You love spending time with your dog and would do so all the time if life allowed it. Sometimes, though, you have to leave your pup at home, whether you need to go to work, to the store or somewhere they can’t come.
If your dog has trouble with some alone time, they are probably experiencing separation anxiety. Our dog separation anxiety training programs in Austin can help. Let us help you train your dog to be calm when alone.
Why Choose Training Made for Separation Anxiety?
A pup with separation anxiety can make standard training challenging. Leaving them at a training facility for the day or having them around other dogs right away could incite anxious behaviors. Connecting your dog with a separation anxiety trainer can help them overcome some of these initial challenges.
Training programs designed for separation anxiety take anxious behaviors into account and often require a much slower, more custom process. Our trainers will work with you and your dog to build their confidence slowly through methods like positive reinforcement, obedience training and desensitization.
Separation Anxiety Can Be Stressful for Both You And Your Canine
When dogs with separation anxiety are left alone, they engage in destructive behavior, including tearing furniture apart, barking until neighbors complain, and even harming themselves in panic. As a dog owner, we understand how heartbreaking it can be to watch your dog suffer and just how much it can burn a hole in your wallet to replace the destroyed rags, cushions, and furniture in your home.
You and your dog deserve to enjoy a better quality of life, free from the stress caused by separation anxiety. If your dog exhibits the following behaviors when you leave them alone, it’s time to give our dog separation anxiety trainer a call.
- Excessive barking, whining, or howling.
- Destructive behavior such as chewing or digging.
- Attempts to escape, including scratching windows and doors
- Urinating and defecating in inappropriate places indoors.
- Restlessness and pacing.
- Distressful behavior when you are preparing to leave.
We Use Proven Separation Anxiety Training Techniques to Ensure Lasting Results
The first step to helping your dog overcome separation anxiety is understanding what’s causing it. The causes can be past trauma, over-attachment to the owner, lack of mental and physical stimulation, or sudden change in routine. A history of abandonment in shelters, sudden absence of a family member, lack of boundaries, and change in routine can also result in separation anxiety.
Our experienced dog separation anxiety trainers in Austin take time to uncover what’s causing your dogs to panic when left alone. Through systematic desensitization, we train your dog to associate being alone with positive experiences, transforming their emotional response to being separated from you.
The result?
- Reduced anxiety and stress when left alone.
- Decreased destructive behavior, barking, and whining.
- Improved ability to stay calm and relaxed in your absence.
- A sense of security, confidence, and independence.
- Better obedience and responsiveness to commands.
- A stronger bond and more trust between you and your dog.
See What Dog Owners Are Saying About Our Dog Separation Anxiety Training In Austin
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about our Austin separation anxiety dog trainers and how they work with your pup.
How much does separation anxiety training cost?
Our training programs for separation anxiety are tailored to each dog and owner, taking into account factors such as your dog’s age, temperament, past training, lifestyle, and goals, which is why we offer a free consultation to assess your unique situation. You can get a baseline understanding on our pricing page.
Why Does My Dog Have Separation Anxiety?
The root of separation anxiety looks different for every dog. It's important to understand that separation anxiety is a common experience for dogs and can happen with any breed. Sometimes, this anxiety is rooted in a history of abandonment, whether that involves moving between shelters or being regularly re-homed. If you've adopted your dog from a shelter, this history is likely the cause of it.
However, not all dogs are adopted from shelters. Your pup may have been with you since the beginning, and the anxiety can come from somewhere else. For example, a drastic change in routine, like suddenly working in an office after working from home full-time can trigger separation anxiety. It's possible this anxiety can also come from a lack of socialization early on.
When working with dog trainers for separation anxiety, an important step in the process is learning about the dog's history and what leads to their anxious behaviors. From there, a trainer can figure out the best way to respond to these behaviors and encourage better ones.
Can Dog Separation Anxiety Be Cured?
While separation anxiety can often be managed effectively, it may not be completely cured in all cases. However, you can rest assured that with the proper dog separation anxiety training and techniques, even the most attached dogs can improve significantly and stay calm when left alone.
Can Medication Help With My Dog's Separation Anxiety?
In severe canine separation anxiety cases, a veterinarian can recommend medication to work hand-in-hand with behavioral training to help your dog. Remember, medication alone is not a solution and should be part of a broader treatment plan to ensure lasting results.
How Long Does Separation Anxiety Training Take?
That depends on the severity of the anxiety and the individual dog. Some dogs may show improvement in a few weeks, while others may need several months of consistent training and follow-up sessions to overcome anxiety. That being said, there are no quick fixes for separation anxiety. Patience and consistency make a big difference.
Take the First Step to Help Your Dog Overcome Separation Anxiety
You want peace of mind when you leave the house, and that can be hard with an anxious dog. Training designed for separation anxiety can help you overcome those challenges. Our experienced dog anxiety trainers in Austin will create a customized training program to help your dog become comfortable and confident when left alone. Schedule a free consultation today so we can learn about your dog and get started with your custom training program.