Chat & Chuckle with Dayle Pierce and Grace Peck About Separation Anxiety
Listen as Niki Tudge engages in a lively discussion with Dayle Pierce and Grace Peck about the separation anxiety in dogs. Click here to listen to the episode on your choice of platforms! Or simply click on the play button below to listen now! Recorded May 22, 2025
Shelter & Rescue Division Membership Meetup – Separation Anxiety in Shelter/Rescue Dogs
Guest speaker: Malena DeMartini Host: K. Holden Svirsky Date recorded: April 23, 2024 Click the logo to retrieve the recording.
Malena DeMartini – Separation Anxiety – Mission: POSSIBLE
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Help Prevent Separation Anxiety Related Problems with The Flitting Game
There’s a two-part game that I call The Flitting Game. This game, and The ‘Where’s Your Dinner?’ Game, are the preparatory stages for building your dog’s confidence and sense of security. Together with careful management and avoiding leaving your dog alone before they can cope, these are the foundations for preventing separation anxiety related problems. STEP ONE To play, start off by choosing two adjacent rooms, ideally the kitchen and living room. Set the timer on your phone (silently) for five minutes, then make multiple trips from one room to the next;… Continued
Separation Anxiety in Puppies and Dogs
Is your dog struggling to be left on their own? Do you wish you knew how to help them feel better when you’re not there? Prevention of Separation Anxiety in Puppies Puppies are not designed to be on their own. Every inch of them wants to be with a carer for their survival. Once we understand that bit, it helps us move on with their alone training. Here are our top tips to help prevent Separation Anxiety in puppies: Don’t leave your puppy to cry it… Continued
Understanding Our Dogs: Separation Anxiety in Canines
By Animal Courses Direct How is your dog coping with changes during the pandemic? For many of us, the coronavirus and lockdown have brought a chance to spend more time with our beloved pets and families. Lots of dogs are benefitting from increased walks, interactions and new opportunities for mental stimulation. Some dogs will be loving this extra time with their loved ones and the company day-to-day, however for some dogs this will feel unusual and they may struggle with this change to their normal routine. It’s also likely that… Continued
You know you own a separation anxiety dog when…
By Julie Naismith Life with a separation anxiety dog differs from the ideal of dog ownership many of us have. “Lassie Come Home” it isn’t. Here are 5 ways this debilitating condition will affect your life as a dog owner, plus a few tips on how to handle the changes without losing your sanity. #1 You learn to plan way ahead for everything Once you’ve worked out your dog has separation anxiety and is in a panic whenever you go out, it gets tough to leave him. When you know the… Continued
Did you cause your dog’s separation anxiety?
By Julie Naismith “Is it my fault my dog has separation anxiety?” That’s the most common question dog owners have when they first find out their dog has separation anxiety. It can be hard to ignore the suggestion that you caused your dog’s separation anxiety. But, I’m here to tell you that you didn’t cause your dog to develop a panic disorder. Neither you nor your dog are at fault. As if it weren’t enough that your life is turned upside down by your separation anxiety dog, you had better… Continued
Separation anxiety: 7 reasons why you need to have strong support
By Julie Naismith Have you been out for a coffee recently? Did you spend the time chatting about your dog’s separation anxiety? I’m guessing not. Or if it did come up, your friends probably didn’t want to go into it in any detail. At the risk of sounding dramatic, it’s a socially isolating condition. Having a dog with separation anxiety sets you apart. No one else is going to get it. No one understands what it’s like to own a separation anxiety dog until they have one themselves. I recently… Continued
Why do food rewards win, but not for separation anxiety?
By Julie Naismith Rewards-based training is the best. Dogs love it because it’s fun and it doesn’t involve fear or pain. And best of all, it works. In fact, research shows that it works better than any other method. Hands down, the best tool for training is food. But, despite the fabulousness of food, it’s best left in the cupboard when we’re training a dog with separation anxiety. It’s not that we couldn’t use food for separation anxiety training, it’s just that we don’t need to. When it comes to… Continued
Partying or panicking? How to be a separation anxiety sleuth
By Julie Naismith Dogs like company. They like being with us. I heard Dr. John Bradshaw say in a radio interview this week that ”All dogs hate being left on their own. You can train dogs to be ok with being on their own. But you do need to train them”. And some dogs hate being alone so much they tip over into full-blown anxiety. They’re not just unhappy that you’ve left them. They’re in a panic. But how do you know which it is? Are they disappointed you left… Continued
Examining Anxiety Traits and Breed Specifics
By Dr. Sheryl L. Walker A review of a recent paper on the prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in Finnish pet dogs Review Introduction With a background in behavior analysis and animal sheltering, and currently working toward my Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) certification, I personally found the research in Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs by Salonen et al. (2020) intriguing. Right off the bat, the first sentence in the Abstract packs a punch, especially if you have spent any… Continued
Free Treats for Better Behavior
This blog post earned Honorable Mention in the Pet Professional Guild’s Pets and Their People Celebrating Life Together community outreach competition in the Pet Professional Activities- Write a Blog Post category. You know that rewarding behaviors you like gets you more nice behavior, but did you know that consequences aren’t the only way our pets learn? By giving your pet “free” treats – no good behavior required – you can build powerful associations which influence behavior and emotion. If you’re used to consequence-based teaching, the hardest part of using this technique may be… Continued
The Four Pillars of Powerful Dog Training Packages
By Veronica Boutelle and Harriet Alexander As an R+ dog trainer, your role is so much more than teaching cues and marking behavior. You’re shaping lifelong relationships between dogs and their people. A key question we repeatedly hear at dogbiz is, “How can I motivate clients to keep going after the first training session?” One answer lies in revolutionizing your approach to training packages. If you haven’t already, it’s time to say goodbye to those quick consultations and scattered follow-ups. True behavior transformation comes from sustained, structured engagement. The more… Continued
Escape-Proof Crates: If They Sound Cruel, It’s Because They Are
by Gwendy Williams Many of us have been taught to embrace the benefits provided by crating dogs. It is why many animal caregivers avoid reading articles like this one. We don’t want to question something that has become customary and acceptable, even when we know instinctively that it’s not. Crates for dogs are, indeed, needed. However, the times that they are truly necessary account for a tiny fraction of how pervasively crates are used. When we force our dogs into isolation for extended periods of time, the discomfort we cause them is clear. They let us know. Their scratching and howling are signs of emotional states that are difficult to misinterpret, even for first-time pet owners. Dogs crying and clawing at the walls of… Continued
Cat Not Using the Box? It Could Be the Litter Box Setup!
