When helping a dog with separation anxiety, every part of the process matters. These principles work together as one whole approach, not a checklist to dip in and out of. Following all ten consistently gives dogs the best chance to feel calm and confident when alone. It truly can be done. 1. Separation Anxiety Is a Panic Issue Dogs with separation anxiety are not being naughty or defiant. They are experiencing real panic, much like a human panic attack. The behaviours that follow, such as...

Many guardians working through separation anxiety training reach a stage where they feel trapped by the process itself. Driving away, truly driving away, can seem impossible unless someone else is there to stay with the dog. At some point, the walls start to feel as though they’re closing in. The freedom to pop out on a whim disappears, replaced by constant monitoring and anxious glances at the video feed. For some, that moment of realisation comes when the idea of watching one more...

This is a coming-out story, but maybe not the kind you’d expect. It’s the story of a dog trainer who couldn’t fix her own dog. There, it’s out. People say hair stylists don’t do their own hair, teachers don’t teach their own children every subject, and dentists don’t fill their own cavities. But when you’re a dog trainer, it feels different. It’s a point of pride that your dogs greet guests politely, perform a few clever tricks, never eat questionable things in the garden, and certainly don’t...