The Believe in Your Dog Podcast

If you’ve spent a lot of time in the separation anxiety training space, you’ve probably heard the term “suspending absences.” And if you’re particularly astute, you’ve figured out what that means: You essentially stop leaving your dog home alone. In this episode of the Believe in Your Dog Podcast, I’m taking a deep dive with my colleague Jane Wolff of Good Wolff on the subject. And like most things related to separation anxiety, it’s nuanced. It requires you to get curious about your...

To be prepared is half the victory. -Miguel de Cervantes The purpose of this podcast is to empower you to take the reins on your own separation anxiety training journey. Resolving separation anxiety is a lofty goal–one that is complex and messy even under the guidance of a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer. With that in mind, I want to be sure you are prepared as you DIY this endeavor. When obstacles inevitably confront you along your journey, I want you to remember that they are ...

What does enrichment have to do with separation anxiety training? If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably heard me say that work-to-eat toys aren’t a cure-all for separation anxiety. And I stand by that. So why have I devoted a podcast to the topic of enrichment? Here’s the thing: Enrichment is about more than work-to-eat toys, and separation anxiety training is about more than suspending absences and going at your dog’s pace. Enrichment is about meeting your dog’s species-specif...

“It depends.” That’s often the last thing that frustrated dog guardians want to hear in their search for answers. And as much as we want to give them the black-and-white responses they’re after, Certified Separation Anxiety Trainers (CSATS) often can’t. Because it really does depend when it comes to separation anxiety training. In this podcast episode, special guest Ally Verba of Training with Allyand I discuss why this is often case: Because every dog is a study of one. Coo...

Don’t we need to see the behavior to know how to change it? Before I decided to specialize exclusively in separation anxiety, I fielded this question a lot. Many of my clients with aggressive dogs in particular strongly believed that I needed to see Fido snapping at visitors to successfully change the behavior. The case can certainly be made (as I did many times) that it isn’t necessary (or ethical) to put dogs and people in danger and risk a bite solely for the purpose of observation. Especi...

I’ve never been a big fan of labels. I have blogged about why they can be problematic. But I also recognize that they can be innocuous, and in some cases, helpful. When it comes to separation anxiety training, getting clear on the terminology is important. It’s important because a clear understanding of what specific triggers are at play is imperative in planning and executing a successful training protocol. And labels like separation anxiety, isolation distress and fe...

Sometimes it just doesn’t feel possible. As soon as you think you’re on the right track with training, your dog destroys the door frame or your neighbors report that the howling persisted for the entire 6 hours you were away. And you once again feel deflated. I am here to tell you that separation anxiety is treatable. And while the process isn’t easy, it is doable. With my guidance and a hefty dose of trust in the process, my clients are regaining their freedom and ending their do...