Tails from the Dog House: Separation Anxiety Explained

In the first episode of the year, Stacey & Ness discuss the blueprint to ensure successful separation anxiety training.

In the last episode of the year, Stacey & Ness discuss the Holiday season and how to navigate it for your separation anxiety dog if they are struggling with all the changes of routine. 

Stacey & Ness would also like to wish all their viewers and listeners a very Merry season of goodwill & cheer for one and all, including your four-legged pals!

In this week's episode the girls meet with CBD Dog Health founder Angela Ardolino as they dive into CBD oil, what it can be used for, it's efficacy for anxiety and much much more.  

Please note: While certain aspects of CBD sound promising, especially for chronic pain, there is still so much we do not know about it. If you are going to try CBD for your dog, speak with your vet first, especially if your dog is on other medications. Then do you research to ensure you are getting a quality product from a trusted source.  

For Angela's links... Visit https://cbddoghealth.com/

More information: https://behaviorvets.mylearnworlds.com/course/fools-gold-or-golden-opportunity-cbd-as-a-medication-for-behavior-cases?fbclid=IwAR2hC6-ypjFi2FNRUmkS5qmc5OwgMg0qzuDgnu2O_97EnrGuMlUGinUAxE8

In this episode the girls are joined by special guest, human psychologist and dog trainer Dr Holly Tett as they delve into the emotional trauma of having a dog with separation anxiety and how to overcome it.  

Dr Holly's links:
Paws Up Dogs - https://www.pawsupdogs.com/
Podcast: Letters From Your Dog  
Facebook - www.facebook.com/groups/peskypoochpuppyanddogtrainingsupport/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pawsupdogstraining/

Is your dog safe & secure? Stacey & Ness discuss the difference and what it can mean both in training but also every day life.

In this episode, Stacey and Ness discuss scenarios, what they might look like, why we might change them and how to introduce them into training.

In this episode the girls catch up with one of Stacey's clients, Meghan and her greyhound Bria, to discuss Bria's training and how she achieved success.

In this episode, Stacey & Ness discuss a difficult dilemma ... when should you stop training all together? 

Is it really the best thing to do or not? 

What should be done first before making this decision?

In this episode, Stacey & Ness discuss the ups & downs of training, when there is variability and the times there are complete regressions. They offer some tips on how to address this and continue to move forward.

In this episode, Stacey & Ness once again continue their Mythconceptions series. Today, it's all about Dog Shaming and the things people accuse dogs of doing deliberately when they are left home alone.

This podcast discusses Separation Anxiety in dogs and how to fix it.   

Two global specialists (certified as Separation Anxiety Pro Behavior Consultants) discuss all things related to Separation Anxiety.   Join Ness Jones from Separation Anxiety In Dogs Decoded in Australia (nessjones.com) and Stacey Bell from Focused Fun in the US (www.focusedfun.net) as they delve into the dos and don'ts of training a dog to feel safe and comfortable when left home alone!

In this episode, Stacey and Ness continue their Mythconceptions series and why the incredibly common advice of letting a dog "bark it out" is unkind and doesn't work.

In this episode, the girls continue their Mythconceptions series and the victim blaming that can sometimes go hand-in-hand with having a dog with separation anxiety.

In this episode Stacey & Ness meet with enrichment specialists Allie Bender, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World and Ellen Yoakum, a fellow separation anxiety trainer.  

They can be found at:  

Allie Bender, co-owner & Behavior Consultant at Pet Harmony, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA, www.petharmonytraining.com  

Ellen Yoakum, Operations Manager, Behavior Consultant & Trainer at Pet Harmony, KPA-CTP, CPBT-KA, Cert SAPT, www.petharmonytraining.com

In this episode the girls discuss Thresholds - what they are, why they are so important, why we use them and how we use them in our separation anxiety training.

In this episode Stacey and Ness discuss what separation-related behaviours (behaviors if you are in the US!) actually are, along with drool, poop and  plasterboard!

In this week's episode, Stacey and Ness discuss changing things up in training to set the dog up for success. They also examine how essential it is to look at the dog in front of you and not take a blanket approach to training. 

In this week's episode, Stacey, Ness & Sarah are joined by renowned vet behaviourist Dr Chris Pachel. Dr Pachel is not only a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB). he is also a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant (CABC). Dr Pachel works out of the Animal Behavior Clinic, in Portland, Oregon, in the US.

