Mission Possible

Online Course

Separation Anxiety Training for Guardians

Our CSAT’s are trained to help improve your dog’s separation anxiety symptoms and improve their overall quality of life with a clear, consistent, and effective plan.

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How Do We Treat Separation Anxiety in Dogs?

Separation anxiety is a phobia — a fear of being left alone. To treat dogs who are suffering, we use the process of desensitization to gradually help dogs be comfortable when left alone. While helping dogs become more comfortable and achieve alone-time success bit by bit, we work to overcome triggers and fears through detailed training plans that ensure the dog always stays below his/her fear threshold.

Separation anxiety can occur for a number of reasons. Some dogs are more prone to fear and general anxiety issues or scary, unexpected experiences when left alone, such as storms, thunder, fireworks or construction noises. Other influences may have been due to moving, changes in the family structure or dynamic (including loss of a family member or divorce), traumatic experiences (such as being attacked by another dog, or being hit by a car), or even absences that we consider normal, but are simply too long for the dog. More recently, studies are revealing the likelihood of some genetic predisposition involvement, but don’t worry, that definitely does not mean it can’t be modified!

Self Paced Course:
Mission Possible

Our online, self paced course, Mission POSSIBLE is the perfect place to start your separation anxiety journey. Moderated by CSATs, you’ll learn the ins and outs of SA better preparing you for one on one training

Science-Based Information

Given that we have access to thorough, scientifically-based information online, guardians still can be mislead to believe that dogs who pee, defecate, bark incessantly or destroy things do so because they’re angry and being spiteful towards you about being left alone. It’s an understandable and tempting explanation, and unfortunately has been passed off as good information for a very long time, but it just isn’t so. Dogs do not have the same cognitive abilities that we humans do. Understanding this, and adjusting our approach can help us achieve alone-time success.

Roughly 17% of the 89.7 million dogs in the US alone suffer with separation anxiety. Given this statistic, it’s easy to see that this debilitating condition is a welfare problem. That’s why we are committed to getting the best information into the hands of the people that need it. We’re here to provide resources to help you be successful at overcoming the anxiety, fear, and panic that not only your dog experiences, but you likely do as well.

Within This Course You’ll Learn About:

The process of desensitization and why this is the gold standard for separation anxiety treatment.
The importance of understanding your dog’s threshold, why we can never go above it and how to work below it.
The importance of managing and suspending absences and how getting creative with solutions can be crucial towards alone-time success. (This is completely doable!)
How to assess your dog and how to use our step-by-step manual to begin working through the process.
Information on medications and how they are used in the treatment of separation anxiety from a veterinarian with a specialty in behavior.

For now, remember this:

Your dog isn’t angry with you for leaving or behaving out of spite when he scratches at the door, vocalizes, defecates or urinates: he’s actually truly terrified of being left alone. He has no control over this and he cannot fix it on his own. He needs your help.

Additional Key Elements Included:

Interview with a CSAT (who is also a Psychologist!) explaining desensitization
Interviews with dog owners who have successfully gone through separation anxiety training
Interview with a Vet
Sample videos of separation anxiety dogs being assessed
A 30-page step-by-step printable manual to follow containing sample pages to provide guidance
Opportunities to ask discussion questions and the ability to speak among course peers
Additional support options (outlined below)
Pages of content outlining the most important topics that will guide you through your training, written by Malena DeMartini

Requirements for You to Take this Course:

You are an owner of a dog that is suffering from separation anxiety or at the very least you’re someone that wants to give support to others that are in that situation.

You have a beginner understanding and empathy about the fact that your dog is experiencing an extremely difficult panic condition. In understanding this, you will agree that we are not going to ever use any training methods that involve fear, intimidation, punishment or anything that is perceived as scary or aversive to your dog.

You agree to the fact that you will not ever leave your dog alone (outside of training exercises) throughout your protocol – this is crucial. Note: It doesn’t have to be you that is with your dog personally. Friends or family and other creative options will do. If this feels daunting to you, please don’t despair and read this management blog and this alone-time alternative blog to learn more. If you are considering moving forward in our online program to gain the absolute complete picture from this course, you can start working on managing your dog’s schedule as you are learning.

You have some time to devote to regular separation anxiety training (approximately 20-30 minutes, 5 days a week, is suggested).

You have a considerable amount of patience in knowing that the pace of this program is slow and can only move forward at your dog’s pace as opposed to your personal preconceived or externally imposed deadline.

As someone who has worked through the separation anxiety protocol one-on-one with a CSAT to successfully treat my dog’s SA, and having had the privilege of reviewing this online course in it’s entirety, I highly recommend this course to any guardian whose dog suffers from SA. The protocol in this course will give you everything you need to move forward with treating SA.”

Christy Smith – Participant

Ad Hoc Remote Training Support

For those just looking for a one-time discussion about their dog and how to proceed on their own, we can help. Sometimes guardians get stuck when they are working on their own protocol and we can help get them through some of the tough spots. Additionally, trainers that are working with separation anxiety cases oftentimes want to review their plan with us and we are more than happy to do so.

A one-hour consultation either via phone or using online software such as Zoom or Skype is typically suggested.

Price to be determined based on your needs.

Additional Support Option

Below is an ADDITIONAL option, should you decide that you’d like more hands-on support from our Certified Separation Anxiety Trainers. You may decide you want this before beginning your training, or during the process of working with your dog. Either way, please know we are here to provide you with support at any point. The additional option is described in detail below.

Full 4 Week Protocol:

This 5 day a week support option includes:

A weekly online video assessment with you and your dog.
Daily (5 days a week) individualized written Missions created based on client’s written observations.
Continued cheerleading and coaching in multiple ways, including our unique shared document.
Personalized support and scheduling based on your unique needs.
Feedback that is specific to you and your dog.

Please note: as with any behavior modification program, we cannot guarantee results. This is simply due to the fact that we can never guarantee the behavior of another living being. What we can do is provide solid instruction and a detailed training roadmap which is what this course endeavors to do. In addition to the factors surrounding each individual dog, there are lifestyle considerations, compliance with the training plan and some confounding factors that can affect success, such as noise sensitivities, general anxiety, medical conditions and other phobias.

Additionally, it is worth stating that this course may not be appropriate for all dogs and guardians dealing with separation anxiety. It is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care, medical rule-outs or the services of a veterinary behaviorist. Some guardians may need more day-by-day instruction and guidance than we can offer in an online course, which is why we have chosen to offer additional support options for course registrants. We cannot offer refunds due to the proprietary nature of the information contained within the course.

We welcome dog trainers to participate in this course, but it does not serve as a replacement for the Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) program and does not indicate having studied under Malena DeMartini.

Online Training

Our online, self-paced course, Mission Possible, is the perfect place to start your separation anxiety journey.