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Separation Anxiety & Reactivity: Which Should I Work On First?

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Help! Which Should I Work On First? The overwhelm when a dog has multiple challenges is real! I frequently encourage guardians to pick one to manage (prevent/avoid) and one to focus on so they do not burn out with too much training on their plate at once.  The answer is.... It depends. Every situation is a little different! Luckily, there are some questions you can ask yourself to determine which issue to address first.  Can my dog stay with other people comfortably enough to manage absences? During separation anxiety training it's crucial to suspend scary absences in order to make progress. It is very difficult to teach a dog that being alone is safe if they continue to have unsafe alone time. Your dog will need to be comfortable with the people who will be caring for them when you do have to leave them.  If your dog needs a lot of time to warm up to people and doesn't currently have people they can stay with, I recommend building their inner circle of caretakers first and
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Putting Safety First: The Hidden Dangers of Indestructible Crates for Dogs with Separation Anxiety

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  The crate may be indestructible, but your dog is not! Our cherished canine companions are more than just pets; they're family. When dealing with the challenges of separation anxiety in dogs , we naturally want the best for them. Ensuring their well-being and safety is paramount. However, indestructible crates seem to be one of the most common and harmful recommendations on the internet right now. My stomach sinks every time I see this in dog Facebook groups. The intention is usually to prevent the dog from breaking out of the crate, hurting themselves, or destroying the house. However, it does nothing to relieve the intense panic the dog is experiencing on a daily basis and can be a false sense of security. Have you ever considered that the well-intentioned use of indestructible crates may inadvertently jeopardize the safety and welfare of our anxious pups?   In this article, we'll explore the hidden dangers of such crates, how they can cause chronic stress in dogs, and the w
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12 signs of Separation Anxiety: Identification & Intervention

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The symptoms of dog separation anxiety can range from blatantly obvious to subtle signs you may not notice right away. If you think your dog may have separation anxiety, and you're not sure where to start, take a deep breath, and read on. Signs that your dog may be experiencing separation anxiety Excessive vocalization Destructive behavior Potty accidents  Panting Hypersalivation  Pacing Trembling Over-grooming: Creating reddish/brown staining or bald spots in their fur. Self-mutilation: Such as chewing themselves until they bleed. Escape behavior resulting in self-trauma: Frantically trying to escape a crate, room, or the house in general. Generally around windows or doorways. Food refusal Water refusal Questions to ask yourself to discern if what you're seeing is actually separation anxiety If your dog is crated "Does this happen when the dog is outside of the crate too?" If not, your dog may be experiencing a fear of confinement rather than separation anxiety.  &q
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Location: United States
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6 Ways To Meet Your Dogs Needs: Behavior Problem Prevention & Treatment

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I promised everyone a deeper dive into meeting our dogs needs in my last blog series about nurturing a secure attachment with your dog . Having a fantastic relationship with your dog is also one of their very important needs, so if you haven't read the Secure Attachment Series , I encourage you to do so! If you're still following along, your dog thanks you for being curious!   When you think about how to prevent dog behavior problems what comes to mind?... When asked this question, most pet owners will say that the secret sauce is dog training or obedience training. However, training is unlikely to prevent big feelings if we are not also meeting our dogs needs. If we are not considering their side of things. If we are not providing them with species appropriate outlets and care. If we are not giving them those outlets, they're likely going to find their own outlets, and you probably won't like the outlets they choose. This is when behavior "problems" can ari
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Location: United States
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Nurturing A Secure Attachment With Your Dog: The Person's End Of The Leash

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  I hope you found value in my last blog about how to nurture a secure attachment from the dog's POV. If you haven't read it yet, I encourage you to click this link before you dive into this post so you can understand what I mean by this and why it's so incredibly important. How you feel about your dog is important. It sets the tone for everything and can make or break your dog guardianship experience. Here are some actionable tips to help you nurture a secure attachment with your dog! 1. Shift your mindset about your dog's behavior. Shifting your mindset can completely change the game in your relationship with your dog. We need to recognize that dog's are an entirely different species than us and are often struggling to fit into our human-centric world. They have different social norms, wants, needs, life experiences, and genetic drives. They communicate solely through their behavior. Their behavior is all they have.  Consider that jumping, barking, growling, pulli
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Nurturing A Secure Attachment With Your Dog: The Dogs POV

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What do we mean by "secure attachment" anyway? "Secure attachment refers to a bond where individuals feel safe, supported, and connected, enabling them to express emotions freely, seek comfort from their partner, and confidently explore their environment knowing they have a reliable base to return to." - Misha Jan (Carleton University) So why does this matter so much in our relationships with our dogs? "Dogs have been shown to develop attachment bonds with humans. This relationship allows them to interact securely with their environment in the presence of the owner and show less distress in response to threatening events...  Owner attitudes have been connected to dog behavior and stress, insecure human–dog relationships may be related to poor stress coping in dogs, thereby compromising welfare and contributing to relinquishment... Additionally, owners who are predisposed to view their interactions with their dog as negative may be more likely to fall victim to
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Location: United States
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