If you’ve spent a lot of time in the separation anxiety training space, you’ve probably heard the term “suspending absences.” And if you’re particularly astute, you’ve figured out what that means: You essentially stop leaving your dog home alone.

In this episode of the Believe in Your Dog Podcast, I’m taking a deep dive with my colleague Jane Wolff of Good Wolff on the subject. And like most things related to separation anxiety, it’s nuanced. 

It requires you to get curious about your individual dog and their needs. It requires you to be flexible. It requires you to observe and collect data. It requires you to reach out to your community for support. 

And it’s more than just bringing your dog to daycare. 

You’ll learn: 

1. How exactly we define it (hint: it doesn’t mean you can’t ever be separated from your dog)
2. Why it is such a critical part of separation anxiety recovery
3. Why it is a requirement to join our program
4. What about emergencies?
5. Creative ways to achieve this seemingly insurmountable task
6. How to handle absence suspension for dogs who are attached to one key figure
7. Jane’s personal experience with absence suspension and her separation anxiety dogs
8. And more!!!
   
   

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Secret Sauce to Separation Anxiety Success: Suspending Absences

Schedule a Complimentary Call with Jane Wolff, CTC, CSAT

Is Doggy Daycare Right for Your Dog? By Wag the Dog and Company

Choosing a Doggy Daycare by Wag the Dog and Company

Crowdsourcing Alone Time Alternatives

Suspending Absences: Not just doable. It’s being done!

The purpose of this podcast is to empower you to take the reins on your own separation anxiety training journey. Resolving separation anxiety is a lofty goal–one that is complex and messy even under the guidance of a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer. 

With that in mind, I want to be sure you are prepared as you DIY this endeavor. When obstacles inevitably confront you along your journey, I want you to remember that they are 1) normal and 2) surmountable. 

When you feel derailed, I want you to think “I remember Jackie saying this would happen,” instead of “I am a failure and this will never work.” 

A little preparation and familiarization with the footings on which the whole process rests will give you that sense of groundedness. 

So in this episode, I am laying out the 10 pillars that serve as your foundation for separation anxiety training. Any time you feel stuck (and you will feel stuck), I want you to circle back to this episode and assess how solid your foundation truly is. 

The 10 pillars I’ll address are: 

1. Viewing your dog as a study of one
2. Providing enrichment and meeting your dog’s needs
3. Managing your dog’s distress with absence suspension
4. Becoming fluent in body language
5. Reducing your dog’s overall stress
6. Getting your dog checked out by your veterinarian
7. Being open to the use of behavior medication
8. Executing a gradual exposure training plan
9. Setting realistic expectations
10. Taking care of yourself

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Study of One: A Disclaimer
• The Secret Sauce to Separation Anxiety Success: Suspending Absences
• Canine Enrichment for the Real World by Allie Bender & Emily Strong 
• Enrichment for the Real World Podcast
• Doggie Language by Lili Chin
• Bravo Dog's Body Language Online Course
• Fallout from the Use of Aversives
• Medication Education Resources
• How Long Does It Take to Resolve Separation Anxiety?

What does enrichment have to do with separation anxiety training?

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably heard me say that work-to-eat toys aren’t a cure-all for separation anxiety. And I stand by that. 

So why have I devoted a podcast to the topic of enrichment?

Here’s the thing: Enrichment is about more than work-to-eat toys, and separation anxiety training is about more than suspending absences and going at your dog’s pace.

Enrichment is about meeting your dog’s species-specific needs, and separation anxiety training needs to be a holistic approach that includes just that. 

In this podcast episode, special guest Allie Bender of Pet Harmony Animal Behavior and Training and I take a look at how this topic of meeting your dog’s needs can be incorporated into a behavior modification plan, and why it is crucial. 

In this episode of the Believe in Your Dog Podcast, you will learn:  

• How we define enrichment and a little history on the subject
• Some of the species-specific needs that our dogs have and how you can meet them
• Tips for “lazy enrichment” (so lazy, you can do it while watching TV!)
• Why enrichment is a key piece of the puzzle in separation anxiety training
• Why agency is so important and some other easy ways that guardians can provide it in our dogs’ day to day lives
• How to identity your dog’s individual needs
• And so much more! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Pet Harmony Training Website
Pet Harmony Training on Instagram
Pet Harmony Training on Facebook
Pet Harmony Training Podcast
Pet Harmony Training Enrichment Chart 
Canine Enrichment for the Real World by Allie Bender and Emily Strong
Enriching Animal’s Lives by Hal Markowitz
Think Smart Dog Training’s Snuffle Mats
Why Dogs Need More Control Over Their Lives - article on Psychology Today
DogMinded Enrichment Resources