My dog overcame his separation anxiety – here’s how we did it.
When Tripp started showing signs of separation anxiety, I suddenly found myself landing squarely in my client’s shoes. Here’s how we worked through it.
As a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer, I am well-versed in the treatment of separation anxiety and have helped many clients achieve home-alone success with their dogs. But when my new puppy began showing signs of separation anxiety, the tables turned. Suddenly, I was the client AND the trainer. Here’s how I helped him feel better about being home alone.
I allowed myself to feel the feelings
I may be a separation anxiety expert, but that doesn’t change the fact that like my clients, I am only human. When I realized Tripp was not comfortable being left alone, I experienced a range of uncomfortable emotions, from overwhelm and anxiety to disappointment and grief. With two other dogs to care for at the time, each with their own unique needs, I felt overloaded. Tripp was supposed to be my easy dog, my sports prospect – but now he was a project as well.
I figured out a plan to suspend absences
As a working separation anxiety trainer, I knew all too well the importance of preventing Tripp from having bad experiences while left alone. Once I had processed the initial emotional impact, I put a plan into action to prevent him from being left longer than he could comfortably tolerate.
I consulted with my vet
To set Tripp up for success in his training plan, I consulted with my vet as soon as I could. I knew I wanted to throw everything in our toolkit at Tripp while he was young and the separation anxiety was in its early stages. With the support of my vet, we collaborated on a treatment plan to decrease Tripp’s anxiety levels and ensure that the training process went as smoothly as possible.
I started desensitizing Tripp to being home alone
I was fortunate to have the skills and expertise to tackle Tripp’s separation anxiety myself, but this didn’t mean it was all smooth sailing. Each dog is an individual with their own considerations, and Tripp wasn’t any different. Without the objective eye I bring to my cases, it was difficult to step back and view Tripp’s case in the same way. Still, I felt confident in my training plan and its efficacy, and so I pushed forward.
I maintained
Today, Tripp can be left comfortably for up to five hours, but that doesn’t mean our journey is over. I will be keeping a watchful eye on Tripp’s comfort and ensuring continued progress in the following ways:
- Ensuring that his exercise, mental enrichment, rest and other needs are met on a daily basis.
- Keeping a close eye on stress in his day-to-day life; ensuring that he has a chance to recover from stressful events and balancing alone time with other potential stressors.
- Continuing to work with my vet to ensure Tripp is physically well and that his anxiety levels are managed effectively.
I helped Tripp overcome his separation anxiety, and I can help your dog with that, too!
Book a FREE 30 minute Discovery Call, and let’s talk about how we can work together to improve your dog’s comfort at home alone.
