You Don’t Have To Live Like This.
Freedom is Possible.
Separation Anxiety Training in Western North Carolina and
Online Worldwide
What is Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety in dogs is the extreme fear or phobia of being left alone. Their intense emotional distress results in behavior that is out of their control – vocalization, elimination, destruction, and self-mutilation. These dogs are having a physiological response similar to that of a human panic attack. Unfortunately, dogs with SA don’t get better without treatment and often get worse.
There is hope!
Thousands of dogs have recovered with our proven process and your dog can too!
What does Separation Anxiety look like?
Constant Vocalization
whining, whimpering, barking, howling
Urination and/or Defecation
in the house when your dog is housetrained
Panting, Pacing, Drooling
before you leave and/or during your absence
Destruction
at exit points – windows, door frames, floors
Self-Inflicted Wounds
from constant licking or chewing
Self-Inflicted Wounds
from constant licking or chewing
These are all symptoms of the underlying issue: fear.
Our process is about changing your dog’s feelings about alone time and as a result the symptoms will go away.
What Is the Process For Helping My Dog Overcome Separation Anxiety?
1.
Systematic Desensitization:
Expose your dog to alone time in small increments that isn’t scary to them, then gradually increase the duration over time.
2.
Absence Suspension:
Commit to never leaving your dog alone for longer than they can handle, as panic can undo the training progress.
3.
Dedication:
Patience and persistence is a critical component to your dog’s success. The training will take time, but we will be there with you every step of the way.
Are You Ready to Start The Process?
Choose Your Starting Point
Option #1
Initial 30-Minute Call
Schedule a call to discuss you and your dog’s individual situation
During Our Call, We Will Help You:
- Gain a clearer understanding of separation anxiety and what your dog is going through
- Learn more about the process for treating separation anxiety
- Get all your questions answered
*The full amount of your Initial Call will be credited toward your first four-week training package.
Investment: $75
Option #2
Initial Consultation & Video Assessment
Schedule a consultation to gain a deeper understanding of how to help your dog
During Our Consultation We Will:
- Take a deep dive into your dog’s history and discuss your goals for their treatment
- Provide a thorough explanation of separation anxiety, our training protocol, and the recovery process
- Conduct a live video assessment to observe your dog’s behavior when you leave
- Establish a starting point for training and work out the details for your dog’s treatment plan
- Preview the Google Doc that we use to communicate with you and execute your daily training plan
- Provide you with all the necessary information to make the best decision for you and your dog.
*The full amount of your Initial Consult & Assessment will be credited toward your first four-week training package.
Investment: $265
Option #3
Book A Package!
Are you ready to dive right in? Choose your package and we’ll get you started on your path to freedom!
All Packages Include:
- Initial consultation & live video assessment of your dog
- Daily personalized training plans prepared for you 5 days per week
- Detailed data tracking of your dog’s progress
- Daily support, feedback & encouragement to keep you on the road to success
- Weekly live video reassessment to measure your dog’s current threshold and adjust training accordingly
- Weekly 1:1 time to talk to your trainer, address challenges and answer your questions
Platinum
12-week Support Package
Investment: $2250
Gold
8-week Support Package
Investment: $1600
Silver
4-week Support Package
Investment: $925
Changing your dog’s big feelings doesn’t happen overnight.
Just like with humans, it takes time for dogs to learn a new skill
and overcome their fears about being away from you.
Did You Know Separation Anxiety Training
is Best When Done Virtually?
Separation anxiety training is unique in that the trainer doesn’t need to be in your home to assess your dog and observe your absences, instead our protocol is benefited by the use of video conferencing technology.
If we come to your home, it changes the whole dynamic for your dog and doesn’t simulate a real life scenario. By using video conferencing we’re able to watch your dog in their normal, natural environment, in real time!
The technology is simple, you need a webcam on your laptop or tablet, your smart phone, the video conferencing tool, Zoom, and reliable internet. That’s it, you are ready to go!
