No one gets up in the morning and puts on a t-shirt saying “I can’t wait to do separation anxiety training today”. And so it can be easy to find that life gets in the way, and we end up not training. Or, when we do train, we're ALL about the training. So much so, that it feels like that's all we do. If this sounds familiar, just know that this is perfectly normal. It happens to everyone! That’s why in this episode of the Be Right Back! Podcast I dive into super-practical tips for making training...
Jun 17, 2022•16 min
Oh, those infuriating dips, drops, setbacks, and regression. There isn't a dog parent out there who doesn't go through ups and downs in separation anxiety training. The thing is, though, what we see as confounding and confusion variable progression is actually very normal. And when we understand what's going on in a dog's brain when they learn to be home alone, it makes begins to make so much sense. Tune in to find out more what happens as your dog learns, and how you can use that information to...
Apr 26, 2022•22 min
You might be thinking you aren’t ever going to make any progress with separation anxiety training because your dog won’t stay on her bed. Or maybe she starts on her bed but always follows you to the door and waits there. She needs to relax, right? Well, yes and no. We definitely need our dogs to show no anxiety when doing home alone training. But that doesn’t mean she has to stay put. Listen to find out more.
Apr 06, 2022•21 min
So many behaviors that come naturally to dogs are problems for us humans. Think barking, chewing, jumping up, counter-surfing – you name it! No wonder dogs get confused and get it wrong. And no wonder we get frustrated. That’s why in this episode, I’m thrilled to share an interview with Jane Robinson, Chair of the Association for Pet Dog Trainers, UK, about our expectations for dogs, and how we can make our communication with them less frustrating for all concerned.
Mar 24, 2022•41 min
If, recently, you've caught yourself thinking that your problems are insignificant ”in the scheme of things“, then you are not alone. When we see war and devastation in the news everyday it can be easy to think that our problems don't matter. But someone else's suffering doesn't make your situation magically okay. That's why in this episode, I chatted with Certified Life Coach, Christal Allen-Harrahill and asked her to share her tips for dealing with our own emotions while processing the disaste...
Mar 18, 2022•25 min
Sadly, we are fed a huge volume of incorrect advice about separation anxiety. And whenever we get bombarded with information, we start to believe what we are told, whether that information is fact-based or not. That's why, in this episode, I go through four of the most commonly-held beliefs about separation anxiety that we must reject.
Mar 13, 2022•13 min
Separation anxiety dogs fear two things the most: being alone and being crated. Vet stays create a perfect storm of both of these factors. There are ways we can help make vet procedures less stressful for these dogs though. And in this episode I share six tips for helping make the process go as smoothly as it can.
Mar 06, 2022•16 min
No dog ever voted for being left home alone. Yet, the average dog has learned to put up with our comings and goings. They welcome our return with tail-wagging joy. “You’re home! How wonderful for us both!” It’s different for dogs with separation anxiety. They don’t cope with being left home alone the way average dogs do. Given a choice, they would never want us to leave them! “Don’t go! I can’t cope!” And so, as long as we have jobs, medical appointments, and social lives, we owe it to the dogs ...
Jan 08, 2022•19 min
During the holidays, many of us are on the road visiting family and friends. And I'm often asked whether it's worth training when you're away. That's why in this episode I dive into the pros and cons of doing separation anxiety training away from home. If you're traveling this festive season, tune in to find out what your best plan of action should be!
Dec 08, 2021•17 min
Having seen 1000s of owners go through separation anxiety training, I've got a pretty good sense of the most common questions people have, to say the least! That's why in this episode and next, I'm giving you the answers to the most frequently questions that come up, including how often should you train, how long should a training session be and is following bad? Tune in to find out the answers!
Nov 09, 2021•17 min
As much as I know you're 100% committed to managing absences, what happens in an emergency? As horrible as it is to think about bad things happening is does pay to have a contingency plan should disaster strike. In this episode I look at how to plan for those rare occurrences where you might, just might, need to leave your dog. Hopefully, you'll never be faced with such a dilemma but if you do, planning ahead can help you.
Oct 23, 2021•23 min
There are few, if any, aspects of separation anxiety that create more mythology than crating. I see way too much muddled and confusing advice, and I can see that many of you struggle to get your head around whether or not to crate your dog. To clear things, up this episode covers the seven facts about crating that you absolutely need to know.
Oct 17, 2021•20 min
You've heard the horror stories about people getting pandemic puppies only to find that their pup grows into a dog they can't leave. You're so scared that this will happen to your puppy that you just don't dare leave him. You've taken on board all the advice about how this is a bad strategy. But you missed the bit about how you do need to leave them – as long as you so within context of gradual home-alone training. In this episode I'm going to show you why, if you're worried about leaving your p...
Oct 09, 2021•17 min
You've started training. You manage to get to the door or even out of the door but... ...your dog is following you the whole time. Big problem, right? Well, maybe but maybe not. You see anxiety isn't always the reason dogs follow us to the door during training. And just because your dog is following you, that doesn't mean to say your training is a write-off. In this episode I explain when following is okay and when it's not. And I look out what to do with a dog who waits by the door....
