Separation Anxiety Specialists

30/10/2024

Special announcement.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBxB0l-yp3U/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Send a message to learn more

16/09/2024

A must read by Dynamic Dog.

This is becoming a welfare issue!

Im tired of hearing “the vet says there is no pain” by a guardian after they have taken their dog to the vet. It leaves me deflated and frustrated and feeling so sorry for the dog.

Myth Bust:

PAIN CANNOT BE RULED OUT IN ANY ANIMAL (dog, cat, horse or hamster), by anyone!

* A quick palpation - CANNOT RULE OUT PAIN

WHY?

The dog may shut down due to environmental factors or dislike of a strange human touching them, they keep still to get it over with ASAP!

The dog may be over aroused or overwhelmed by the clinical environment (excited/scared etc) to the point that adrenaline is so high it blocks pain!

* Blood Tests - CANNOT RULE OUT PAIN

There is currently NO blood test that can detect pain.

* Diagnostic imaging - CANNOT RULE OUT PAIN

Yes they can pick up a variety of conditions, but even the GOLD standard MRI doesn’t pick up everything, but NONE of them can detect PAIN.

Just because a source cannot be found doesn’t mean there is no pain.

PAIN is subjective, it is whatever that being (human or animal) perceives it to be!

Pain can come in many different forms, it is extremely complex, and can effect the individual in many different ways. A dog may get injured, the injury may have healed, but the pain remains … this is known as maladaptive pain.

Behaviour can be a HUGE indicator for PAIN:

* There could be a change of behaviour that has been directly caused by PAIN.

* There could be a worsening of behaviour due to an increase or new presence of PAIN.

* There could be a lack of “normal” behaviour due to PAIN.

* There could be behaviours that are present but that the guardian/owner don’t deem to be problematic that are indicators of PAIN.

* The dog may have ALWAYS displayed behaviours that are indicators of PAIN, but they have been ignored and put down to “just the way they are”.

* There may be NO problematic behaviours at all …. And the dog might still be in PAIN!

* The dog might be energetic, always on the go … and still be in PAIN.

* The dog might be lazy … and still be in PAIN.

* The dog may zoom up and down stairs … and still be in PAIN.

Diagnosing PAIN is not simple and can be difficult to get on top of.

A PAIN relief trail can be great! But often only one type of analgesic is tried and sometimes this doesn’t get results leading to the ASSUMPTION that there is no PAIN!

Here’s why:

* The drug was only trialed for 2 weeks - when living with chronic pain it can take longer to relieve. 2 weeks is not enough.

* The drug used wasn’t targeted to the type of pain the animal is feeling; soft tissue, bone, nerve or a combination of all.

It might take a number of different medications or a combination OVER TIME to see a difference.

ALWAYS keep in mind, NO ONE can rule out another being’s PAIN.

NO ONE. Not me. Not you. Not a Doctor. Not a Vet.

29/02/2024

The majority of dogs I work with also suffer from digestive issues.

28/02/2024

Exciting press release!

Your dog's problematic behavior issues may be due to an underlying condition, discomfort or pain. A Dynamic Dog Assessment can help!

17/02/2024

What can we observe from a shake off? Turns out, a lot!

A good shake off:

* Dog maintains a limb in each corner
* The joints soften in the limbs to absorb the shake off
* All limbs shake fluidly from head to tail

A shake off that might indicate an underlying issue:

* A "break" in the shake off (stops halfway down the body)
* Falling out of the shake off (sitting, bunny hopping)
* Dropped hind limbs
* Excessive movement of the limbs
* Inability to perform a shake off

A shake off can feel good, remove excess debris/water from the coat, be a way to relieve stress...but if we look a little bit deeper, we can use it as a tool to determine if our dog has something else going on. Try filming your dog in slow motion, at their chest level. What do you see?

10/02/2024

When an animal is not feeling their best - human, dog, cat, horse - they react in ways to protect themselves against pain and discomfort, as well as the potential THREAT of pain and discomfort. As a result, they may act in ways that appear like sudden behavior issues, or an ongoing behavior issue that the owner has simply attributed to being "part of the dog's personality."

I'll use my own dog as an example. When he was younger, he:

* Barked and snapped at strangers that came too close.
* Attempted to bite vets and vet staff.
* Refused to walk on a body harness.

Medication and behavior modification helped tremendously, but these behaviors never fully resolved. Then he was diagnosed with a form of IBD which explained a lot of what was going on.

He:

* Was often in pain and did not want to be physically touched when uncomfortable.
* The threat of potential pain at the vet made him cautious and on guard.
* Body harnesses over his chest were uncomfortable when his symptoms were flaring.

Note: He never yelped, he never whined, he never cried out in pain. There was nothing obvious at the time...until he started rapidly losing weight (years later). Had I known what to look for - behavioral signs, posture, body language - I may have resolved his issues much sooner.

The majority of SA dogs I work with have underlying issues. It's the reason I became a Dynamic Dog Practitioner, and why I incorporate these skills into every single assessment. Clients will get a thorough assessment of their dog, inside and out.

If you have any questions about our assessments and programs, schedule a free consultation call. Trainers and other animal professionals: I can work with your team to perform assessments at professional discount rates.

26/08/2023

Calling all volunteers!

