SEPARATION ANXIETY HELP FOR DOGS
Owners of dogs with separation anxiety often feel hopeless & like prisoners in their own home.
But it is fixable with the right training.
But it is fixable with the right training.
WHAT IS CANINE SEPARATION ANXIETY?
Put simply, a dog with separation anxiety is a dog that is afraid of being left alone. Separation anxiety/isolation distress is a fear/panic disorder that affects almost 20% of all dogs in the US.
Typical signs of separation anxiety include near constant barking, whining, pacing, sweating, drooling, pawing or scratching, inappropriate elimination, destruction of the environment, attempts to escape, and even self-mutilation.
WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?
Dogs by nature are social animals. Left to their own devices, they would live in groups and benefit from collaborative hunting, breeding/puppy rearing, and communal defense against predators.
It is therefore reasonable to expect that social interaction is hard-wired into a dog’s behavior. They bond closely to their core relationships and need their group to feel comfortable.
The average dog can be adjustable in terms of the level and frequency of interaction, as well as the person involved. A dog may prefer their owner to stay home but being alone isn’t traumatic. This is a dog who expects their owner to return and can relax while waiting.
While we do not know why some dogs develop separation anxiety and others don’t, we do know that there are factors that seem to be present in many separation anxiety cases:
Typical signs of separation anxiety include near constant barking, whining, pacing, sweating, drooling, pawing or scratching, inappropriate elimination, destruction of the environment, attempts to escape, and even self-mutilation.
WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?
Dogs by nature are social animals. Left to their own devices, they would live in groups and benefit from collaborative hunting, breeding/puppy rearing, and communal defense against predators.
It is therefore reasonable to expect that social interaction is hard-wired into a dog’s behavior. They bond closely to their core relationships and need their group to feel comfortable.
The average dog can be adjustable in terms of the level and frequency of interaction, as well as the person involved. A dog may prefer their owner to stay home but being alone isn’t traumatic. This is a dog who expects their owner to return and can relax while waiting.
While we do not know why some dogs develop separation anxiety and others don’t, we do know that there are factors that seem to be present in many separation anxiety cases:
- Multiple re-homing/moving episodes
- Air shipping (especially during puppyhood)
- Illness or malnutrition during puppyhood
- Singleton puppies or litter removal too early
- Sudden long presence/absence of owner
- Death/departure of a family member
- Introduction of a new family member
- A Traumatic event
- Seizure disorders
- Old-age/pain-related onset
- Genetic predisposition
Think your dog has Separation Anxiety?
If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety and you would like us to consider working with you, please take the time to fill out our Prospective Client Questionnaire by clicking the link below. Filling out this questionnaire does not guarantee that we will be able to accept you as a client.
We look forward to assessing your case and seeing if we can assist you!
We look forward to assessing your case and seeing if we can assist you!
With a separation anxiety dog, there is no adjustment,
even to short absences.
It’s all traumatic!
even to short absences.
It’s all traumatic!
HOWEVER THERE IS HOPE!
No other behavioral issue has the household impact that canine separation anxiety does. Clients often feel trapped and like prisoners in their own home. Or they feel guilty knowing their dog is suffering when they do venture out.
The good news is that by using the proper training method you can regain the freedom, peace of mind and get the relationship you have wanted with your dog.
By addressing your dogs fear you will see significant improvement or full resolution. From the beginning of this training program, there will be an end to your dog’s distress, neighbor’s complaints, and your landlord’s eviction warnings.
This peace of mind will free you to focus on creating lasting change.
The good news is that by using the proper training method you can regain the freedom, peace of mind and get the relationship you have wanted with your dog.
By addressing your dogs fear you will see significant improvement or full resolution. From the beginning of this training program, there will be an end to your dog’s distress, neighbor’s complaints, and your landlord’s eviction warnings.
This peace of mind will free you to focus on creating lasting change.
Studies have shown
gradually
desensitizing
to be the most effective, humane
and lasting training method available.
gradually
desensitizing
to be the most effective, humane
and lasting training method available.
THE TRAINING PROTOCOL
The most effective, long-lasting training approach to separation anxiety is straightforward, but not easy. It can be very challenging for an owner to address on their own, especially at first.
Every client experience begins with a live, online video assessment of your dog. We take into consideration your schedule and objectives. We write the first assignment, a 30-minute mission, based on what we’ve observed.
Next, we complete that assignment with you online so we can be sure to address all your questions. Our primary goal is to make sure your dog is handling the program well.
From there, you can expect a total of four or five 30-minute assignments based on your daily progress reports. Each mission is created individually by us, for you and your dog. Future weeks are structured the same way: a live video assessment and four or five homework assignments created just for you.
The training program for separation anxiety can be very intense, and everyone, canine and human, needs at least two days off each week to relax and recharge.
Every client experience begins with a live, online video assessment of your dog. We take into consideration your schedule and objectives. We write the first assignment, a 30-minute mission, based on what we’ve observed.
Next, we complete that assignment with you online so we can be sure to address all your questions. Our primary goal is to make sure your dog is handling the program well.
From there, you can expect a total of four or five 30-minute assignments based on your daily progress reports. Each mission is created individually by us, for you and your dog. Future weeks are structured the same way: a live video assessment and four or five homework assignments created just for you.
