STOP: None of our programs are designed to address separation issues. While we understand there will be an adjustment period for most dogs and we will make every effort possible to ease that transition, dogs in our care must be able to be contained reasonably well for their emotional wellbeing. Our methods are designed to be fear-free and any dogs displaying clinical-level separation anxiety will not find our program to be a positive experience and instead will associate our facility or the training itself with fear. We need participation in the training process to facilitate learning and dogs with clinical-level separation anxiety will often shutdown and withdraw while in our care.
We do NOT recommend ANY boarding programs for dogs with separation anxiety as the experience is overwhelming/flooding for them. If you suspect your dog has clinical anxiety during periods of separation, we strongly recommend seeking out a trainer that is CSAT certified and working on it privately, in your home - since this is where your dog feels the safest. In many cases, a veterinary behaviorist is recommended for companions experiencing separation anxiety.
Heightened anxiety during separation can cause issues with daily stress that lead to trigger stacking and increased reactivity/fear in other day-to-day scenarios. Addressing separation anxiety with a qualified professional will be to best use of your resources, as well as helping you in your overall success to training other basic life skills. Separation anxiety is a quality of life issue that we take seriously, especially when the anxiety becomes extreme and reaches clinical levels. Many coping mechanisms exhibited by dogs experiencing separation anxiety are a risk to their personal safety.
Signs of clinical-level separation anxiety include urinating/defecating when alone, excessive drooling, persistent howling/barking, chewing/digging/destruction, attempting to escape, pacing/inability to settle and coprophagia while alone (consuming feces).
If you are unsure whether or not your dog qualifies, please complete the rest of the info sheet as honestly and thoroughly as possible and we will contact you once we have reviewed it.