Separation Anxiety Training

Specialized & Remote Training

Gentle support for dogs with separation anxiety wherever you are.

Fear Free • Science-based • Gentle • Fully Remote

Is this program for me?

  • My dog is fine the moment I am home but falls apart the second I leave.
  • I haven’t left the house in months because I can’t bear to hear him cry.
  • I’ve tried everything I’ve read online, and nothing seems to work.
  • I feel like I’m failing my dog, no matter what I try.
  • I’ve stopped making plans because I can’t ask anyone to deal with the barking.
  • Every time I close the door, the guilt hits me before I even get in the car.
Dog experiencing separation anxiety Relaxed sleeping dog

“I just want to know:
does this actually get better?”

Yes, it can get better.
And no, separation anxiety isn’t your fault.

Is this really separation anxiety?

Not sure if this is separation anxiety, or if your dog is just still settling in? It’s a fair question—and a common one.

True separation anxiety isn’t about spite, stubbornness, or your dog “getting back at you.” It’s panic. Your dog isn’t misbehaving when you leave; they’re genuinely afraid of being left alone, even in their own home. Because the fear comes from your departure, what actually helps is very different from traditional obedience training.

It’s also completely normal for a newly adopted dog, or one who has recently gone through a major life change, to need time to adjust. Some unsettled behaviour during the first few weeks is expected and often improves naturally with routine and patience.

However, if it’s been going on for months, seems to be getting worse rather than better, or your dog shows genuine signs of panic (rather than mild whining or frustration), that’s usually a sign that additional support would help.

Either way, you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

Common signs of separation anxiety in dogs

Every dog shows it differently, but these are some of the most common signs.

🐶

Vocalisation

Barking, whining or howling that begins shortly after you leave.

🚪

Destructive Behaviour

Chewing doors, furniture or window sills, especially near exits.

💜

Stress Signals

Pacing, panting or drooling even when the environment isn’t hot.

🏠

House Soiling

Toileting indoors despite previously being reliably house-trained.

🔓

Escape Attempts

Trying to escape crates, rooms or even the house itself.

🍖

Won’t Settle

Ignoring food, enrichment toys or treats while you’re away.

Some dogs begin showing signs the moment you pick up your keys. Others appear fine at first and only struggle after they’ve been alone longer than they can cope with.

If any of this sounds familiar, an initial assessment can help identify what’s really happening with your dog—rather than relying on what’s considered “normal.”

Sleeping dog relaxing peacefully

Separation anxiety doesn’t just affect the dog.

It affects your whole life: the trips you stop taking, the friends you stop seeing, the guilt every time you close the front door, and the fear of what your dog might do when you leave the house.

I’ve worked with guardians who hadn’t left their house in months because of it.

Through remote training and a protocol built around your specific dog, we work side by side, in small steps your dog can actually handle, until being alone stops feeling like a crisis.

My Approach

The goal is simple: training should never create more fear.

As a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer, every step of the programme is designed to build your dog’s confidence without overwhelming them.

01

Gentle Progress

I never push your dog beyond what they can comfortably cope with. We build tolerance to being alone through gradual, manageable steps, always monitoring your dog’s emotional state.

02

A Personalised Plan

Every programme begins with an initial consultation, followed by a customised daily training plan designed specifically for your dog, their behaviour and your lifestyle.

03

Ongoing Support

You’ll receive regular video reviews, data analysis and weekly check-ins so we can monitor progress, make adjustments and celebrate every success together.

Does it get better?

Yes, it does. Most families begin noticing calmer, quieter and more relaxed dogs within the first few weeks. Just as importantly, they begin enjoying more freedom, more confidence and far less guilt.

Everything you need to help your dog feel safe being alone.

Two relaxed dogs

Why It Works

  • Systematic desensitization
  • Always under threshold
  • Emotional resilience
  • Science-backed
Sleeping dog

What’s Included

  • Initial consultation
  • Daily training plans
  • Video & data analysis
  • Weekly 1:1 meetings
Sleeping puppy

Results You Can Expect

  • Calmer alone-time
  • Reduced vocalization
  • Improved quality of life
  • Confidence & relief

What's included

Separation anxiety intensive

4 weeks minimum — non-negotiable, extends in further 4-week blocks or a tailored length based on progress

Calls

  • Initial assessment — 90 minutes
  • Weekly reassessment — 20–60+ minutes. I observe a live mission, then time how long your dog can be left alone.

