Separation Anxiety Treatment

What is Separation Anxiety?

Separation anxiety is a panic disorder about being alone. Dogs often vocalize, urinate or defecate in the house, and destroy things such as an item the guardian has recently handled or woodwork around exit points. While it may be easy to mistake these behaviors for revenge or spite, we have to remember that emotions like these aren't on our dog's emotional spectrum. These behaviors are involuntary responses to having a panic attack during alone time. 

 

The Treatment Process

All the training for Separation Anxiety is done via Zoom and in a Google Sheet. When we work together on a Separation Anxiety Treatment plan, we are in communication 5 days a week. I write a training plan, you then perform it and send me notes on how it went.  I review your notes and write the next day's plan. The lesson that you are doing works to systematically desensitize your dog to alone time. The training plan is specific to your dog; by studying your dog carefully, I’ll craft each day’s training plan to your dog's unique abilities at that moment. Each training plan should take 20 - 30 min to complete. Once a week we meet live on Zoom to reassess your dog's ability to be alone and discuss progress.

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The first step is to schedule an Initial Assessment. The Initial Assessment is a 60 minute meeting, conducted on Zoom. During this time we will have in-depth discussion about details of the training plan.  If you're not familiar with Google Sheets, you'll be taught how to use it. I'll also do a short observation of your dog while you are away. This gives me information from which to write your first training plan.

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While undergoing treatment it is important that your dog not experience anxiety while you are away.  This means your dog is not being left alone during a treatment plan. To experience panic while alone would undo much of the ground we gained through systematic desensitization.  We are carefully building your dog's trust that they will always feel safe during alone time.  If we suddently leave them for longer than they can handle, we break their trust and set back our training.  You do not have to be the one staying with your dog 24/7. There are numerous resources for getting help; Dog sitters, friends and family, Facebook groups, etc. Solutions for suspending absences is part of what will be discussed at the Initial Asessment. 

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What You'll Get From Me

• Customized Training Plans in a Google sheet 5 days a week

• A live reassessment via Zoom once a week

• Daily feedback on every training session

• Data Tracking

• Support 100% of the way, through all the ups and downs

 

What I'll Need From You​

• A commitment to finding creative ways to ensure your dog is not left alone

• Roughly 30 minutes a day, five days a week for training

• A 4-week minimum commitment to get started

• Lots of patience

 

Scheduling / Time Line / How Long Will This Take?

After the Initial Live Assessment (via Zoom), if you decide to move forward with training, you can purchase a 4 week training package. Once that package is completed, additional packages of 4 weeks can be purchased. When thinking about recovery from Separation Anxiety, we think in terms of months, not weeks. There is no way to determine in advance how long it will take to get to recovery.

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Rate

• Initial Assessment (1 hour): $165 

• Option to purchase a 4 week training package after Initial Assessment (Training package includes: 20 Custom Training plans, 4 Live Reassessments) Details discussed as part of initial assessment

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 Your Dog’s History

• There is an intake form for you to complete once you click the "Schedule an initial Assessment" bar at the top of the page. 

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To Get Started, use the button at the top of the page to schedule your Initial Assessment

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