Dog separation anxiety is one of the more common behavior problem we are called in to fix. Unfortunately, most dog trainers don’t know how to fix separation anxiety. But as Omaha’s Dog Behavior experts, we knew we needed to develop a Separation Anxiety treatment program for dogs.
Our new Seperation Anxiety treatment program is an easy, step by step process that will transform your dog so they are no longer insecure when you leave. We are looking for a small number of dogs to particiapate in a pilot program (form at the bottom of this page).
What is Separation Anxiety in Dogs?
In it’s basic form, dog separation anxiety is a panic attack that develops in adult dogs due to lack of practice being alone when they are a young puppy. That’s why teaching puppies to be ok being left alone is one of the first lessons we go over in our puppy classes.
We do this by suggesting people positively kennel train their dogs, or preferably by setting up a safe sanctuary for your puppy in a room away from where you hang out or sleep. This allows the puppy to “practice” being alone at a time where they are open to new experiences. Sadly, many people don’t do this when their puppy is younger.
People often take it personally when they come home to find their dog has destroyed furniture, chewed through the front door or a wall, had accidents, or barked non stop until they came home. Your dog is not acting this way on purpose, and punishing them or getting upset when they do so is one of the last things you should do when you want to stop separation anxiety in dogs
Accidents, chewing, and other destructive behaviors are common symptoms of Separation Anxiety in dogs
Some dog owners deal with their dog separation anxiety by taking them to a doggy daycare like ours, or by arranging to have family members or friends watch their dog when they need to leave. While this can help in a pinch, it doesn’t fix the dog separation anxiety. It’s just a temporary relief.
Other people think a kennel can solve their dog’s separation anxiety problem, but that just causes the dog to become more frustrated as it is not addressing the root cause of the problem – an insecurity about being left home alone. Dogs with seperation anxiety may also try to escape, or chew their way out of the kennel!
Your dog may not chew things up or soil the house when they are in a kennel, but the anxiety is often multiplied, resulting in even worse behaviors (territoriality, barking, aggression, sound sensitivity, fearful behaviors, etc).
After fixing tens of thousands of Omaha-area dog behavior problems, we knew we needed to come up with an easy and effective program to stop separation anxiety in dogs for good.
How We Stop Dog Separation Anxiety in Omaha
Two years ago we decided to develop our own separation anxiety treatment program. Our method is a combination of many of the dog behavior tricks we have used to stop unwanted dog behavior problems since 2011.
In the video below, DGP founder and Dog Behavior Specialist David Codr talk a little about our program to stop separation anxiety in dogs.
We’d love to tell you that it’s easy to stop dog separation anxiety, and the good news is – it is! With the right approach, of course.
Requirements for our Treatment Program
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• Sanctuary Room – A room we can use as a safe sanctuary for your dog to practice being alone in. This is where you will practice the exercises and leave your dog when you are away from home, after you have completed the program. A spare bedroom, finished basement, den, or room away from the entry / exit door is what is needed.
• Security Camera – Being able to monitor your dog when they can’t see you is a crucial component of this program. You will need to have a camera in place so you can watch your dog as they practice being alone.
• Alternative Leave Options – While we work on your dog’s Separation Anxiety, it’s important you do not leave your dog home alone for a 1-2 month period of time. Doing so is essentially arranging for your dog to practice panicking when left alone, which will set back their progress. This means using daycare or having someone stay with your dog when you leave them alone so they don’t practice panicking when left alone.
• No Fear or Aggression – If your dog is overly fearful or aggressive to humans, those issues will need to be addressed before you can work on their Seperation Anxiety. You can get information about our behavior help options by clicking this link.
If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, you have a sanctuary room as described in the video, and you want to participate in our pilot program, fill out the form below.