Unwanted elimination is one of the most common behavioral reasons cats are surrendered to shelters. Why is this problem so common? And what can be done about it? First, take your cat to the vet to check for possible medical causes. If the cause isn’t medical, it could be behavioral, such as separation anxiety, inter-cat aggression, or outside threats. In these situations, I’d recommend you contact a cat behavior consultant to help you problem-solve. As a cat behavior consultant, experience has taught me that elimination issues are often due to… Continued
What is Reactivity in Dogs?
‘He’s reactive’ or ‘I have a reactive dog’ is quite commonly heard nowadays, and is a bit of a catch-all label that gets put on dogs who respond in a certain way. So, what is reactivity really, and what is a ‘reactive dog’? A dog who is reactive is generally one who overreacts in certain situations, or to certain things (science calls these stimuli) in their environment, and this overreaction can vary in intensity, how long it goes on for (duration), or volume. What triggers reactivity in dogs? Common triggers… Continued
Ten Tips to Help Your New Dog Decompress
You’ve brought home a new dog! Congratulations! Let’s look at some important things to help keep your new dog safe, emotionally and physically, in the first few weeks. Over the next several weeks and months, you will really start to see his personality blossom as he starts to bond with you, gets comfortable, and settles into your home and your routine. That’s when the fun really happens! Good luck and congratulations! About the Author Kate LaSala, CTC, CBCC-KA, PCBC-A, CSAT, FFCP-E is a certified, professional behavior consultant and trainer, who specializes in helping fearful,… Continued
Ask a Trainer: When Will My Puppy Stop Biting Me?!
Q. Is there a time when I can stop training my puppy? He’s 12 weeks old now. When will he stop biting me? –– via Facebook Messenger A. It’s great that you’re seeking guidance on training your puppy! Puppy Biting At 12 weeks old, your puppy is still in the early stages of development. Puppy biting is a common behavior at this age, as they explore their environments and learn about their surroundings through their mouths. Puppy biting is a natural part of their teething process and social development, but… Continued
Why Focus on Life Skills vs Obedience in Dog Training?
Life skills training isn’t just a flashy buzzword; it’s the most up-to-date way of training dogs, where we focus on skills for life vs the traditional obedience commands of yesteryear. The life skills approach emphasizes training dogs to be well-behaved and well-adjusted in everyday environments, rather than just focusing on obedience commands in a controlled training setting. Life skills training focuses on teaching skills to dogs that are relevant to their day-to-day lives. It has been so long since dogs were domesticated, and even relatively modern life is very different… Continued
Malena DeMartini: A Beacon of Light for Dogs Who Suffer When Left Home Alone
Malena DeMartini shares her personal and professional journey to creating her company that provides educational programs for dog professionals and guardians to help dogs with separation anxiety. Who are you, and what makes you passionate about animal behavior? I have been a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant for over two decades and had a beautiful introduction to animal behavior via my education through the Academy for Dog Trainers. Initially, I worked with all manner of dog behavior, from jumpy puppies to human-directed aggression. However, I developed an… Continued
Puppy Not Listening to You? Here’s Why and What to Do!
“I love it when my pet doesn’t listen to me,” said no one ever. So what happens when your calls fall on deaf ears (when your dog isn’t actually deaf)? What else might be going on if you feel your puppy isn’t listening or responding to you? There are many reasons why your pet is failing to respond to you. We’re going to get into it here, and help you with tried and tested strategies that will help your pet listen to you. Why is My Puppy Not Listening… Continued
Kate LaSala Helps Dog Owners Accept Their Dogs for Who They Are
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you first get into animal behavior/training, and what you are doing now? I’ve been an animal advocate for over three decades. I became vegetarian as a teen and have championed animal welfare as a rescuer, transporter, shelter worker, foster, volunteer, and trainer. But my life trajectory changed forever when our dog BooBoo arrived in our lives. I’ve been in private training for nearly 10 years now andremain committed to continuing education, helping people have better lives with their dogs, and… Continued
What Do You Do When You’re the Only Force-Free Professional in Town?
by the Pet Professional Guild Advocacy Panel This article was excerpted and edited from the PPG Advocacy Panel discussion on January 18, 2023. Moderator: Don Hanson: Chair of the PPG Advocacy Division and Shock-Free Coalition, board member of the Pet Professional Guild, and owner of Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, Maine Panelists: Niki Tudge: President and founder of the Pet Professional Guild Debbie Sheridan: Owner of Debbie’s 4 Dogs in West Hartford, Connecticut Sue Kocher: Owner of Hendo Dogs in Hendersonville, North Carolina Kim Silver: Owner of Building… Continued