Training Philosophy
Does your dog get anxious when you leave the house? Does your dog whine and try to chew through their crate or bedroom door? Beyond the Dog Sarasota specializes in addressing separation anxiety behaviors. We understand that separation anxiety can be stressful for you and your dog, and we incorporate the latest scientific research on dog behavior into our training plans. Our training programs have been developed to reduce or eliminate separation anxiety behaviors at your home so your dog can be content when you are away. Treating your dog’s separation anxiety is a lifelong investment that can significantly increase your and your dog’s quality of life.
Each training plan is customized to your specific needs. Our team, led by our Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, creates a personalized treatment plan that assesses your dog’s history and behavior. Our behavior consultants use a combination of positive reinforcement and classical conditioning training methods to develop a positive association for your dog when you’re not at home. This functional approach is continuously refined through the latest scientific research and our hands-on experience through over 20 years of treating separation anxiety behaviors across six cities.
Training Programs
The 22-hour Separation Anxiety Training Program will reduce and eliminate separation anxiety leading to a better quality of life for you and your dog. The targeted separation anxiety behaviors include:
Our Separation Anxiety training programs are designed by our Co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, in collaboration with our behavior consultants. Our team has extensive knowledge in addressing separation anxiety through our 20+ years of experience across six cities, during which we have helped hundreds of dogs feel comfortable and relaxed when their owners are away.
When addressing separation anxiety behavior, we use our proprietary multicomponent treatment that includes counterconditioning to decrease and eliminate separation anxiety with your dog. Our training methods are supported by proven scientific research, including a 2022 study by Zurllinden et al. demonstrating that counterconditioning effectively treats dogs’ separation anxiety behaviors. Our approach is further emphasized by our Co-founder, Sean Savage, who says, “When a dog suffers from separation anxiety, both owners and dogs experience a reduced quality of life. Our unique training protocols help alleviate stress and restore peace to the household.”
Our 22-hour Training Program has been developed to treat separation anxiety in dogs and provide general obedience training. Before training begins, we’ll ask you to complete our “Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior,” which will give us insight into your dog’s behavioral history. Our Co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, will use this assessment, in collaboration with your behavior consultant, to design a personalized training program that targets your dog’s unique challenges.
Our behavior consultant will conduct private sessions with your dog at your home throughout each week. Each session is one hour long, and the final session of each week will be dedicated to you as a lesson. During this lesson, you will practice the learned behaviors and obedience commands. Follow-up sessions will take place after the training program has been completed so that we can ensure that your dog’s behavioral changes are maintained.
Many insurance companies, such as Trupanion, will cover separation anxiety behavioral training when it is conducted by a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist or a Board Certified Vet Behaviorist. We recommend that you check with your insurance provider to learn cover separation anxiety dog training.
Our Separation Anxiety Training Behavior Modification Package provides virtual consultations with Dr. Echterling-Savage, our Co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB). As one of the few Board Certified Behavior Analysts specializing in Applied Animal Behavior and among only about 50 CAABs nationwide, Dr. Echterling-Savage brings invaluable expertise to each session. Her extensive background, including hands-on training, mentoring of all Beyond the Dog’s behavior consultants, and published research on canine behavior, ensures she can provide expert guidance to help your dog relax when you are not home.
During your virtual consultations, Dr. Echterling-Savage will evaluate your dog’s behavior and develop a personalized training plan that addresses your dog’s unique needs. After the initial consultation, she will provide continued support, guiding you through various scenarios that reinforce positive behavioral modification and ongoing success. The Separation Anxiety Training Behavior Modification Package costs $750, including several sessions and support.
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