Between-call support

  • Daily tailored missions, with feedback the same day, ahead of the next day's mission
  • WhatsApp check-ins every 1–2 days
  • Response window: working hours only, no replies after 8pm
  • Video review: 48-hour turnaround

Deliverables

  • Written behavioral plan, built from the assessment and ongoing call feedback
  • Shared Google Sheet with daily missions, feedback, and progress videos

What I need from you

  • Missions 4x/week, plus 1 weekly reassessment
  • Logging observations and relevant life or routine updates during missions
  • Reassessment data is recorded by me, not you

Not included

  • Severe aggression or level 4–5 bite cases
  • Can't start without vet clearance if your dog is unwell
  • Same-day emergencies — I'm a trainer, not a vet
  • Secondary or unrelated behavior issues (e.g. reactivity) — assessed and priced separately
After week 4 We reassess together, then either book another 4- or 8-week block, or you continue independently with your plan.

100% Remote & Stress-Free: All sessions are conducted via Zoom. This allows your dog to stay comfortable at home, prevents triggers, and lets us observe their natural behavior in a real-world setting.

Invest in Your Freedom and Their Peace

I know how hard it is to deal with separation anxiety on your own, and I don't want cost to be the reason you don't get help.

If finances are a concern, please reach out. We'll see if we can find a solution together.

Initial Consultation

€90

A one-on-one session to assess your dog's individual history, triggers and current behaviour, followed by an initial training plan tailored specifically to them.

If you continue with the 4-week Separation Anxiety Intensive, the full €90 is credited towards the programme.

Single Behaviour Consultation

€130

Perfect if you're already following your own separation anxiety programme but would like professional guidance.

  • Second opinion
  • Help navigating setbacks
  • Support beyond a generic protocol
  • Fresh perspective on your training plan
Beyond Separation Anxiety

If it's more than separation anxiety

Sometimes what looks like separation anxiety turns out to be part of a bigger picture — general anxiety, fear-based reactivity, or something physical going on with your dog. That's not a reason to worry, and it doesn't mean you're on your own or need to start over somewhere else.

As a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) as well as a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer, I have the training to recognize when there's more going on and adjust your dog's plan accordingly. If I see signs that point beyond straightforward SA — significant aggression, suspected pain, a dog struggling in multiple ways — I'll tell you plainly, guide you on next steps, and help you understand what your dog needs. And if it looks like a vet or veterinary behaviorist should be part of the picture, I'll flag that too.

You don't need to diagnose your dog before reaching out. That's exactly what the initial assessment is for.


Unlocking Resilience Dr. Spaulding
Separation Anxiety Certificate of Expertise
IAABC CDBC certification
Fear Free Certified Badge
Certificate of Completion Animal Emotions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Category: Separation Anxiety

Yes — and remote training is actually the best practice for separation anxiety.

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.

Category: Separation Anxiety

Yes — it is aboslutely important that we suspend absences and that your pup is not left alone until we have built a good amount of comfort around alone time. Training sessions are short and easy (no more than 20 minutes each time) to fit into daily life. But do not worry! As long as your pup is not left alone, it can be you or anyone else you trust staying with him or her. I can brainstorm different options and help you with this key part of the process.

Category: Separation Anxiety

Every dog is different, so giving a potential timeframe would be outward lying. We usually offer to start with a 4 week package in which we deploy a protocol that includes 4 trainings per week and one reassessment. After this initial 4 weeks, we usually take a call with the client to see how to move forward. At the end, the idea is to make sure your dog learns to be comfortable alone, not to put up with it.

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.

Category: Separation Anxiety

No. Dogs of any age can benefit from training; puppies that start early may avoid long-term anxiety, and older dogs can still learn new patterns

Category: Separation Anxiety

All dogs are different so we can’t say they will display the same behaviors but some common ones are barking/howling, destruction (chewing, scratching), house-soiling, pacing, drooling, and attempts to escape when they are left alone. But this is not the only way to determine this. We will start with an initial assessment where I will watch your dog live after you leave your house to determine if they are uncomfortable alone.

Category: Separation Anxiety

Absolutely no! There was nothing you did or did not do as a dog owner/dog parent to cause separation distress in your dog. Rest assure of this. What we know from science is that mammals have types of attachment – these can be secure or insecure, and we know that they can be based on past traumas and life experiences. We know that separation anxiety is deeply related to the type of attachment your dog may have which is not a reflection of your love and care for them.