Training a Rescue Boxer to Overcome Separation Anxiety

In this Omaha dog training session we worked with Sampson, a one-year-old Boxer who needed help to stop separation anxiety.

After I arrived I learned that the guardian’s main dog behavior was Sampson’s separation anxiety. I was happy to also learn that Sampson already had quite a few rules and structure in place. I encouraged the guardians to include having Sampson sit before going outside through the door to help him work on self control and looking to them for direction.

Dogs think in very cause and effect ways. So for Sampson when he gets anxious when his guardians leave him home alone he thinks that his anxiety is what brings them back home. So we needed to help Sampson learn that good and calm behavior will also bring his guardians back home to break the separation anxiety cycle. To see how we did this you can watch the video below.

As you can see in the videos you want to start off really slow when over coming separation anxiety. The goal is to have Sampson so calm when you leave and come back in short durations that you build such a strong foundation that you can eventually work up to hours.

To continue this good work the guardians will want to practice this technique as often as possible. More practice equals progress. We wrapped up this dog behavior session with Sampson’s Roadmap to Success video which you can watch below.