Separation Anxiety Program

Separation anxiety, or SA, simply means a dog feels distressed when left alone.

Dogs with separation anxiety show their discomfort and fear of being alone in different ways. Some common signs include house soiling, barking, pacing, digging at doors or crates, chewing furniture or toys, drooling a lot, whining, or even fighting with other dogs at home.

If your dog follows you from room to room, it does not necessarily mean they have separation anxiety. The key signs only happen when your dog is left alone.

Many people are told to use a crate or give their dog a chew toy to help with separation anxiety. However, these methods do not actually solve the problem for dogs with separation anxiety.

Dogs with separation anxiety are often too stressed to chew or eat because they feel like they are in fight-or-flight mode. Also, putting them in a small space can make things worse, since they lose their sense of control and still feel scared about being alone.

If you think your dog has separation anxiety, the first step is to avoid leaving them home alone. You do not have to be with them every minute, but try not to leave them by themselves. You could ask a friend to watch your dog, hire a pet sitter, use daycare or boarding, or take your dog with you if it is safe. Some people can work from home or bring their dog to work, which can also help.

No matter your situation, look for a way that works for both you and your dog to keep them from being left alone. This step will not cure their anxiety, but it is necessary if you want to help your dog get better.

You do not have to avoid leaving your dog alone forever if you follow a behavior modification plan. This is the only way to help your dog feel safe and calm when home alone. There is no quick or simple solution for separation anxiety.

The separation anxiety program is unique because it is done entirely online. You might wonder how I can observe your dog's behavior without visiting your home. The answer is technology. We use video recordings and phone calls to see what happens when your dog is alone.

Every separation anxiety program begins with an assessment. In some special cases, we may do more than one assessment if there are unique situations to consider before starting the process.

After the initial assessment, if we confirm your dog has separation anxiety and understand their baseline behavior, we can start training.

The main part of the program is systematic desensitization. I will create a weekly training plan with daily lessons for you and your dog. The program is paid weekly. Each week, you get four detailed written lessons and one live video call lesson, making five training days. The other two days are for rest. I believe days off are just as important as training days, giving you and your dog a chance to relax.

Systematic desensitization means giving your dog carefully planned exposure to time home alone. Working at a level that does not trigger panic in your dog. This process is not a liner one but rather a cyclical one that insures the dogs doesn't become savvy to the increase in challenge.