A Training Plan For Separation Anxiety
Do you feel trapped in your own home with your dog who barks, howls, and is destructive when you leave? Dog’s with separation anxiety experience intense distress when left alone and many guardians feel like there is no hope. Luckily at CCA we are Certified Separation Anxiety Trainers and specialists in treating this challenging condition.
What Is Separation Anxiety ?
Separation anxiety is a blanket term for a fear response that occurs in dogs when separated from either a specific person, another animal, or when left alone . There are nuances to this diagnosis but some of the top behaviors associated with the condition are:
Vocalizations
Destructive Behaviors
Elimination
Pacing
Panting
Fixation on exit points
Check out this blog for a more in depth discussion of the behaviors associated with Separation Anxiety
The Training Plan
The behavior therapy training plan to resolve separation anxiety involves 3 key components to see success
Managment
Medical Consult
Systematic Departure Desensitization
This process of behavior therapy often takes months, and in some cases, years.
Managment
When working with anxiety and phobia management is key to enacting behavior change. Management refers to interventions that minimize the animals ability to practice unwanted behavior.
Without management, our learners will continuously practice unwanted behavior patterns, making it more likely to happen again, and more difficult to train alternative behaviors. Exposing our animals to the stimuli that trigger fear, will keep them in a a chronic stress cycle, affecting their ability to learn.
For dogs with separation anxiety this means suspending absences at all costs - this is non negotiable. Guardians must commit to using daycares, sitters, friends and neighbors to ensure we keep your dog's nervous system safe from panic. It takes a village to care for a dog that struggles with alone time, but being prepared to keep them feeling safe at all times is KEY to seeing behavior change.
“For dogs with separation anxiety this means suspending absences at all costs - this is non negotiable”
For dog with separation anxiety we have the following managment options::
Friends, neighbors and family
Daycares or dog sitters
Work from home
Taking your dog to work
Dog-swap with another guardian who has an SA dog
Check out this post for an in depth discussion on the importance of suspending absences
3. Medical Consult
All dogs struggling with behavior concerns require a thorough assessment by a veterinarian who is experienced in behavior concerns and pharmacology.
This will rule out underlying pain, discomfort, or injury. Remember dogs actively mask pain and injury so just because they ‘look fine’ does not mean they are not experiencing discomfort.
We recommend you speak to a Veterinary Behaviorist or a Fear Free Certified vet for a thorough investigation.
4. Systematic Departure Desensitization
Once we have set a solid foundation to our plan, we can begin on training - systematic desensitization to alone time and the cues that surround it. Desensitization is defined as slow exposure to the triggering stimulus, incrementally increasing how much the animal can tolerate being alone while remaining relaxed. We ask guardians to be committed to working for 20-30 minutes 5 times a week to see success.
Desensitization to departures and isolation must be done sub-threshold: meaning the animal must never be pushed into a state of panic where they exhibit symptoms of anxiety like whining, barking etc. For many guardians who’s dogs start to panic the second they even walk to the exit door this may seem impossible, but I assure you, it can be done when addressed systematically, scientifically, and broken up into the following ‘phases’.
“We ask guardians to be committed to working for 20-30 minutes 5 times a week to see success.”
PHASE 1: The Exit Door/ Doors
This phase will involve getting you out of the house without your dog panicking. Sounds simple enough, but for many guardians this takes weeks of systematic daily practice under the guidance of a professional.
PHASE 2: Duration Alone
Once you are out of the house without your dog panicking we will start to extend how long they are comfortable being left alone. At the start we add in seconds of alone time, but build up to multiple hours with your dog snoozing away.
PHASE 3: Pre-Departure Cues
Once we have got your dog comfortable with you leaving them for a target duration (usually 1 -2 hours) we start to fold in pre-departure cues like keys, coats, bags etc. We do this AFTER we have already got them comfortable with the first two phases, to see the most success.
Top Tip: Work With An Expert
This training plan sounds simple enough, but the skill and artistry involved in changing behavior in any animal is more complex than it seems. We recommend every dog experiencing separation anxiety consult with an experienced trainer or behavior consultant.
Luckily we are experts in working with separation anxiety dogs, and our innovative digital coaching programs allow us to coach guardians to behavior change all around the world
Learn more about SEPARATION SKILLS - our effective digital coaching program for dogs with Separation Anxiety
Learn more about our private separation anxiety coaching services here
