Three MUST HAVES to begin separation anxiety training!
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Today I’m going to share the 3 MUST HAVES to begin separation anxiety training!
#1: A good understanding of canine body language!
Each dog is an individual in how they express themselves, their eyes, ears, tails, etc. Write down everything you can observe about your dog when they are happy. Now what does your dog look like when they are sad, scared, or upset? Notice how their body language changes. A good understanding of your dog’s body language will help you determine how your dog feels about a situation or environment.
Recommendation: Lili Chin’s book: Doggie Language.
#2: A camera!
A camera is crucial to be able to watch your dog during training and while you are away! This is where your understanding of your dog’s body language becomes important. During training you want to prevent your dog from having a scary experience by always keeping them under their fear threshold. If the training becomes too difficult and they are pushed too far, your dog will start to show fear through their body language. To prevent your dog’s fear from escalating into panic, stop or pause training as soon as you notice their body language changing. Having a good understanding of your dog’s body language and a camera to watch for subtle changes will set you up for successful separation anxiety training!
Recommendation:
Good quality and inexpensive: Wyze (I use this camera brand)
Dog specific: Furbo
Free option: Start a Zoom meeting and join from two of your own devices
#3: Access to science-based training!
There is a lot of misinformation on the internet. The most crucial aspect of teaching your dog to feel safe being home alone is access to the most up to date, science-based information on canine learning. The two main training certifications to look for specific to canine separation anxiety training are SAPro (certified separation anxiety professional trainer) and CSAT (certified separation anxiety trainer). I am an SAPro and I am committed to education to be able to give my clients the most up to date and accurate information to help their dogs overcome separation anxiety! Find out more about our separation anxiety online program here!
Ready to get started on your separation anxiety training journey? Join our separation anxiety online program today!