30/07/2023

I received this text from a former client whose dog was suddenly struggling. Once the underlying medical issues were addressed, the dog is comfortable again. 🥰🐾🌟

If your dog is suddenly regressing, or if you are having trouble making progress - a trip to the vet for a thorough medical evaluation is 100% necessary.

No matter how minor it may seem - overgrown toenails, upset tummy, ear allergies - any underlying issue can affect your dog’s ability to be alone.

25/07/2023

Forgive the silly post…just feeling a little sassy on this HOT AND MUGGY Tuesday morning.

I encourage my clients to “act normal” during training. Watch TV, fold laundry, do the dishes. The fun side effect is that these little routines become calming for the dog.

If your dog goes “on guard” when you set up your camera, or when you “go into training mode” - try incorporating it into your daily routine and see if has any positive impact.

27/06/2023

It's a wrap!! First online live Teachable course...success!!🎉

25/06/2023

One of the reasons pet parents struggle with separation training is that they focus on one issue, rather than looking the other elements.

In most cases, the very first place to start is by making sure all your dog’s needs are met. If they are suffering from an underlying medical condition – even digestive problems or skin allergies – it may be impossible to get them comfortable enough to be home alone.

Another big piece of the puzzle is the dog’s environment. Are outdoor sounds too loud? Do they have access to a window where they bark all day? Do they have confinement distress or barrier frustration? By optimizing the environment, you optimize alone time success.

Separation training is rarely straightforward. It takes time, patience, and some digging to find out where changes can be made and how things needs to be adjusted for maximum success.

01/06/2023

Did you know that we have a low cost mini-course about bringing home a new dog? We do! 😱🎉🐾

But this course isn’t just about adopting a new dog – it has a special focus on preventing and working with separation issues as well as how to create a safe environment for your new best buddy.

We put months of work into this program so it seems a bit crazy to pre-release it for only $9.95…but that’s how much we believe in this information. Plus, the course is always “active” – meaning any updates will be available for students.

The course remains open to students for six months from the date of enrollment. We look forward to seeing you there and helping you and your new pup off on the right foot…or paw!

p.s. Since puppies and seniors have more specific life stage needs they will be addressed in a separate course.

29/05/2023

Imagine this: you’ve been in a serious car accident with a long recovery. When you finally start driving again, the sound of a horn honking can cause you to panic. This is an exaggerated response to a non-threatening, but related, trigger.

Now imagine this: your dog has panicked when left alone resulting in them frantically trying to escape by chewing at the window frames and doors, possibly fracturing their teeth. After a vet stay and recovery you pick up your keys to leave the dog starts to pant and pace.

See the connection? This is one of the reasons it’s important to keep your dog from experiencing panic until you are able to help them recover. It’s most likely going to take a plan that includes ruling out medical issues, managing and addressing anxiety, desensitization and counterconditiong to triggers, stress reduction, and increasing welfare.

Trying to increase time away from home without addressing the other issues will most likely result in frustration and limited progress.

28/05/2023

We’ve been hard at work trying to get all our eBooks and programs online…and are finally starting to roll things out! 🎉

Over the next few months there will be several more online courses, including: How to Perform an Assessment, Solving Separation Issues in Puppies, and more on canine body language and behavioral enrichment. 🐾🐶

Check it out and let us know what you think…we love feedback!

19/05/2023

Working a behavior modification plan before addressing underlying issues, meeting a dog’s needs, and modifying the environment will often lead to frustration and/or minimal success.

BEFORE you start any training plan take a critical look at what is going on with your dog. It may require a change in routine, increasing enrichment (and insuring the CORRECT level of exercise and enrichment) and a check up with your veterinarian.

Learn more on The Cone of Shame Podcast with Dr. Andy Roark. Link in our bio.

13/05/2023

Our very first Teachable online class starts Monday! Course content will be available online in the form of lessons, handouts, videos and homework - along with live lectures and Q&A. Class sessions will be recorded for those not able to attend live.

While it is set up as an online class, it can used as a DIY program too!

For more information about the class, registration links, curriculum details, etc. please click on the link in our Bio.

03/05/2023

The entire quote from The Stress Factor in Dogs by Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB: “The maximum time period that can elapse between an initial stressor and the development of conditioned fears, whether to that stressor or other stressors, is unclear, but current evidence shows that animals can remain sensitized for at least a week (Rau et al., 2005; Schmeltzer, 2015).”

This means that a stressful event that occurred several days ago – let’s say a trip to the vet – may still be having a negative impact on your dog’s behavior a full week later. And if our dogs are subjected to a lot of stressful situations on a regular basis, it will be reflected in their behavior.

What the research suggests is that stress may have the power to sensitize dogs to future stressors. This is important information to have when working with dogs with separation issues. If they are living with toxic stress and limited opportunities for calm and/or to release the stress, coupled with underlying medical issues – it’s nearly impossible to achieve the goal of a dog that is happy and comfortable when home alone.

It’s not uncommon to stop mid-SA protocol to address medical issues, behavior enrichment and welfare, and seek the help from a veterinarian. Stress, illness, frustration, and compromised welfare will prevent you from reaching your goals.

13/04/2023

Good news, SAS Family. We’re headed to Super Zoo this August in Las Vegas!