Hey there! Let's decode your dog's separation anxiety!
We Take Your Pet's Mental Health Seriously
Many dogs, young and old, struggle with their owners leaving the house without them. And while the COVID-19 lockdowns have meant we've all been able to spend some quality time with our dogs, 24/7, what happens when things get back to normal? The kids go back to school and mum & dad go back to work? Maybe your dog is coping fine with these sudden absences, but what if they aren't? What if they start panicking?
The A.L.O.N.E. Method*
A simple easy-to-understand step-by-step structured program delivered to you remotely by a virtual dog behavior consultant that is tailored specifically for your dog.
A – Assessing what the dog’s threshold is
L – Learning how to be calm when home alone
O – Observing the dog so it never goes over threshold
N – Nurturing calm home alone time by setting the dog up for success
E – Easy, step-by-step guidance to ensure your dog is Calm, Confident, Comfortable & Consistent
This is otherwise known as The 4Cs
Signs of Separation Anxiety
There are many signs of Separation Anxiety. Not all dogs exhibit all of them. Which ones does your dog display?
🐾 Excessive barking, whining, crying, and howling
🐾 Destruction - Chewing or destroying floors, walls, and doors, shredding furniture etc
🐾 Frantic attempts to escape, sometimes to the point of self-harm.
🐾 Soiling (especially when the dog is otherwise house-trained)
🐾 Becomes anxious well before owner leaves
There are also a number of more subtle signs ...
Many dogs display underlying signs of stress BEFORE they go into full-blown panic and have a meltdown. When you sign up to one of my programs, I walk you through what these might look like so you can determine whether your dog has reached the uppermost limit of their threshold.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take my dog to recover?
Unfortunately, that question is an unknown. We can only do the training at a pace your dog can cope with. When I train remotely with my clients, I let the dog be my guide. As much as we want training to move quickly, it is the dog who let's me know what they can and cannot cope with. The is an important part of training because the object is to use 'gradual exposure therapy' and desensitisation to home alone time while never letting the dog go into panic mode. We always want to set them up for success.
I've heard I am not allowed to leave my dog alone. Surely this can't be correct?
Yes and no. While you are undergoing a training program with me, I will ask you to manage your absences so your dog never goes 'over threshold' (to the point of having a panic attack or meltdown). Because I use 'gradual exposure therapy' (to safe absences only), it is important to ensure the dog never gets to panic point. Managing absences doesn't actually have to be complicated, even if it sounds like it must be! I can talk you through some of the protocols you can put in place to achieve this while you are undertaking your program. Just remember that every time your dog is left alone to panic, you are undermining any progress you have made during your training.
I live overseas but I see you are based in Australia. How can you possibly help me?
I work with all my clients remotely, even those who live in the same city as me! There is no point coming to your house as it actually complicates training for the dog.
Is there any special equipment I need to undertake a program with you?
You will need access to the internet for our weekly Zoom chats as well as your online Assessment (if you are on the program which offers this). You will also need the ability to record your training sessions so you can send me video of how your dog went.
I have been doing some online research and there is so much conflicting advice about separation anxiety training. I don't know where to start or what to believe anymore.
Yes it's true there are a lot of outdated methods being promoted on the internet. However, as a dog trainer I made it my business to up-skill my education to ensure I was up to date with the most modern and kind techniques to help dogs recover from separation anxiety.
How do I know if this type of training is for me? I'm really confused.
Feel free to head over to my Contact page and book a free 30-minute Zoom call with me. I can talk you through how my programs work and how I can help you. You might also like to head to the Podcast and Blog tabs so you have a better understanding of what you are dealing with.
I see you have two programs available. What are the differences?
Both the programs offer access to my specialist training app, a private Facebook group (plus a community within the program platforms), and weekly classes for extra support via Zoom. The lower priced program is more of a do-it-yourself plan with plenty of support to tailor training to your specific situation and your dog. The other program offers extra assistance with a threshold assessment, video reviews of your training (my eyes on your progress and your dog's body language etc.) and private Zoom sessions (if required).
I met someone whose dog is on medication. Is that something I will have to do? I don't really want my dog to become a zombie.
That is totally understandable. No one wants that. Firstly, not all dogs require medication although if they have generalised anxiety they might certainly be a candidate for it. It's really a conversation to have with your vet. Secondly, if your dog does indeed require medication, it should not turn your dog into a zombie or change their personality. In addition, medication is not a magic pill and will not 'fix' your dog's separation anxiety. It is purely there to facilitate training and may not even be necessary for your dog's entire life.
