If your dog struggles with separation anxiety, you might have been surprised to read or hear that the best practice for helping your dog overcome their fear of alone time is for training to happen remotely or, in other words, having a trainer come to you virtually. This question – Why remote? – has come up quite a bit lately when talking with prospective clients about how separation anxiety training works, so I thought I’d take a moment (or about 750 words) to answer it for others wondering the same.
Technology improvements, especially since the pandemic, have revolutionized how Certified Separation Anxiety Trainers (CSATs) can help dogs struggling with separation anxiety and the people who love them. However, remote training was best practice and the recommended approach well before 2020. While in-person training can be beneficial for many behavior issues, remote training has proven to be far more effective for dogs dealing with separation anxiety for a variety of reasons. Let’s examine a few of those.
Training Reflects Real-Life
The goal of separation anxiety training is to help the dog adapt to real-life departure scenarios in their natural environment so that they ultimately learn alone time feels and is safe. If training were to occur when I (or any trainer) were physically present, a few things would make that learning harder for the dog. My arrival could result in additional anxiety or excitement before a departure, not to mention I’d still need to leave with you for your dog to practice true alone time. And, over time, the dog would likely begin to distinguish between rehearsed absences (when I am there) and actual absences, which can muddy the learning process since I am likely not going to be a normal part of your leaving routine.
Working remotely allows training to occur in the dog’s natural environment without any additional stressors or distractions, making the absences you practice as organic as possible. This, in turn, allows for a more accurate assessment of both the dog’s initial response to alone time and progress over time.
Real-Time Observation and Adjustments
One incredible benefit of remote training is being able to respond to observations in real-time while the dog is practicing alone time. This allows for immediate adjustments so that training is as efficient, effective, responsive, and individually tailored as possible to the specific needs of each dog based on their progress and environment each step of the way. Additionally, real-time observations help ensure that training remains kind and gentle because we know we are never pushing beyond the dog’s level of comfort with alone time at the moment we are observing.
Of course, an added benefit is the ability to record and review training sessions. CSATs can review recordings to catch any potentially subtle yet important body language signals missed during the fast pace of a live session to make even more informed adjustments to the dog’s training plan. And, guardians can share clips of anything they observe and might have questions about as an additional form of communication with their CSAT.
Maximum Accessibility and Flexibility
Remote training gives you access to a specialist, no matter your location or that of your CSAT. I live in Boston and have worked with clients less than a mile down the street (yes, via Zoom) and in Australia, where it was often not even the same day when we met for live sessions. The good news is modern technology has eliminated physical geography as a barrier to finding the best possible support for you and your dog. CSATs are skilled and experienced in working remotely to support dogs, and the humans who love them, and training success is possible no matter the distance as a result.
With increased accessibility also comes increased flexibility – more good news. People are busy, schedules are tight, and adding separation anxiety training to the mix (or any training) can often feel overwhelming. It’s true that working a separation anxiety protocol typically includes training five days a week, but you can also do your training sessions any time of day, including scheduling your remote sessions with your CSAT at a time that works well for you with the bonus of not needing to factor in commute time.
Really, It Works
Caring for a dog struggling with alone time can feel isolating, frustrating, and exhausting at times, so please know you are not alone. Remote training is not only the best way to help your dog overcome separation anxiety but also ensures you have access to the most specialized and expert support regardless of distance.
If you and your dog are looking for separation anxiety support, please fill out this brief questionnaire to schedule a 30-minute call at no cost: Prospective Client Questionnaire