Oct 02, 2021•20 min
Don't think for a minute that your dog getting separation anxiety is a result of you being an inadequate dog parent, or down to you being clueless about what you're doing. Not at all! Plenty of dog professionals and dog trainers have dogs who develop separation anxiety too. In this episode I'm chatting to Certified SA Pro Trainers, Beth Berkobien and Jo Sellers, about their own dogs' journeys with separation anxiety. They share their stories and give you some trainers tips for how best you can n...
Sep 25, 2021•43 min
Does it seem like there's a ton of conflicting advice out there about separation anxiety? I can totally see why you might think that and why that might leave you feeling overwhelmed, not knowing what to do. But here's the thing, the way we get dogs over separation anxiety – gradually getting them used to alone-time – isn't a secret. And it's pretty much accepted as the standard method, by people who know about these things. The confusion you're feeling is down to conflicting opinions (not advice...
Sep 18, 2021•34 min
Has your dog's separation anxiety been the cause of a few tense moments between you and your other half? Perhaps they think you're being too soft on your dog. Maybe they think the training is taking too long and that you should just let your dog cry it out. If this sounds familiar, then tune into this episode where I share my tips for doing separation anxiety training the right way even if your partner isn't bought into the training method.
Sep 11, 2021•20 min
Separation anxiety training takes effort and it takes time. And there are a fair few mistakes that are easy to commit and which make training all the harder. That's why, in the episode, I spill the beans on the errors that I see people make over and over. I'll also share my tips and tricks to help you avoid these, and so ensuring your training far more efficient and much less painful!
Sep 04, 2021•28 min
When we're deep into separation anxiety training we get really good at observing our dogs when they are alone. So good in fact, that we can sometimes overlook getting to know what their body language is at other times. But in order to understand what's going on when doing departure training, we have to know what's normal for our dogs. Tune into this episode for tips on reading your dog in all sorts of situations. Plus, grab your free downloadable observation sheet here ....
Jan 08, 2021•26 min
Separation anxiety training has been revolutionized by video technology, in particular being able to watch your dog remotely. But it can be tricky to know what to pick and how to set up the tech you need without breaking the bank. In this episode I explain why tech matters and I guide you through your options, fancy and not-so-fancy. There's an option for every budget and it needn't be daunting.
Dec 23, 2020•12 min
It might not make much sense – you train, and train, and train, but your dog's anxiety seems to be getting worse not better. Well, it can happen. But it is totally avoidable. So, if you think separation anxiety training is actually making your dog clingier and more on edge tune in to find out what to do.
Dec 09, 2020•18 min•Ep. 52
If you're feeling guilty or concerned about your dog sleeping on your bed because you think it might be making his separation anxiety worse, don't be. There really is no evidence to this. And in fact, suddenly forcing your dog to sleep elsewhere could make things worse. Check out this episode where I explain exactly why.
Dec 01, 2020•14 min
Are you leaving food when you go out only to find that your dog either doesn’t touch it, or consumes it only to fall apart? You’ve probably been told that this is the way to go, that leaving a puzzle feeder stuffed with goodness will stop your dog freaking out when you’re not home. Sadly this advice is often misguided, and doesn’t work for most dogs. In this week’s podcast I explain why food fails. And I’ll also give you a specific example where good can be useful....
Nov 24, 2020•22 min
As if having a dog with separation anxiety isn't hard enough, most owners also deal with a ton of guilt about their dog's condition. I know I did! In today's episode I examine the types of guilt I see most commonly. And I share tips on how to deal with those feelings so that you can focus your energy on what matters – getting your dog over this.
Nov 17, 2020•32 min
Ah, the joy of having more than one dog. Watching them interact, seeing them negotiate the social space: having more than one dog can be bliss. But if you have a dog with separation anxiety it can be chaos, especially when the non-anxious dog barks at the world outside and immediately sets off your anxious dog. If this sounds like your household help is at hand! In this episode, I explain how you can train your dog to overcome separation anxiety despite attempts by your other dogs to sabotage th...
Nov 11, 2020•21 min
Anxiety medications can make a huge difference to separation anxiety training. But not in every case. That means we can easily get our hopes up only to find that our dog is one of those cases. If this is you and your dog, tune into this episode to find out why meds might not be working and what you can do if they don't.
Oct 27, 2020•28 min
It can definitely seem like dogs are all over the map with their ability to cope alone. Some days they ace training. Other days they fall apart. But just why do they do this? And what, if anything, can you do to smooth things out?
Oct 20, 2020•24 min
If you feel like you've had enough and want to quit training, just know that you are not alone. Everyone at some point wants to give up. Separation anxiety training is hard, unrewarding, and definitely not the most fun thing you'll ever do with your dog. So before you do throw in the towel, check out my 5 tips for helping you get back on track.
Oct 14, 2020•16 min
I've heard some chatter recently that separation anxiety training is unethical and inhumane. The argument goes that dogs are such social creatures that training them to be alone is cruel. Well, it's not. People have to go out. Dogs need to be able to cope with that. What is actually unethical is NOT giving them the skills they need to be okay with inevitable alone time. Tune in to find out more.
Aug 22, 2020•13 min
It can seem really confusing when your dog will sleep all night in a crate but when you try to leave your dog in a crate when you go out he loses it. And that's why I both love and hate crates. In the right context, at the right time, they are amazing tools. But how can we work out when it's right to use a crate and what do we do when crating goes wrong? Listen to find out.
Aug 14, 2020•12 min
