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What are Amy's clients saying?
What are Amy's clients saying?
"Amy was extremely patient and made sure to focus on what we needed help on the most. We can't thank Amy enough for giving us the tools and knowledge to understand and help our dog." - Megan
"Virtual meetings are so useful, because pup focuses on the humans & Amy is able to see her reaction in real time - without distractions." - Breé
"Thank you Amy!! I highly recommend going through her program! She gives you so much information and instruction! Amy knows what she is talking about when it comes to training and gives you insight into the psychology of why animals behave the way they do. She tailors the training to meet the individual needs of the dog and family! 5 STARS and HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!" - Ali
What is Separation Anxiety?
What is Separation Anxiety?
If your dog is experiencing Separation Anxiety, they have a fear of being left alone. They will display physical changes, such as an increase in heart rate, increase in breath rate, sweating, adrenaline will flood to their muscles - their body is preparing for this emergency situation. They are in fight/flight mode. Your dog may display various physical behaviors, such as running around, tail down, panting, whining, barking, urinating and defecating, attempts to dig or bite their way out of the situation, and other concerning behaviors which are expressions of their underlying fear.
How long does it take to work through Separation Anxiety?
How long does it take to work through Separation Anxiety?
Working through separation anxiety takes time. It is a phobia, and similar to human fears and phobias, it takes time to address the emotions and underlying associations (think months, not weeks). Added to that every single dog is different, in their outward signs and the pace that they are able to work through the program. It is not in the same category as teaching a dog to drop an item or to walk loosely on a leash. It takes a lot of skill, time and patience to work through a separation anxiety program, it's not easy and there are so many elements to be aware of.
How do we address Separation Anxiety?
How do we address Separation Anxiety?
We often spend a lot of time teaching our dogs specific behaviors, like sitting when greeting or walking politely on leash. When supporting them through Separation Anxiety, we are not teaching a dog to do something - we don’t worry as much about what behavior the dog is displaying, but rather we are focused on what the dog feels during a situation, changing their association to being at home alone without someone there from one of nervousness to one of safety.
Is it normal for my puppy or young dog to have separation anxiety?
Is it normal for my puppy or young dog to have separation anxiety?
In nature, juvenile dogs through about 1 year of age would be staying closer to the adult group, then start to experiment with some alone time. As social animals, humans and dogs experience some normal stress when separated from their social group. This attachment to each other and our pets is a normal and healthy safety mechanism for survival. It is normal for our puppy and younger adolescent dogs to not have the skills or desire to be alone, it’s not natural for them. As part of their development they will learn to process and self-balance their nervous system concerns during alone time as they mature. It is not unusual for some to need additional support during this learning.
Why is my pet experiencing Separation Anxiety?
Why is my pet experiencing Separation Anxiety?
According to the latest manual “Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat” (2024, Landsberg, Radosta, Ackerman), what was previously diagnosed as separation anxiety is shifting to be recognized as a cluster of disorders related to separation and isolation from attachment figures, such as social group members, family members, human or animal. Dogs with separation related distress exhibit signs of anxiety, fear, frustration, phobia, or panic when they do not have access to attachment figures. Up to 33% of dogs display signs of this, although separation related distress is grossly understudied. There are no definitive causes yet identified, although studies indicate there may be components including genetics, method of training used, early weeks/months of the dog including shelters and mass breeders, and the early health of the puppy. Treatment modalities include general wellness, neurochemical modulation, management, and behavioral treatments, remembering one size does not fit all. FOMO, or Fear of Missing Out, is real, and we use the same protocol to help your dog learn they actually can relax on their own
What type of professional help is available through Free Will Animal Training?
What type of professional help is available through Free Will Animal Training?
Our professional approach includes a training protocol, management, and potential communication with your veterinary professional. We will conduct a complete functional assessment to determine whether your dog is experiencing true Separation Anxiety, or whether there may be other sources of their concern, such as noise sensitivity, confinement sensitivity, general pain or anxiety concerns, or a combination of any of these.
Step 1: Virtual New Client Counseling Session
Our first step is to determine the source(s) of concern for your dog, to hopefully find additional ways to reduce their concern and find them relief without diving into the full separation anxiety desensitization/counterconditioning protocol. This may be all you need! The full protocol works, but is intense, takes a lot of time, and is not easy on us humans (although it’s easy on the dogs - we never put them in a stressful situation). We would love to find some relief, maybe even enough relief, with adjusting their environment, our behavior/knowledge, or their coping skills without diving into the protocol.
