As the New Year begins, I find myself reflecting on a career that has been as challenging as it has been rewarding. Over two decades ago, I began working with dogs suffering from separation anxiety—a journey that has shaped my life in profound ways. Today, I invite you to look back with me on this incredible journey and consider what lies ahead. Whether you are a dog guardian seeking solutions, a professional looking to deepen your knowledge, or simply someone who values the profound bond between dogs and their people, I hope this story inspires you to see what’s possible when dedication meets compassion.
The Early Days: Learning the Ropes
Before I ever embarked on working with dogs, I was working tirelessly in the corporate world, analyzing data and reviewing social statistics in the wine industry that helped drive marketing efforts. Working in the wine industry is somewhat cliché since I live in Northern California, where wine is truly a lifestyle. Additionally, though, I was beginning to build my excitement for tracking data as a means of decision-making. This served me well later, but I was burning out in the corporate playground at the time. To add insult to injury, my burnout was coupled with a true tragedy. My heart dog, Maverick, a stunningly beautiful Doberman, died unexpectedly in a horrible car accident. I collapsed personally and professionally in that very instant. After taking a much-needed sabbatical, I abruptly left the corporate world and pursued intensive education about animal learning and behavior. I told myself that from that day forward, I would honor Maverick with every single dog I helped, and that commitment has never waned and continues to drive me to this day. (Hence, my photo choice for this blog.)
So, education was where I started. In 2001, having graduated with honors from the esteemed Academy for Dog Trainers founded by Jean Donaldson, I began my journey to help train dogs and help those who love them. Little did I know where that would take me!
My second-ever client was a dog named Guinness, who suffered with separation anxiety. All these years later, I have fond memories of him and his guardians. I clearly remember telling the client that I was a very green trainer and would do my best to help them but would refer them at any point if I got over my head. I was the seventh trainer that they had been directly referred to, and all of the previous ones had claimed that they didn’t work with separation anxiety. This behavior issue was the bane of trainers’ existence back then!
Guinness’ case was a huge success, and the San Francisco Bay Area trainers swiftly decided that I would be the go-to for cases where dogs were suffering from alone-time distress. I had no idea Guinness would spark a lifelong passion and an intensive career, but indeed, he did. While being a little big for my britches about successfully navigating my first separation anxiety case, I received a referral to case number two. The dog’s name was Orville, and I am ever so grateful for the early lessons that he taught me. I applied the same training principles with Orville that I had with Guinness, but instead of success, we crashed and burned, not once, but repeatedly. This very case made me realize that I could not apply the same exact protocol to each dog. This early period continued for almost ten years and was marked by countless hours of trial, error, and discovery. Each dog taught me invaluable lessons, and every success story fueled my commitment to understanding and developing individualized separation anxiety protocols. These foundational years were humbling, underscoring the complexity of this issue and the importance of empathy in my work.
Breaking New Ground
I had been exclusively working in-person with local clients this entire time, but in 2009, I made a significant leap by transitioning to working exclusively remotely with my separation anxiety clients. At the time, this approach was almost unheard of (and sometimes frowned upon) in the dog training world, but it proved to be a game-changer. Remote consultations allowed me to focus on each client’s unique needs and gave me a bird’s-eye view of the dogs’ body language and behavior when alone. It was a pivotal shift that allowed me to expand to working with clients worldwide while laying the groundwork for what would come next. Despite criticism, I pushed forward working remotely with my clients.
After working remotely with clients for about a year, in 2010, I was fortunate enough to welcome a new dog into my life. While Maverick will forever hold a special place in my heart, this new little bundle of joy had other lessons to teach me. Her name was Tini DeMartini, and beginning at the tender age of 9 weeks old, she had a lot of big feelings about alone time. She was smitten with me from the first day I brought her home. In her eyes, it was as though every star and planet in the universe revolved around my head. Even if my husband was home when I left, she would scream and cry, and nothing would comfort her. I was terrified. Having specialized in separation anxiety at this time for about ten years, I was paralyzed as to how to proceed with my own dog. Fortunately, my friends and colleagues cheered me on, and in time, Tini learned to be comfortable at home alone.
The training journey with her taught me a new and deeper level of empathy and compassion for guardians going through this challenge. I had thought that I had a lot of compassion for my clients before this time, but walking in the shoes of others impacted me profoundly. While Maverick had fueled my passion, Tini moved me to always lead with empathy. This past year, in August, I held her little body closely while I said goodbye to my beautiful, joyful Tini DeMartini. She is forever loved, and the lessons she taught me guide me with each and every client I work with.
Sharing the Knowledge
In 2013, I had the privilege of presenting my experiences and currently developed protocol at the 20th-anniversary Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) conference. Speaking to such a large audience was exhilarating and marked a turning point in my career. The reception to my presentation underscored the widespread need for better resources and education about separation anxiety. This presentation fueled my desire to share more education about this topic, and I have continued to present to audiences worldwide since that time.
Along the lines of sharing more information, in 2014, I published my first book, which served as a tremendously needed resource for both dog guardians and trainers. It was incredibly well received and marked the beginning of a massive shift in interest in this behavior issue.
Later that same year, I launched the Separation Anxiety Certification Program (SACP) to train skilled dog professionals in the field to work with these cases gradually and systematically. The protocol I teach is gentle and humane while also being highly efficient and effective. My data tracking skills allowed me to nerd out in the program, and now effective data tracking for all dog behavior is bursting toward becoming commonplace in our industry. Teaching the first group of Certified Separation Anxiety Trainers (CSATs) was a deeply fulfilling experience, reaffirming my commitment to advancing protocols for this issue. This program has continued and thrived, graduating over 250 CSATs and boasting our 10th anniversary in 2024. The program has become a global movement, empowering professionals to make a meaningful difference in the lives of dogs and their families. Seeing the ripple effect of this work has been one of the greatest joys of my career.
Expanding the Reach
As the demand for accessible resources grew, I launched an online, self-paced separation anxiety course called Mission POSSIBLE in 2017. Its popularity exceeded my expectations, resonating with dog guardians and trainers. The course became a cornerstone of my mission to make separation anxiety education and support widely available. Seven years later, I took this course to an entirely new level when I released version 2.0 of Mission POSSIBLE. The success rate achieved through this course has been immeasurable.
In 2020, I published my second book, often referred to as the “bible of separation anxiety,” and described as a “seminal publication.” The book sparked immense interest in the industry and inspired countless dog professionals to specialize in this challenging yet rewarding behavior issue. And wow, the field of separation anxiety trainers really exploded around this time! (BTW – I can’t help but mention that I was thrilled to see the immediate embracing of remote training during this time. I had a wee moment of thinking, ha – I knew it all along, LOL!)
Looking Ahead
As I step into 2025, my passion for addressing separation anxiety remains as strong as ever. This journey has been a collective effort made possible by the incredible clients, colleagues, students, and CSATs who have joined me along the way. This year, I will be releasing new programs and other educational opportunities for clients and dog behavior consultants alike. I also hope to build further relationships with veterinarians and veterinary behaviorists who contribute so much to help with separation anxiety. I will continue to expand on the developing resources available to shelters and rescues while supporting dog walkers and pet sitters who want to care for dogs needing help with management during their training.
Whether you are a dog guardian, a seasoned professional, or someone considering specializing in this field, I invite you to be part of this ongoing journey. Together, we can continue to improve the lives of dogs and the people who love them, one “training Mission” at a time.
Here’s to another year of learning, growing, and making a difference—together.
Happy New Year!
