Leaving your dog home alone doesn’t have to be stressful!
What is separation anxiety?
“Separation anxiety” is most commonly used as an umbrella term to describe a variety of challenges dogs experience when alone. This can include clinical separation anxiety (fear of separation from one key person), isolation distress (fear of being alone), confinement distress (fear of crates, etc.), FOMO (fear of missing out), and more!
What these dogs experience is similar to human phobias like fear of spiders or flying. The fear may not be rational—you always come home! But anxiety does not know logic. This can result in behaviors like destruction, ongoing vocalizations, house soiling, and more. Studies show that about 17% of dogs experience this!
How is separation anxiety treated?
In a nutshell, by carefully exposing your dog to alone time that they can handle! As your dog becomes comfortable, the difficulty is raised to their new tolerance, little by little.
No need for punishment devices, no need for treats!
Since V needs to observe your dog while they're home alone, training meetings are all virtual. That way, every exposure session and progress assessment feels and looks like "real life" to your dog.
How can I leave without my dog during training?
There are a lot of ways to make sure your dog is okay when you have to leave them alone! The best way to ensure training will be as efficient and effective as possible is to plan ahead to make sure they are not experiencing the fear, anxiety, or stress of being left alone for longer than they are able to handle. V can help you strategize to make this realistic for you.
Some examples of solutions include leaving your dog with friends, family, or neighbors, working from home, bringing your dog to work, ordering curbside pickup and bringing your dog with you, choosing dog-friendly activities, hiring a pet sitter, using a doggy daycare, networking with your community, medications from your veterinarian, to name only a few!
As your dog becomes comfortable being alone, the need for these will be lessened and eventually eliminated. Until then, we get creative!
Getting Started
The Initial Assessment
$225 USD
All dogs behave differently when anxious, so the first step of the recovery process is an Initial Assessment which includes:
90 minute meeting with V
Review of your dog’s history
Discussion of behavior goals
Absence assessment
V’s recommendations for your unique dog
Recording of absence assessment
Detailed report for your vet and/or behavior vet
Answers to your questions
Additional resources if applicable
A plan to move forward!
As Needed Help
Follow Up Consultations
$150 USD/1-hour consultation
Prerequisite: Initial Assessment
Follow up consultations are for further guidance, recommendations, and assistance after the Initial Assessment or after going through the Separation Anxiety Recovery Program. Follow ups include:
60 minute meeting with V
Discussion of your training since last consultation
Review of your training goals
Reassessment to determine training progress
V’s recommendations for your unique dog
Recording of assessment
Updated report for your vet and/or behavior vet
Answers to your questions
A plan to move forward!
Intensive Help
Separation Anxiety Recovery Program
$800 USD/4-week semester
Prerequisite: Initial Assessment
The Separation Anxiety Recovery Program allows V to provide you with customized, one-on-one guidance and support throughout your dog’s recovery journey.
Progress goes at your dog's pace. Because of this, the program is structured in 4-week semesters, which include:
Daily step-by-step training plans (aka "Missions")
Daily feedback and review of completed missions
Weekly meetings to reassess your dog's progress
Recordings of reassessments
Data tracking and progress monitoring
Detailed reports for your vet or behavior vet
Answers to your questions
Ongoing support and troubleshooting
This program takes away all the guesswork—so you can feel confident every step of the way!
You deserve to have a certified expert who will listen to you, empathize with what you are experiencing, understand your concerns, stay realistic in the face of big emotions, and dig deep to help your dog reach their full potential.
Questions? Ready to get started?
“Victoria was SO thorough, thoughtful, and encouraging when it came to making Jake’s training plan and giving me actionable instructions for his sessions. … Not only that, she’s taught me a lot about Jake’s behavior/body language and how to gain his trust, which has immensely strengthened my bond with him!”
— Sharon & Jake 💜