Pet Positive Blogcast
Written by Liz Fisher, CSAT, CPDT-KA
Desensitizing Your Separation Anxiety Dog to Your Keys - Myth Busting
As a certified separation anxiety trainer, the way I help dogs feel better about their people leaving is by very gently, over time – and based on the individual dog’s behavior and body language – help them feel safe about being alone at all and then helping them feel better about the things that predict that (now safe) alone time. I use extremely careful systematic desensitization to the entire picture of humans leaving a dog alone which includes things like keys, locking the door, putting on shoes, and the actual duration of the alone time.
The Basics of Training: A Primer for Dog Separation Anxiety Protocol
I explain operant and classical conditioning and how to ethically help dogs with big feelings improve not only their behavior - but their root feelings about triggers. There are compassionate and ethical ways to change big behaviors. This explanation may also help you know which "training" advice to follow, and which to skip.
Judgment Free Separation Anxiety Training
In this blogcast I talk about how I create a safe and supportive learning environment for you while you work on dog separation anxiety training.
I encourage questions and conversation with transparency,
Focus on your dog and your needs for training,
Keep your information safe and private, and
Have an open mind and a lot of passion for supporting all my clients.
Should my older dog be assessed for separation anxiety?
Most often for older dogs who have separation issues pop up, we see barking, howling, whining, soiling the house, and restlessness or inability to settle. These are the same signs of separation anxiety or separation issues as in younger dogs… but that may not be the whole story.
How to begin separation anxiety training
Starting to help a dog feel better with alone time begins with 3 major parts.
Never leaving the dog alone for longer than they can handle
Learning dog body language and YOUR dog’s body language
Seeking professional help when you need it