This first session will dive into the knowledge of our dog’s autonomic nervous system, their observable body language, what that may indicate they are experiencing when we observe certain behavior, and initial action items to implement to help them feel more comfortable, in general. This foundation of health, safety, and creating predictable patterns to help them access their natural coping skills is critical to their success during absences.
Investment $250
Step 2: Absence Threshold Assessment
An initial 1 hour Absence Assessment (to see where we’re starting from, and whether the dog has true separation anxiety, or may be more concerned about confinement, noise, or has another concern) - the result of this may indicate SA is not the concern. We will conduct a live, recorded alone-time assessment, discussion of the behaviors observed, and recommendations of next step options. If it is determined that your dog is truly experiencing some form of separation distress, then our protocol provides the daily structure of the safe and predictable desensitization/counterconditioning process.
Investment $150
Step 3: Full service Separation Anxiety coaching package, 2 weeks, initial
Includes:
1 hour - your first absence exercise walk through and support live (free with your first 2-week package)
Daily absence exercise video review and planning (5-6 per week with 1-2 days off)
2 live/virtual absence reassessments, conducted at the end of each week cycle
Daily coaching
Investment $550
Step 4 (option 1): Full service coaching package, 2 weeks, renewal
This full service 2-week package can be renewed for as many 2-week periods as you would like.
Includes:
Daily absence exercise video review and planning (5-6 per week with 1-2 days off)
2 live/virtual absence reassessments, conducted at the end of each week cycle
Daily coaching
Investment $550
Step 4 (option 2): Skills transfer, 2 weeks
We are happy to customize our coaching and support to meet your educational interests (once you have completed your first 2-week package). If you would like to learn how to create your own daily exercises, we can provide daily review and coaching of your own work, without the weekly absence reassessments, for a 2-week period
Often when families are comfortable with the protocol, and have been receiving full support for several weeks, they are interested in learning how to do more of the daily planning and analysis themselves - we would love to help you learn more of the skills and become self-sufficient with supporting your dog
Investment $250
Recheck
We are happy to schedule a live, virtual check-in anytime into the future, if you would like a coached absence reassessment
Investment $150
Can I do this myself?
Can I do this myself?
Here are the best available books detailing the protocol recommended by veterinary behaviorists.
Books/Articles:
Malena DeMartini-Price (she created the CSAT Certified Separation Anxiety Trainers program):
2020 Separation Anxiety in Dogs: Next Generation Treatment Protocols and Practices
2014 Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Julie Naismith (CSAT): Be Right Back (there’s a wonderful facebook group guided by her also)
Patricia McConnell, PhD: I’ll be home soon! (short and sweet)
James O’Heare: Separation Distress and Dogs (all-out geekiness, wonderful for trainers as additional reference information)
Videos:
American College of Veterinary Behaviorists: My Dog Cannot Be Left Alone
Causes, signs the initial steps to take to help your dog with Separation Anxiety, Nancy Tucker, 37 minute video
Vet Med Corner, Dr. Em: A Guide to Understanding Pet Separation Anxiety, Part 1, Part 2
Is it really separation anxiety?, Moira Hechenleitner, DVM, CSAT, Every Dog Behavior and Training/Maddie’s Fund grant
The truth about regressions: normal but not easy, Hannah Thiemann, June 2024
I need a little more assistance with the learning process, but would like to do most of this myself.
I need a little more assistance with the learning process, but would like to do most of this myself.
We understand! This online course is extremely comprehensive, and will give you the tools, data collection process, and provide examples and case studies of how to conduct your own Separation Anxiety protocol. We have taken the course ourselves, and it is excellent!
Online - Moira Hechenleitner Vergara (CSAT): Online Separation Anxiety training, extremely in depth course designed for trainers and owners, Investment $325
We highly recommend you consider our New Client Counseling Session as well, to provide you with additional information on your dog’s nervous system processing, canine body language, and to obtain initial action items to take to help your dog right away.
I need professional help - now what?
I need professional help - now what?
Wonderful! This is where we come in. We provide several options for ongoing support. We use a proven, structured, systematic approach to helping you provide relief to your dog when you are gone. This is based on Malena DeMartini’s protocol. See above for next steps or contact us below!
Have more questions? Let's chat!
Have more questions? Let's chat!
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