SHOCKING! Pop Queen Ariana Grande Has TEN—Yep, 10!—Rescue Dogs, and Their Stories Will Melt You

Get the scoop on every one of the singer's ten rescue pups!

We're all for celebrities who rescue dogs. Ariana Grande isn't just a chart-topper—she's a full-on animal devotee! She's got ten—count 'em, ten—dogs, and every single one is a rescue. Pictured here with two of her crew: Toulouse, a Beagle-Chihuahua mix pulled from a shelter, plus Myron, the dog she once shared with the late rapper Mac Miller, her ex. The pair adopted him in January 2017 while still together, and Myron stayed with Ariana after they split. When Miller passed in 2018, she inked a 'Myron' tattoo on her left foot. Now that's devotion!

Canine separation anxiety is one of the trickier behaviour issues to turn around—so tricky I wrote a whole book on it. Real recovery needs a solid understanding underneath and a thorough plan on top. Here’s where to start if your dog struggles with it.

She inked a tattoo to honor Myron, who first belonged to her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller.

Dogs are generally bred for upbeat traits like sociability and friendliness. But as Dr. James Serpell, professor of Animal Ethics and Welfare at the University of Pennsylvania, notes, selective breeding may also “concomitantly select for excessive attachment to owners and intolerance to being alone.” Even so, a genetic lean toward isolation anxiety doesn’t seal the dog’s fate—confidence and coping can be built, and behaviour modification can teach him to handle being alone.

No single breed is officially the separation-anxiety breed, but think about what each was built to do. A livestock guardian like the Anatolian Shepherd has a job that doesn’t involve couch cuddles. A toy breed developed for companionship is far more likely to crave people and dread solitude. Of course, every breed spans a range of individual temperaments.

What Are Some Other Possible Causes of Separation Anxiety?

Coming in as Ariana Grande's tenth dog, Myron first belonged to Mac Miller and joined the family on January 16, 2017.

The 'Myron' ink landed on her left foot in November 2018—widely read as a tribute to her late ex, Mac Miller.

That 'Myron' tat actually covered an earlier '8418' one she'd gotten for her ex-fiancé Pete Davidson's late dad, a firefighter who died on 9/11. She took in Miller's dog Myron not long after Miller's September 2018 passing.

Grande first flashed her 'Myron' tat in behind-the-scenes clips from her 'Thank U, Next' music video. In it she says, 'I love my tattoos. I just went down to do the bend and snap and was like, 'Ugh! What a foot,'' then adds, 'Look at my Myron — how cool, right?'

“Keep your departures casual—even when you yourself feel stressed.”

Grande regularly shows off her big brood of dogs on social media. Above is a selfie the star posted with Myron back in 2018.

If your dog has accidents, wrecks things, or barks while you’re out, separation distress is possible—but don’t assume. The surest way to learn what he does alone is to watch remotely. Load a monitoring app on your laptop, tablet, and phone to see his behaviour live. Two well-reviewed options are Dog Monitor and Barkio. Or set up a baby monitor and review the footage when you get back.

Could I Be Causing My Dog’s Separation Anxiety or Making It Worse?

Grande's Beagle-Chihuahua mix Toulouse is the singer's go-to sidekick. Here he is on the set of Wicked (2024)!

“Preventing a separation issue is far easier than fixing one. If you have a puppy or a newly adopted adult, teach him to feel calm and safe when left alone.”

An old myth says ignoring your dog cures separation anxiety, since home-time and away-time then feel alike. But consider: if someone you love suddenly started ignoring you, would you feel safer—or more anxious, wondering what you did wrong? Same goes for your dog.

The Beagle-Chihuahua mix came into the world on June 16, 2013, and his famous mom took him in that September.

What If My Dog Already Has Separation Anxiety?

Where you begin depends on how intense it is. If he can’t bear even visual separation, start by sitting on the far side of a baby gate while he enjoys a really tasty chew. Increase the distance gradually until you’re in other rooms. Once he stays calm anywhere in the house, practise very brief outings several times a day. Leave calming music on—but play it at other times too, so it doesn’t become a departure signal. Use a dog-appeasing-pheromone product, sprayed on his bed or as a diffuser. Give a long-lasting chew five to ten minutes before you leave, so he’s deep in chew-bliss by the time you go. Make no fuss leaving or returning. If certain ‘departure cues’ tip him off, desensitise him to them. For step-by-step protocols, see my book Don’t Leave Me: Step-by-Step Help for Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety. Want hands-on help? Bring in a professional behaviour specialist. And if it’s severe enough to need medication, work with a specialist who teams up with your vet—or go straight to a veterinary behaviourist.

Can Separation Anxiety Really Be Resolved?

Toulouse also popped up in a 2015 Coach campaign, along with the singer's 2019 Vogue cover shot by Annie Leibovitz.

Originally featured in the award-winning Modern Dog magazine. Subscribe today!