The training program for separation anxiety can be very intense, and everyone, canine and human, needs at least two days off each week to relax and recharge.
It is very important during the training program
that you do not leave your dog alone.
Most clients find the prospect of this
daunting at the beginning, but we can suggest
many possible solutions.
This is temporary.
that you do not leave your dog alone.
Most clients find the prospect of this
daunting at the beginning, but we can suggest
many possible solutions.
This is temporary.
OUR PROMISE
Here at, All Star Paws Dog Training, we are committed to resolving separation anxiety to the greatest extent that we can.
Each dog is unique, both in terms of how they experience separation anxiety and in how quickly and how thoroughly their behavior can be modified. On our end, we spend about three hours a week working with and supporting each client.
There is nothing more gratifying for us than to see a dog once paralyzed by fear and stress react to being alone with nothing more than a “ho-hum” attitude.
That day, when it comes, is truly a cause for celebration and celebrate you should by going out to dinner—and leaving your dog home.
Alone.
Each dog is unique, both in terms of how they experience separation anxiety and in how quickly and how thoroughly their behavior can be modified. On our end, we spend about three hours a week working with and supporting each client.
There is nothing more gratifying for us than to see a dog once paralyzed by fear and stress react to being alone with nothing more than a “ho-hum” attitude.
That day, when it comes, is truly a cause for celebration and celebrate you should by going out to dinner—and leaving your dog home.
Alone.
WHY VIRTUAL TRAINING?
For a long time, we’ve known that gradual/methodical desensitization was the only effective training method for separation anxiety. But even if we were able to do it right, that didn’t mean we were consistently able to do it well.
We could never see what was going on behind the door when we left the dog alone. We could only guess, and sometimes we guessed wrong.
That is until technology caught up with us. Now, with virtual technology (e.g. Skype and Zoom; laptops, smartphones and tablets), we can watch the dog handle their owner’s absence in real time, from around the block or around the world.
We can see when he’s tolerating an absence, and when he’s not. And we do all that without our presence influencing the separation anxiety training.
We could never see what was going on behind the door when we left the dog alone. We could only guess, and sometimes we guessed wrong.
That is until technology caught up with us. Now, with virtual technology (e.g. Skype and Zoom; laptops, smartphones and tablets), we can watch the dog handle their owner’s absence in real time, from around the block or around the world.
We can see when he’s tolerating an absence, and when he’s not. And we do all that without our presence influencing the separation anxiety training.
Think your dog has Separation Anxiety?
If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety and you would like us to consider working with you, please take the time to fill out our Prospective Client Questionnaire by clicking the link below. Filling out this questionnaire does not guarantee that we will be able to accept you as a client.
We look forward to assessing your case and seeing if we can assist you!
We look forward to assessing your case and seeing if we can assist you!
**Jenna is looking for Veterinarians to team up with in order to help people who have dogs that suffer from this debilitating behavioral challenge. If you are interested in working with Jenna to help dogs and their owners can get her Bio here. She would love to connect with you!
CANINE SEPARATION ANXIETY CLIENTS TESTIMONIALS
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"I never thought Chip would be able to be left alone before I started
working with Jenna. I would highly recommend her to anyone
who needs help with their dogs separation anxiety!"
working with Jenna. I would highly recommend her to anyone
who needs help with their dogs separation anxiety!"
Melissa & Chip
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"For anyone that’s had a dog with separation anxiety, they know there’s not a quick, simple fix.
But after Jenna’s training and guidance, our puppy can now be left alone for long periods
of time without showing any major signs of distress. All thanks to Jenna!"
But after Jenna’s training and guidance, our puppy can now be left alone for long periods
of time without showing any major signs of distress. All thanks to Jenna!"
Lauren, John & Nala
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WHY WORK WITH JENNA?
Jenna is one of the elite Certified Separation Anxiety Trainers (CSAT) in the world. She completed an in depth certification program with world known Canine Separation Anxiety Expert Malena DeMartini and has helped many clients overcome this challenging problem.
Jenna was her own first client as Emmy, her Alaskan Husky/Greyhound Mix, suffered from isolation distress and that is how she found Malena's book Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs. The rest is history.
This was by FAR one of the most challenging behaviors Jenna has ever had to work through! Jenna is happy to report that Emmy is very happy when left home alone, in fact she sleeps the day away.
Jenna had the opportunity to contribute to Malena's website. You can read the article here: Me, Emmy and Separation Anxiety
Jenna was her own first client as Emmy, her Alaskan Husky/Greyhound Mix, suffered from isolation distress and that is how she found Malena's book Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs. The rest is history.
This was by FAR one of the most challenging behaviors Jenna has ever had to work through! Jenna is happy to report that Emmy is very happy when left home alone, in fact she sleeps the day away.
Jenna had the opportunity to contribute to Malena's website. You can read the article here: Me, Emmy and Separation Anxiety
Think your dog has Separation Anxiety?
If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety and you would like us to consider working with you, please take the time to fill out our Prospective Client Questionnaire by clicking the link below. Filling out this questionnaire does not guarantee that we will be able to accept you as a client.
We look forward to assessing your case and seeing if we can assist you!
We look forward to assessing your case and seeing if we can assist you!