Dogs With Anxiety On Separation

• We first have to desensitise your dog to your every movement. In our lives one moment we get up and go to make a coffee, get up and go to work blaa blaa blaa. So we get up to go somewhere. If you look at your dog when you get up, you’re inviting him to join you, let the poor bloke have some rest, each and every time you’re asking your dog to be with you, he’s no idea why, but you obviously can’t function without him, this is sending you down that slippery slope to a dog that can’t be without you
• You have to break those triggers. Remember just because you do A doesn’t mean B will follow.
• IMPORTANT. Do not speak to your dog, look at your dog whilst doing this. Looking at him is to invite him to join you in your chosen activity. 
• When you’re sitting comfortably (wherever you are) in the home, make sure you can move around in your chair without him/her reacting.
• Make sure you can stand up sit down, with out your dog jumping to attention. Usually when we stand up we are going to do something, well just stand up and stretch , then sit again.
• Walk to the sitting-room door and back. Do not look for a react as you’ll get one.
• Rattle the door knob and sit down, each time making sure the dog settles on your return - you may have to use a ‘Calm Hold’ or calm walk to make this happen.
• Then out the door for two seconds and return, and sit…each time not looking at or acknowledging the dog’s reaction. You are showing your dog that you can come and go without it having to worry or react.
• Put your hand up by all means but say nothing as you leave
• Increase the time outside the door by seconds at first.
• As you increase your time away (very gradually), if you have the facilities then leave by one door and return by another.
• All this is done with no eye contact, vocals or you are asking the dog to be with you and making a big deal about what you are doing. 
• If your dog gets up and has trouble settling between your movements then just bring the dog close to you and use a ‘Calm Hold’ until he relaxes and lays down. Then continue after a short time so he relaxes further. By doing this you are showing your dog that there really isn't an issue. You are completely relaxed and therefore so can he.
• You will need a huge amount of patience and time in some cases, so stick with it and you and your dog will be rewarded.
• If when you return from any of the exits the dog is overly distressed, it means you have been out too long. Go back to the period of time that the dog coped in your absence and move on from there. You will get to a stage when the dog does not react to your movement and stays relaxed wherever he may be. Do not get misled that your dog can only be relaxed in their bed. Remember though, to use your doors so your dog doesn't have the opportunity to follow you everywhere. 
• The reason you exit so gradually is that the dog doesn't have time to get too upset, and when you return your dog will settle quicker as it's adrenaline will not have shot up off the scale.
• You have to desensitise to the other triggers that mean you are going out, where it be putting on a certain pair of shoes or picking up keys.
• Desensitising means doing the action so much it doesn't mean anything. So with out looking at your dog when you do these, pick the object up and put it down and repeat repeat endlessly. 
• It's good to have soft classical music such as from www.icalmdog.com playing in the back ground not just for when you go out. Or it will be seen as yet another trigger for you leaving.

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