How to help a dog with separation anxiety?

Find a certified separation anxiety trainer to guide you through the process of teaching your dog to feel safe being home alone! The Ardent Dog separation anxiety online course: Separation Anxiety Solutions teaches you the science and techniques to implement to help your dog overcome separation anxiety.

How to treat separation anxiety in dogs?

The best method to treat separation anxiety is desensitization. You should gradually desensitize your dog to your absence to help them overcome their fear of being alone. Your dog must feel safe during each absence in order to change their feelings about being alone. We want them to feel safe, not scared. Separation Anxiety Solutions provides training plan templates to gradually expose your dog to being left alone in the house.

How to fix separation anxiety in dogs?

There is no quick fix to treating separation anxiety in dogs. The best route to behavior change is targeted desensitization training from a certified separation anxiety trainer. Separation Anxiety Solutions provides you with science-based information from a certified separation anxiety training professional to help your dog feel safe being home alone.

What is separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety is a fear-based panic disorder of being left alone. Separation anxiety is defined by a set of separation-related problem behaviors. These problem behaviors only happen when the owner isn’t home or if they do happen, they become problematic when the owner isn’t home by increasing in duration and intensity. Examples of separation-related problem behaviors: panting, pacing, drooling, salivating, vomiting, hypervigilance, frantic destruction, escape attempts, self-harm, shaking, or inappropriate elimination. These are a few examples but there could be more.

Did I cause my dog’s separation anxiety?

No! You did not cause your dog’s separation anxiety. Many dog parents feel guilt that they caused their dog’s separation anxiety. There is a lot of misinformation out there that blames dog parents. We may never truly know the reason your dog developed separation anxiety, but we do know that you are not at fault. See our blog post for more details about this common myth.

How long does it take to overcome separation anxiety?

Every dog is different and there is no way to predict how long it will take for your dog to overcome separation anxiety. It is usually a process that takes months, rather than weeks. It will depend on many factors including your dog’s history and genetics. We recommend training 4-5 times per week and the training sessions usually last around 30 min. per day. We are here to support you through the process.

How is training conducted?

All training is done online! The online course is self-study, so you can learn and practice training on your own schedule.

What is included in your online course?

Our online course includes lifetime access to course content and lifetime access to our private course community group! In our private group you can gain feedback from your trainer and other students learning to help their dog become comfortable with alone time.

Does the course have accessible content?

Yes! Each video lesson contains a downloadable transcript and closed caption.

Does the online program include hands on support?

Yes! When you enroll in the course you are also become a member of our Separation Anxiety Solutions Course Community! In the course community, you will be able to ask questions and post videos for feedback from your trainer! You will also have support from the other students in the community.

When does the course start?

Right away! This course is completely self-study. As soon as you purchase, you will receive a welcome email with the link to access your course!

How long does it take to complete the online course?

The online course usually takes on average 2 weeks to complete. You will have lifetime access so you can complete the course completely on your own schedule! Once you complete the course you will have all the information you need to begin separation anxiety training with your pup!

What type of training equipment do I need?

We ask that you have a camera to view your dog in while training and Zoom, if you have purchased additional support. I recommend the camera brand Wyze. They are affordable, good quality, and connect to an app on your phone. It can be very helpful to invest in a camera specifically to watch your dog during absences, but you can also use a laptop, phone, or tablet.

Do I have to suspend absences?

For the best results, we do ask that you suspend any absences. The key to separation anxiety training is to keep your dog from having a stressful experience while they are trying to overcome their fear of being alone. If they are left alone and panic, this could be a setback to training. If you do have to leave your dog, we recommend finding a sitter, doggy day care, or having a friend or relative care for your dog.

Does my puppy need separation anxiety training?

Home alone training is an essential skill for all dogs! I recommend most puppies go through training to learn how to feel safe being home alone. Although it is more rare, a young puppy can have true separation anxiety. Our online program is perfect for both anxious and non-anxious puppies to learn to feel safe being home alone!

Can you guarantee success?

We cannot make any guarantees. Every dog is an individual and while we give you all the information to help your dog, no outcome can ever be guaranteed.