us in the moment. It creates a constant low-level stress that impacts our daily functioning, our sleep, our ability to focus on other important things (like, you know, helping my clients work through their own anxiety).
The Dog Mom Reality Check
Let’s be honest—our dogs don’t always make the best decisions. My other pup, Denby, once squeezed through a fence gap I didn’t even know existed and decided to explore the wide open country roads before a kind neighbor found him.
Even with the most well-trained, microchipped dogs, things happen. Gates get left open, leashes break, that “my dog never does this” moment becomes your reality at the worst possible time.
How AirTags Actually Work for Real Life
Here’s what I wish someone had told me sooner: AirTags aren’t just for the “big scary scenarios.” They’re for everyday peace of mind. Now when I can’t find Banks during his post-dinner hiding ritual, I open the Find My app instead of spiraling into panic. When Denby is being unusually quiet in the backyard, I can check his location without abandoning my therapy session to investigate.
The precision finding feature has been a game-changer during camping trips and beach days. Instead of keeping my dogs on short leashes because of my anxiety, I can actually let them explore while knowing exactly where they are. It’s given me back the joy of watching them be dogs, instead of constantly managing my fear.
The Mental Health Benefits Are Real
What I didn’t expect was how much mental space this small change would free up. When you’re not constantly doing “dog headcounts” or listening for collar jingles, you can actually be present for other things. My sleep improved because I wasn’t doing 11 PM house searches. My work concentration got better because I wasn’t distracted by “where are my dogs right now” thoughts.
My clients have started sharing similar experiences. One mother of twin toddlers and a escape-artist husky said AirTags gave her permission to stop being hypervigilant every second. Another client with severe anxiety found that knowing her dog’s exact location during thunderstorms helped her manage her own storm anxiety.
Practical Tips from Someone Who Overthought This
- Get the waterproof holders—trust me on this one
- Update your contact info in the app regularly
- Test the sound feature when you first set it up (do this when your dog isn’t nearby if they’re noise-sensitive)
- Remember: this is a backup system, not a replacement for proper training and safety measures
The Bottom Line
As both a mental health professional and a devoted dog parent, I can tell you that managing anxiety isn’t about eliminating all uncertainty—it’s about reducing the uncertainties we can control so we have more capacity for everything else.
AirTags won’t fix separation anxiety or replace good training, but they can give you one less thing to worry about. And honestly? In a world full of things we can’t control, I’ll take every small peace of mind I can get.
Now excuse me while I go check the Find My app one more time… just because I can.
If you’re struggling with anxiety that impacts your daily life, consider speaking with a mental health professional. Sometimes the tools that help us care for our pets can also teach us about caring for ourselves.
Salt + Cedar Collective 