Certified separation anxiety training and dog behavior consultations
When your dog’s anxiety is running your life — panicking when you leave, destroying the house, reacting on walks, or showing aggression that keeps escalating — generic training often isn’t enough. I’m Maria Carini, a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), and I look beyond the visible behavior to understand what’s actually driving it, using science-based methods that don’t rely on fear or punishment. Remote sessions in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.
*Available online worldwide and in person in Europe.
Certified & Recognized By
Complex canine anxiety, addressed two ways
Whether your dog panics the moment you leave, or the fear shows up as reactivity, aggression, or trouble adapting — it’s the same underlying specialty. Here’s where to start.
Before I recommend a plan, I look at the whole picture — behavior, body, environment, and routine. An anxious or reactive dog is rarely explained by one simple cause.
Separation Anxiety
- Does your dog panic when you leave?
- Does your dog destroy your house when you leave?
- Does your dog whine and bark non stop when left alone?
A certified separation anxiety trainer focuses on gradual confidence building and settling support. I help you guide your dog to feel safe and confident when home alone. Through step-by-step, science-based techniques, we reduce your dog’s anxiety and build emotional security, so you can leave the house knowing they’re calm and relaxed.
Complex Anxiety & Reactive Behavior
- Is your dog struggling to navigate the world?
- Is the dog not adapting to a new home?
- Do you feel you could be doing more for your pup?
Whether you are dealing with leash reactivity, fear-based aggression, or a rescue dog with a traumatic past, we look beyond the surface. Our approach combines behavior assessments, underlying health and emotional factors, and cognitive enrichment to give you the tools that help your dog thrive in the real world.
Which kind of support fits your dog?
Anxiety can show up in different ways. See which situation sounds most familiar.
| Separation Anxiety |
Complex Anxiety & Reactive Behavior |
|
|---|---|---|
| It may look like… | Your dog’s biggest struggle happens when you leave or prepare to leave. | Fear or anxiety shows up across everyday situations such as walks, visitors, dogs, people or new environments. |
| Common signs |
|
|
| The goal | Build your dog’s ability to cope with being alone without pushing them into panic. | Understand what may be driving the behavior, reduce escalation and make everyday life easier. |
| How we approach it | Gradual, individualized desensitization with regular review and support. | Look at the whole picture: behavior, history, emotional state, environment, routine and relevant physical context. |
Not sure which sounds like your dog? That’s okay.
A call where we will talk through what’s going on with your dog, what you’ve already tried, and which path, if Separation Anxiety or Complex Anxiety Coaching, fits best with you
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I will never say no but it will depend on the type of behavior issues and my knowledge at the time, but I will certainly be honest and won’t waste your time if I can’t. Otherwise, I will commit to helping you and your dog overcome any challenges. For instance, excessive barking, destructive chewing, aggression (towards people or other dogs), leash pulling and difficult walks, socialization challenges are some areas I can help with. Every dog is different, so we take the time to figure out what’s causing the behavior and find long-term solutions, not just quick fixes.
Training and medication aren’t either/or, they often work best together. I’m not a veterinarian and can’t prescribe medication, but I can help you recognize when a vet or veterinary behaviorist consult may be worth exploring alongside training.
Depending on the area, in-person can be possible. Otherwise, our services can also be 100% remote, which means we can help dogs and owners anywhere in the world!
It’s easy! First, book a free 15-minute intro call to talk about your dog’s needs. From there, we offer different packages to suit you and your dog’s needs.
We offer remote consultations in Spanish, Portuguese, English, and Italian so we can help you no matter where you are and what language you speak! Our sessions are designed to be flexible and supportive. If you’re curious, you can book a free 15-minute chat to see if we’re a good fit.
Yes, when there’s a clear plan in place. Part of the initial assessment is understanding exactly what happened and building safety measures, like management strategies, muzzle training if needed, around that specific history.
At Fluent Fido, we help you better understand and communicate with your dog. Our services include:
Behavioral consultations to address issues like barking, aggression, and anxiety.
Positive reinforcement training tailored to your dog’s unique needs.
Guidance on body language so you can “speak dog” more fluently.
A holistic approach that considers your dog’s physical and emotional well-being.
We focus on positive reinforcement and stress-free methods— that means no punishments, no harsh corrections and no aversive methods of any kind. Many people tell me this method takes too long but you need to look at it like you would changing a habit like exercising or quit smoking. This takes time and so does training to help your dog improve their emotional regulation. How? well, by rewarding good behavior, providing enrichment, and helping you create a safe and happy space for your dog. Our goal is to build a strong, trusting bond between you and your pup
What people are saying about Fluent Fido:
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Ready to unleash a happier, more harmonious relationship with your furry friend? Contact Fluent Fido today and let’s start wagging tails together!