As a Dynamic Dog Practitioner and separation anxiety specialist, I assess ALL clients' dogs for potential signs of discomfort right from the start....because pain and discomfort has a huge impact on behaviour.
But ....gait analysis is by far not the only way to assess if a dog may be in discomfort.
Did you know that the way your dog wees and poos can tell us a huge amount?
If your dog finds it hard to poo in one place, shuffles or walks along while pooing, tries to take weight off limbs while pooing, positions themselves in a particularly unusual way when pooing, or seems generally hesitant to poo, chances are they're finding it uncomfortable.
Similarly, when weeing, if your dog (make) is unable to cock their leg and is squatting instead, or IS cocking their leg but hopping along on that one hind legs, they could be finding that position uncomfortable.
If your female dog is finding it hard to maintain that squat position to wee, is raising limbs to take weight off them, or is cocking their leg instead of squatting, again this could be because they're finding it uncomfortable to maintain that wee position
If your dog is doing anything out of the ordinary when toileting it is worth getting this checked out. Remember ...dogs don't show pain how we might expect them to. Sometimes the main way we can identify discomfort is by assessing how they do certain daily activities....toileting is just one of them!
#dogbehaviourist #dogsandpain #painandbehaviour #dynamicdog #separationanxiety #separationanxietyspecialist
Separation anxiety takes time to work through .. after all, we're changing emotions and there's no quick fix for that
💲And while working with a specialist in the area like myself is the best route, it comes at a (literal) price. Much as I love my work, it is how I pay my bills 😉
💸But as a provisional Clinical Animal Behaviourist in the APBC (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors) all insurance companies should cover my fees.
📜Sometimes people aren't aware that you can claim on insurance for behaviour concerns.....although it will depend on your policy and whether you are actually covered for behaviour concerns - so check the policy and small print!
But if you are insured for behaviour, you will be able to claim my fees back on insurance...which just helps take the pressure off a little!
☎️If you would like to book a FREE discovery call to find out how I can help you and your dog, please get in touch!
#separationanxiety #separationanxietydog #separationanxietyspecialist #certifiedseparationanxietytrainer #CSAT #dogbehaviourist #dogbehaviour #petinsurance
Sometimes breaks in your separation anxiety protocol can do the world of good!
Does it depend on your dog? Of course!
Do breaks benefit all dogs? Most definitely not.
But for some, having a break means that when you come back to it they are in a position to cope with it better.
They have processed previous learning, have had time to decompress if they were finding it a bit much and with some dogs it is like a reset button (in a good way!).
Take Chipolata here. Before Christmas he was showing a bit more consistency, but a lot of the time he would go to the door soon after hearing it close, and this always slowly escalated to him showing increased anxiety in the form of either wagging his tail, shuffling, whining or barking. So when this happened we introduced a rule to come back in when he headed to the door, so that we came in at most, when he was starting to get a little "itchy" but before he became mildly anxious.
Then came Christmas and a break of a couple of weeks (I set Maintenance sessions for my clients but due to Chip's family's busy schedule they didn't do many)....and he has come back stronger!
In our first live reassessment after the Christmas break, Chip remained oh the sofa, head up but very relaxed, for 4 minutes 34 seconds when he shifted weight onto his hip and....rested his head down!!! This is how first time EVER he has done this!
I then ended the absence a minute later to ensure this was a super positive learning experience for Chip.
So if things aren't going to plan, assuming all medical contributing factors have been ruled out, and assuming you're not pushing things too far and too fast in your protocol, don't be afraid to take a short break. Sometimes it can be helpful!
#separationanxietyspecialist #CSAT #separationanxietydog #dogbehaviourist
If your separation anxiety dog follows you to the door during a controlled absences, or comes to the door while you are outside, don't automatically think this means your dog is anxious.
Dogs move around.....we can't and shouldn't expect any dog to remain in one place the whole time we are out. Dogs will change positions, change sleeping places, wander round and investigate things, but none of these are a problem at all UNLESS they are accompanied by other signs of stress.....OR if your dog's behaviour escalates to include signs that they are stressed soon after.
Take lovely Mango here....after his humans open the door he gets out of his crate and comes to the hall to investigate, almost immediately turning round, checking out the dining area briefly before going back to bed and snoozing again. No other signs that he is stressed. Now had he shown body language that increased and indicated anxiety we would have reacted accordingly ....but we have him the time to see what he did, and bingo!
Which is why it is SO vital to learn about YOUR individual dog's body language. Some common stress signs can include lip licking, yawning, panting, pacing, drooling, fidgeting....BUT....remember that every dog is an individual and can show other body language signals that, for them, means their anxiety is increasing. What one dog used to communicate anxiety is not necessarily going to be in another dog's repertoire.
But....if your dog comes to the door, look at what their body language is saying, and don't necessarily always be on a rush to dash back in JUST because they've come to the door.
#separationanxiety #separationanxietyspecialist #separationanxietydog #CSAT #certifiedseparationanxietytrainer #dogbehaviourist
This weekend very strong winds and heavy rain are forecast across the UK. Please be mindful that this COULD impact how your separation anxiety dog copes with their controlled absences, and that criteria may need to be lowered.
While some dogs are unphased by inclement weather, for other dogs it can increase anxiety considerably.
For these dogs, if you're working through separation anxiety it would be recommended to significantly lower criteria so their sessions are very much "easy wins", or give your dog a break this weekend.
If your dog seems more unsettled by the weather than they have been before, it would also be advisable to visit your vet. Any change of behaviour can signify an underlying medical issue or pain, but there is a significant correlation between pain and sound sensitivity (and yep, that includes strong winds and heavy rain).
