Judgment Free Separation Anxiety Training
In this blog-cast I talk about
how I create a safe and supportive environment for your dog separation anxiety training by
Encouraging questions and conversation with transparency.
Keeping your information safe and private.
Having an open mind and focusing on your dog(s) and your needs for this training.
I work very closely with all my separation anxiety clients. We work virtually but I personally observe your home at least once per week. I may be working with you this way for a month or many months, giving advice and cheering you on with your separation training and learning. I am there to hold your hand when this protocol may feel daunting and to celebrate when you can FINALLY leave your dog alone while you do something social or fun!
What I am not there to do is judge anyone. I take this very seriously – I want everyone who invites me to be part of their training journey team and into their homes to feel safe and comfortable.
Ask Questions! I love them!
It is normal and great to ask questions about how this protocol works and to clarify my expectations of you as a client. I want everyone to feel like they can ask why we do things the way we do and what evidence exists to suggest this works. I have a lot of anecdotal stories and sometimes it feels like “the proof is in the pudding,” meaning that getting to watch a dog sleep for 4 hours alone is a magical experience that gives me a lot of confidence that all our protocols are on the right track. But there is also scientific evidence that systematic desensitization is effective at reducing and resolving separation anxiety or separation related behavior issues. I am happy to share sources if you are a science nerd like me and want to read through studies yourself – and I am also happy to summarize some of the findings!
If you ever wonder why I chose this PDQ (pre- or post-departure cue) or that warm-up step – I welcome a chance to impart more knowledge about my mission-writing process. I welcome questions about the big picture and about the nitty gritty of separation desensitization. Sometimes, there is a question that comes up and I don’t know the answer – I will say that I don’t know! If it is within my scope, then I will seek out answers. If it is not, then I will strive to point you in the direction of helpful resources.
I’m Truly All Eyes On Your Dog
I have many new (and sometimes longtime) clients apologize for dishes or laundry. I promise from the bottom of my heart that I do not judge any mess. I am truly laser-focused on every movement your dog is making. The rest of your home is background unless your dog directly interacts with it – at which point it becomes information. I am coming into your home often at different times of day and sometimes different days of the week – this training session is in the middle of your normally programmed activities. I am a pretty easy-going person and I care about every person and dog (and other pets) that I work with. I am here to help you succeed and you feeling comfortable is a major part of succeeding in this type of training.
Your Space is Private
I do not share pictures or videos from our sessions, messages, or protocol data sheets without your express written permission. I love to celebrate all my clients’ milestones and achievements – but how I do that and how public is completely your choice. I always ask if it is okay for me to share before I do so. I do keep pictures and videos from our assessments so that I can review your dog’s behavior and body language when needed throughout our protocol. We strive to be conscious and careful with our digital security to keep everyone private and safe.
It is normal to not know things!
All of us are doing our best to help our dogs be safer, healthier, and happier. There is a lot of information floating around about training and separation anxiety – and a lot of it is unfortunately wrong. If you have tried or are trying behavior modification methods that are incompatible with our protocol – you will need to stop doing them – but I’m not going to judge or think worse of you. We all start somewhere and I’m really glad you’ve found me because I’m excited to teach you about why our protocol works and how to move forward in the kindest way for you and your dog.
