Many dogs, young and old, struggle with their owners leaving the house without them. And while the COVID-19 lockdown has meant we've all been able to spend some quality time with our dogs, 24/7, what happens when things get back to normal? The kids go back to school and mum & dad go back to work? Maybe your dog will cope fine with these sudden absences, but what if they don't?
What does separation anxiety look like? It is different for every dog but can include (although not limited to) barking, whining, howling, panting, drooling, soiling and destruction of household items (especially near exit points or windows). It's very stressful for the dog and just as much so for you, the owner, especially if you are getting complaints from your neighbours or, even worse, your local council.
To help owners with this very upsetting and problematic issue, we have put our time in isolation to good use, studying to become a specialist in addressing cases of separation anxiety. We'll be officially launching at the end of June but are taking inquiries right now for those who need it.
We are expecting to be inundated with cries for help once the true extent of separation anxiety cases becomes apparent as people start returning to normal daily life and their dogs find themselves home alone for extended periods of time.
The good news is the training is all done online with simple easy-to-understand step-by-step structured programs tailored specifically for your dog. We do not take a blanket approach to this type of training as each dog is different and progresses at different levels.