So if you're in any doubt, give your dog a break, snuggle on the sofa with a nice film and chill....your separation anxiety plan will be negatively impacted by a few days :)
#separationanxietyspecialist #separationanxietydog #CSAT #certifiedseparationanxietytrainer
Meet Wesley!
When I first started working with Wesley and his humans he would show anxious as soon as his humans started to show signs they were leaving him (getting keys, coats, shutting doors etc), noted by yawning, lip licking, pacing around.
In our first assessment Wesley's anxiety escalated as soon as the front door closed, beginning by progressing to whines and barks, and soon increasing to howling, which as you can hear is very high pitched and "desperate". He went to the kitchen as this was a window where he was more able to see down the driveway.
The second video is after just 4 weeks when he smashed as absence of 17 minutes 10 seconds! Now I will add that to achieve this much improvement is VERY unusual in such a short space of time....BUT....Wesley was put on medication before we started working together, after an initial discussion with myself and the vet. This could have had a positive impact. Medication, as I often tell people, can be hugely beneficial....however it is not a magic wand and if there are any underlying medical conditions or pain in the mix (which sadly there often are) it will not necessarily benefit to the same extent.
But as a Dynamic Dog Practitioner, as part of my assessment process I include a full gait & postural analysis, to recognise early on whether there are signs that your dog could be in discomfort, as the sooner these are diagnosed (by a vet) and managed the more likely your dog is to progress with heir behaviour modification.
But lets give Wesley and his humans a big round of applause!!
#separationanxiety #separationanxietyspecialist #CSAT #certifiedseparationanxietytrainer #separationanxietydog
Not all dog professionals are the same!!!
You owe it to your dog to do the research and find people who can truly help you and your dog, who are qualified and accreditated with a professional body, and who do NOT use force, pain and intimidation to create an illusion of behaviour change.
1) Any qualified, reputable behaviourist will ONLY work on vet referral. While this does not categorically rule out that pair could be influencing the behaviour, it means the vet has confirmed there is nothing blindingly obvious plus it means that professional works closely with your vet, which is important especially when we come to the next point
2) Do they consider pain...do they assess your dog's gait, posture and how they negotiations daily living activities.....and do they take the dog's routine and rest of their life into account, or do they only focus on that one behaviour. Behaviour NEVER happens in isolation.
I have also lost count of the number of dogs I've worked with who have ended up having undiagnosed pain which contributed to the behaviour concerns....often which has been identified by analysing the dog's movement. It is highly unethical to focus just on changing behaviour without considering if there is any pain.
3) There has been a recent rise in so called "professionals" who use methods which should have gone out with the Ark. Shock collars (don't be deceived by the trend for calling them "e-collars....they inflict an electric shock!).....prong collars, slip leads placed high up on the TMJ (Tempero Mandibular Joint) which creates discomfort for sure, and suppression of behaviour. There is NEVER any need to use aversive methods and tools. Full stop
4) Please please check qualifications and accreditations of anyone you are thinking of working with. Would you get a plumber out to fix your boiler who had taught themselves from You Tube? Would you go to a dentist who attended a 2 day course on the subject? Of course not! Yet when it comes to dogs there are SO m
Lovely review from one of my wonderful separation anxiety clients .....Jade and Zac with adorable Flo the Show type Cocker Spaniel.
Thank you!!!
#separationanxietyspecialist #separationanxietysurrey #separationanxietytrainer #separationanxiety #certifiedseparationanxietytrainer
You will hear that consistency on a separation anxiety protocol is important.....and it absolutely is. Without a doubt! Your dog will never be able to learn being home alone is safe if you're working at it a few times a month. But.....that's NOT to say that regular BREAKS aren't just as important!
It's important for you and your dog to take short breaks from the plans, which is why I always recommend having 1, ideally 2 days off a week. That down time is important for your sanity but also in order for your dog to process information and to ensure we don't actually inadvertently end up sensitising your dog (instead of desensitising) by simply doing it too much.
However, a concern I hear a lot is what happens if they go on holiday for a week or 2. Will that put the dog back at all?
The first thing to remember here is every dog is different. The way every client of mine works through their protocol is completely different, and that applies also to how they respond to breaks. Some dogs WILL potentially take a step back during longer breaks, but that is temporary. However, there ARE dogs who actually NEED and BENEFIT from those more prolonged periods of time off.
Take Indy....she is a Working collie x Lanradoodle and she's incredibly loved! What I have discovered while working with her is that she actually NEEDS a break of a week or two on a regular basis. If we don't give her those breaks she really starts to be unable to cope with even short absences......but after a break she comes back at a much stronger position.
Today was our reassessment after a 9 day scheduled break.....with NO work on her separation anxiety at all. She chilled on the sofa for 30 minutes (she could have done longer but we had to end it for other reasons!). Prior to this break we had left longer than Indy likes between breaks and her tolerance for absences was starting to reduce considerably again.
There really is no "one size fits all" approach with separation anxiety. With some dogs havin
Lovely review from one of my overseas clients....Rose with Margo from NYC 🇱🇷
Thanks guys!!
#separationanxietynewyork #separationanxietyusa #separationanxietyreview
#separationanxietyspecialist #CSAT #certifiedseparationanxietytrainer #separationanxiety #separationanxietydog
Lovely review from my wonderful Italian clients Nicola and Dario...it's been such a pleasure working with these guys and their beautiful Italian street dog Mia.
The fact that all separation anxiety work is done remotely means that I can work with anyone, anywhere in the world!
#separationanxiety #separationanxietyspecialist #separationanxietyglobally #separationanxietyitaly #separationanxietyreview
Provisional Clinical Animal Behaviourist, Separation anxiety specialist and Dynamic Dog Practitioner (specialising in recognising signs of pain in dogs)
