Training Philosophy
Is your puppy distressed or crying when you leave? Does your puppy become so anxious when you leave that they hurt themselves or break out of the crate? If this sounds familiar, your puppy could show the first signs of separation anxiety. It’s normal for puppies to cry in their crate. However, if your puppy is vocalizing nonstop for hours with signs of stress, it could be an early indication of severe separation anxiety. Our Puppy Separation Anxiety Training Programs use scientifically proven methods to treat separation anxiety.
Beyond the Dog’s data-driven, proprietary treatment plans have treated hundreds of puppies with separation anxiety, resulting in long-lasting behavior change. Led by our Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Sean Savage, our team will design a personalized, scientifically-based treatment plan that meets your specific training goals. We use behavior modification training based on the principles of classical conditioning to teach your puppy to be calm and stress-free when you are away. Early intervention for your puppy’s separation anxiety is a long-term investment that can prevent worsening anxiety and improve your and your puppy’s quality of life.
Training Programs
Our goal is to treat your puppy’s separation anxiety, promoting calm and quiet behavior when your puppy is alone. This program is designed to address the following but is not limited to:
Separation anxiety typically develops between 3 and 5 years of age, but in some extreme cases, it can begin in puppies or during adolescence. Signs of severe separation anxiety include prolonged crying in the crate, soiling due to stress, and self-injury. Separation anxiety can escalate as your dog matures, so addressing it early is key to preventing long-term issues. Beyond the Dog Tampa Bay’s training programs utilize the latest behavioral research to treat separation anxiety. We use our proprietary combination of positive reinforcement and classical conditioning to ensure long-term success in treating separation anxiety. Our training will teach your puppy to be calm and confident when left alone in the crate and outside the owner’s presence. Our training methods are supported by scientific studies, including Zurlinden et al. which demonstrates that barking levels in kenneled dogs can be effectively addressed through counterconditioning. As Dr. Echterling-Savage explains, “Pet parents’ worries about separation anxiety can be put to rest with behavior modification training and simple modifications to their daily routines.”
Our 22-hour training program is designed to treat separation anxiety in puppies before it develops into more serious behavioral issues while also providing general obedience training. We ask that you submit your completed “Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior” before training begins. Our Co-founders Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Sean Savage, will evaluate this assessment to better understand your puppy’s behavioral history. Our team will then design a personalized training plan that addresses your puppy’s behavioral challenges.
Sean Savage will conduct multiple private sessions with your puppy each week at your home. Each session is 1 hour long, and the final session of each week will be dedicated to you as a lesson. During this lesson, you will practice the behaviors and obedience skills your puppy has learned. Follow-up sessions will take place after the training program has been completed so that we can ensure ongoing success in managing your puppy’s separation anxiety behavior.
If your pet insurance policy includes behavior modification, our puppy separation anxiety treatment is likely covered. Most insurance companies will cover behavioral training under the direction of a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist or a Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist. We recommend that you check with your insurance provider to see if behavioral modification training for separation anxiety is covered.
Through two hours of virtual consultations, Dr. Echterling-Savage will meet with you to address your puppy’s separation anxiety behaviors. This program includes virtual sessions, a personalized training plan and ongoing guidance for long term results.
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 extensive knowledge to each session. Her comprehensive background includes a doctorate in the field, published research on canine behavior modification, and 25 years of hands-on training. Dr. Echterling-Savage will deliver expert guidance to help your puppy make lasting improvements with their separation anxiety.
Our Separation Anxiety Training Puppy Behavior Modification Package offers two hours of virtual consultations with Dr. Echterling-Savage, our Co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB). During your virtual sessions, Dr. Echterling-Savage will evaluate your puppy’s behavior and design a personalized training plan that addresses your puppy’s behavioral challenges. After the initial consultation, she will provide continued support, guiding you through various behavior scenarios that reinforce positive behavioral modification and continued success.
The Separation Anxiety Training Puppy Behavior Modification Package costs $750, including two hours of private virtual consultations and support.