Having a dog with separation anxiety can feel overwhelming, but there are a lot of resources available to help you, starting with your vet. Many dogs with separation anxiety benefit enormously from medications that treat anxiety. While the meds don’t solve the problem on their own, they can make the training much easier. So the first thing I suggest to clients is to talk to their vets about medical options for their dogs. Your vet can explain how the meds work, what side effects you may see, and how long it can take to be effective.
There are also several books that provide in-depth information about separation anxiety and its treatment. Julie Naismith’s Be Right Back! details her journey helping her dog overcome his separation anxiety. The book includes sample training plans and examples of successful outcomes. Naismith also designed and teaches the SA Pro certification course that I just completed.
In Separation Anxiety in Dogs Malena DeMartini-Price defines separation anxiety, describes its symptoms, and outlines its treatment. She includes case studies written by graduates of her Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer program to demonstrate how the process works across a range of dogs.
Patricia McConnell, author of so many training books, has also written about separation anxiety in I’ll Be Home Soon. Like Naismith and DeMartini-Price, McConnell defines separation anxiety, explains how to distinguish it from home alone boredom, and maps out a plan for treatment.
Finally, now that I'm officially a Certified SA Pro Trainer, I’ll be launching my separation anxiety package in the fall. It will include an initial assessment via Zoom, weekly virtual training sessions, five training plans a week, and review of your training videos. My goal is to educate my clients while we work together so that they feel empowered to continue the training on their own.
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