Training Philosophy
Does your dog have separation anxiety whenever you leave the house? Are you unable to leave your Houston home without worrying about your dog’s anxious behavior? Our in-home separation anxiety training program is for you! Led by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, our pre-training team will work with you to assess your dog’s separation anxiety. Then, using our Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior, our team will develop a step-by-step treatment plan, directly targeting your dog’s symptoms and any concerns you might have. Your Houston trainer will implement treatment directly at your Houston home to make both you and your dog confident and relaxed whenever you leave the house.
Does your dog experience high levels of stress whenever they’re not right by your side? Separation anxiety can be extremely stressful for both you and your dog. Our science-based training programs are designed to treat any form of separation anxiety in dogs. Your Houston trainer will use a combination of classical conditioning and positive reinforcement to teach your dog that good things can happen outside of your presence! We created a functional approach after treating hundreds of dogs with severe separation anxiety. Treating your dog’s separation anxiety is a lifelong investment that can significantly increase both your and your dog’s quality of life.
Training Programs
We will address all anxious behavior your dog experiences when crated or left alone including but limited to:
In our unique, multi-step treatment, we incorporate classical counterconditioning with our proprietary treatment to reduce or eliminate separation anxiety for any dog. Our process involves creating a positive association with a dog being left alone, in the crate, or outside of their owner’s presence. Over time, dogs learn to be comfortable and confident with being alone and no longer show high levels of stress. Research has shown that counterconditioning is an effective treatment method for separation anxiety as seen in a 2022 study by Zurlinden et al., which examined levels of barking in kenneled dogs when left alone at the shelter. “Separation anxiety negatively affects the quality of life for not only dogs but their owners. Seeing the stress fade away for both is at the heart of what we do. Our unique protocols do just that!” stated our Co-Founder Sean Savage.
Our 22-Hour Training Program for Separation Anxiety encompasses 20 training sessions across 5 intensive weeks with 2 follow-up sessions spanning a total of 22 training sessions over 8 weeks! As well as 30 minutes of virtual consultations with Dr. Echterling-Savage. After you submit your training contract and Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior, our pre-training team, led by Dr. Echterling-Savage, uses the information provided to craft your personalized dog training program. Then, your trainer will put your training plan into action! Your trainer will work with your dog one-on-one for three (1) hour sessions during the week. The fourth session each week is dedicated to your training! This structure is designed to produce seamless learning and long-term behavior change. After the 5-week-long training, there are 2 follow-up sessions to support your progress. Please note that our indirect behavior assessments will confirm your dog’s behavior and goals.
The 33-Hour program has been designed to address separation anxiety behaviors, including:
Our training program uses proven scientific training methods, including counterconditioning, to help build positive associations for your dog when being left alone. As our co-founder Sean Savage explains, “When a dog is suffering from separation anxiety, it can lead both the dog and the owner to have a reduced quality of life. Our training methods help to alleviate stress by treating the behavior and teaching your dog to be confident and calm in their own company”.
Before training begins, we ask that you submit your completed “Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior”. This assessment will allow our team, led by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Echterling-Savage, to better understand your dog’s behavioral history. She will also meet with you for a virtual consultation, where she will discuss your training goals and your dog’s behavioral concerns. Dr. Echterling-Savage will then develop a personalized training program that treats the underlying causes of your dog’s Separation Anxiety behavior.
Your trainer will conduct private 1-hour training sessions at your home. There will be four (1) hour training sessions during each week, with the fourth session dedicated as a lesson for you. This weekly lesson will help you reinforce what your dog has learned. Once the program is complete, follow-up sessions will help maintain your dog’s progress and ensure lasting success.
Our Separation Anxiety Modification Package offers private virtual sessions with Dr. Echterling-Savage, our resident Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB). As one of the few Board Certified Behavior Analysts in Applied Animal Behavior and among only 50 CAABs in the country, Dr. Echterling-Savage has decades of experience and has published papers on canine behavior. Her expertise makes these consultations an invaluable opportunity for anyone looking to address their dog’s separation anxiety and see life changing results.
Dr. Echterling-Savage will work closely with you to design a training plan designed specifically for your dog’s unique needs. After your first meeting, she’ll continue to guide you, providing ongoing support and troubleshooting behavior scenarios that help you manage your dog’s separation anxiety behavior and ensure continued progress. This program runs for four weeks for mild cases and five weeks for moderate or severe cases.