Should I pick my keys up over and over? Here’s why it’s not that simple.
Have you ever been told to repeat your leaving routine over and over to help your dog overcome separation anxiety? I’m here to tell you why that might not be the best strategy – and what to do instead.
What is a pre-departure cue?
A pre-departure cue or a “PDQ” refers to anything you do before you leave. This typically includes picking up your keys, putting on shoes or locking the door. We also sometimes refer to “post-departure cues,” such as getting in your car and driving away. These are all important to work through as they tip off your dog that you will be leaving and can cause anxiety as a result.
How do we incorporate PDQs into training?
As your separation anxiety trainer, it is my job to make sure that we are helping your dog feel better about pre and post-departure cues, not worse. This means that I am careful about how and when I introduce them. Although the exact strategy changes depending on the dog I’m working with, it will always center around taking it slow, monitoring your dog’s response and identifying which of the cues are most meaningful and may need extra consideration.
What is one of the biggest mistakes I see clients making when it comes to pre-departure cues?
If you’ve done some cursory research online about how to help your dog, you’ve likely seen it recommended to repeatedly pick up keys, put on shoes, or perform other parts of your leaving routine, the goal being to desensitize your dog and teach them that these things have no meaning. While the idea behind this is on the right track, trying to DIY this part of the training can be tricky.
Throughout our training journey, it is our goal to work at your dog’s pace. While some dogs may do just fine with repeating PDQs, many will quickly become more afraid of the very thing you’re attempting to teach them is safe. Repeated exposure to something that is too scary for your dog is not a good idea.
But wait – isn’t that what separation anxiety training is all about?
Yes and no. While we certainly want to expose our dogs to the things that scare them, and we use repetition to do this, we want the intensity to be so low that they notice but are not too worried. This is where it can be really helpful to work with an expert since I can evaluate how your dog is feeling and help you decide when to make things harder.
Feel overwhelmed? Need help getting your dog on the right track?
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