Regressions for the Win
You are charging along with your separation anxiety protocol and have made considerable progress on a regular basis. You cannot believe that when you first started this process, Fluffy could barely be left alone for two seconds, and now you are able to leave for 17 minutes while she calmly hangs out. You could squeal […]
Observation Skills for Separation Anxiety
A call comes in and the harried woman on the other end of the line speaks rapidly about the recent excessive barking warning she received from her landlord about her dog, Clint. Next an intake form appears, revealing a dog named Patches who is destroying items, and shredding and spreading the trash, when left alone. […]
Separation Anxiety and a Second Dog – Will it help?
One of my recent separation anxiety clients asked me a common question during our initial call, “Will getting a second dog help?” My heart swells with appreciation for guardians whose dogs display separation-related anxiety. (There’s a technical difference between separation anxiety, when the dog is anxious when not in the presence of a specific person; […]
Preventing Separation Anxiety
Does your dog have separation anxiety? Let me alleviate any misconception or guilt you might be carrying: You did not give your dog this condition. Wait a moment, you thought this article was about separation anxiety prevention didn’t you? Read on, it will make sense. Sammy is a Cavalier King Charles pup and is as […]
Crowdsourcing Alone-Time Alternatives
I hear it in your voice. I hear it in the deafening silence over the phone. That quiet desperation you feel upon learning that your dog cannot be left alone at any time for longer than she can handle during the training process. You feel the walls closing in around you, trapped in your own […]
Train Smarter, Train Better, Together with a Trainer
One year for my birthday I bought an eight-week personal training package — a first for me. Having led an active life full of dancing, step aerobics, spin classes and hiking, I was unsure of what a personal trainer could do for me. But my workouts had become stale and irregular, I’d lost motivation and […]
It Takes A Village
Caring for a dog, any dog, can be a challenge. Puppies need constant attention and loving guidance to teach them how to behave. Adolescent dogs can challenge us with their independent teenage attitudes. Even the most well-adjusted, fully mature adult dogs take work. As you look back on the time and energy you have given […]
Exercise—The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread?
What comes to mind when I say the word exercise? Maybe a walk in the park, lifting weights at the gym, or a swim in the ocean? Webster defines exercise as “engaging in physical activity to sustain or improve health and fitness.” This definition means different things to different people. For one it may mean […]
Separation Anxiety: Two Truths and a Lie
The amount of folklore that surrounds separation anxiety in dogs is rivaled only perhaps by that surrounding aggression. As trainers, we’re reminded of the depth and breadth of this misinformation when we get inquiries from confused and frustrated dog owners who have followed well-intentioned advice with very few or bad results. As dog owners, we […]
When it Comes to Crates, Think Outside the Box
Most dog professional feel crates are a necessity when sharing your life with a dog. Crates can be a great management tool. They are helpful with a new puppy’s house-training routine. They can be a wonderful place for your dog to safely go and relax when there are too many visitors in the home or […]