How To Get Started:
Choose Your Path To Freedom
A Call, Consultation, or Package
Complete Our Questionnaire
and Book a Time That Works for You
Breathe A Sigh Of Relief
That You Are Headed Towards Freedom For You and Your Dog
Dog Guardians Who’ve Found Freedom!
“We had an incredible experience with Jenna, everything more than exceeded our expectations! After an initial consultation, she formulated a personalized yet flexible plan to help our dog with his separation anxiety. She quickly became attuned to our dog’s behavior and was able to tailor his plan to suit his needs. On our weekly check-ins, she provided invaluable feedback based on what she’d observed, and her positive attitude definitely kept us going. By the end of our time with Jenna, our dog’s separation anxiety had dramatically improved, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results of her training!”
–Nick Yam & Anita H.
“Jenna gave us invaluable tools and ongoing moral support to tackle Slate Grey’s separation anxiety. When we started the program Slate’s separation threshold was in the seconds, but after eight weeks that had increased to over two hours. I truly feel so grateful and couldn’t be happier knowing that we did it in a way that focused on her emotional well-being.”
-Lucas C.
“Jenna was awesome! She used her extensive knowledge of dog behavior to tailor Walter’s training; making adjustments to his missions when needed. She was very in tune to Walter’s needs (and ours when we needed a little boost!). She always came up with creative solutions and was a wonderful guide. She was accommodating to our schedule, and was responsive when we had questions. We highly recommend Jenna, she really cares about you and your dog’s success!”
-Melissa H. & Angie Z.
Are You Ready to Open Your Door to Freedom?
Separation Anxiety: Fact Versus Fiction
Fiction: Just let them cry it out, they’ll get over it eventually.
Fact:
Separation-related anxiety will not resolve itself. Just like a human phobia doesn’t go away with time and needs treatment to get better, so do fears and phobias in dogs. Sadly, if left untreated separation anxiety is likely to increase in intensity and the continuous stress could lead to health issues.
Fiction: You caused your dog’s separation anxiety by spoiling them.
Fact:
You did not cause your dog’s separation anxiety by letting them sleep in your bed or giving them too much attention. Separation anxiety is typically triggered by a big life change – being relinquished at a rescue or shelter, moving to a new home, death of a person or other pet in the home, arrival of a baby, marriage, divorce, or it can simply be present from birth. So, snuggle up and enjoy your pooch!
Fiction: Your dog's progress will be linear.
Fact:
Actually, your dog’s progress will look more like a Richter scale in the beginning. There will be lots of victories accompanied by multiple setbacks, which just means your dog is normal. As with any behavior modification protocol, there will be speed bumps but it is those speed bumps that help reinforce a solid foundation for your dog’s home alone training. Regressions and plateaus are part of learning and actually necessary for learning to occur. So, call it good, regressions don’t last forever!
Fiction: Getting another dog to keep them company will relieve their separation anxiety.
Fact:
In the vast majority of cases this doesn’t work. Typically dogs with separation-related anxiety need a human present to feel safe. When considering the adoption of a new dog, be sure it is because you want two dogs and not as a solution to fix your first dog’s separation anxiety. Keep in mind that the new dog might have challenges too which makes your life more complicated! Additionally, the new dog could learn from your separation anxiety dog that alone time is scary!
Fiction: Just put your dog in a crate with a food toy.
Fact:
Although crates can be wonderful tools for some dogs, they are not the right solution for dogs with separation anxiety. A confined space often exacerbates anxiety and they can seriously injure themselves when trying to escape. In our experience dogs do much better free in the house or in an enlarged confinement space.
As for food toys, it isn’t the worst thing to give your dog a food toy when you leave but it often does not help. One of two things will happen; either your dog will be too stressed to eat or they will eat frantically until the food is gone and then immediately panic. Additionally, your dog may learn to associate their once-favorite food toy with you leaving and then no longer want that toy.