SHOW NOTES:

Dr Pachel contact details: drpachel.com

In this episode the girls discuss separation anxiety training and practice in relation to the book by Matthew Syed, Bounce: The of Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice. While repetition is important, it is important to note that the quality of those repetition is paramount.

SHOW NOTES: 

Matthew Syed, Bounce: The of Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice, 2011, https://www.booktopia.com.au/bounce-matthew-syed/book/9780007350544.html

Daniel Coyle, The Talent Code: Greatness isn't born. It's grown, 2021, https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-talent-code-daniel-coyle/book/9781847943040.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3IqSBhCoARIsAMBkTb0GFsYXVtnkedDWIVlPrxPIaWtWgKjYrk_CpEN3V091EX9F08xeAYUaAmQJEALw_wcB

If you care for an ex-racing greyhound then this episode is for you. Alongside special guest greyhound trainer Jedda Cutlack, we delve into how early development of greyhounds can help their transition into pet home life to mitigate the chance of separation anxiety and explore ways to tap into their genetic drives to meet their enrichment needs. 

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING A RETIRED RACING GREYHOUND HERE ARE SOME OPTIONS FOR YOU:

Australia:

Greyhound Facts (scroll to the bottom of the page for adoption options state-by-state) - https://greyhoundfacts.com.au/about-rehoming/?fbclid=IwAR1RsmX54uya_oAk5sAEezUDfa27RmmGxHbjTinbtODM2Y2Ucvy0YiorQKA

I Want A Greyhound (iWag) - www.iwag.com.au

UK:

https://alldogsmatter.co.uk/rehoming-an-ex-racing-greyhound/

https://www.greyhoundtrust.org.uk/home-a-greyhound

https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/dogs/filters/~283~~~~n~~

In the second episode of the New Year, Stacey, Sarah and Ness talk about changes in routine and how they can impact a dog's ability to be home alone. They discuss the best way forward and how to deal with it if the dog is struggling.

As Sarah, Stacey and Ness welcome in the New Year with Episode 1 of Season 3, they discuss goal setting in training and how to maximise your success. The girls battle through a Zombie Apocalypse and John Travolta makes a brief appearance!

SHOW NOTES:

Building SMART habits - https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_87.htm

Atomic Habits by James Clear - https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

The lowdown on New Year's Resolutions - https://people.com/health/average-american-tried-and-failed-at-2020-new-years-resolutions-study/

Zombie Run - https://zombiesrungame.com/

Specifics Please Bob - https://youtu.be/qHDSNs9wBpU

In this episode the girls discuss the Cycle of Change and how owners with dogs with separation anxiety have to work through each step in the cycle to successfully "graduate" to being able to leave their dogs home alone.

SHOW NOTES:

The Cycle of Change by Prochaska & DiClemente’s model (1983) http://socialworktech.com/2012/01/09/stages-of-change-prochaska-diclemente/?fbclid=IwAR2cuvB_v6WKqlEvOwGOmCnhSXPAfigZWWEfgWeB_HwkSVQL_NFK83gQ2JU

In this episode the girls discuss training for separation anxiety when there are other behavioral issues present and Stacey gets nekkid to frolic among the trees with her dog. 

SHOW NOTES

The Reliable Recall Online Course - https://ruff-diamonds-dog-services.newzenler.com/courses/the-reliable-recall

Plenty In Life Is Free - Reflections On Dogs, Training and Finding Grace - https://www.dogwise.com/plenty-in-life-is-free-reflections-on-dogs-training-and-finding-grace/?fbclid=IwAR3XFY0HpB43CQg_BHK9TfjltvaYtj4iZ6PIOrPNsY2Dj-JJp-L_8W72OT0

Do dogs have a sense of time? Can dogs with separation anxiety tell how long their owners have been gone? The girls dive into the research behind dogs and time.  We also cover all things time-related in home alone training. Ness reads a bedtime story... and cockroaches (eek). 

SHOW NOTES:

Mental representation and episodic-like memory of own actions in dogs, Fugazza et al, 2020 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-67302-0

Evidence for a subcircuit in medial entorhinal cortex representing elapsed time during immobility, Heys & Dombeck, 2018 https://sci-hub.se/10.1038/s41593-018-0252-8

The effect of time left alone at home on dog welfare,  Rehn & Keeling, 2011 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159110003242

Can Dogs Tell Time? Inquiring minds want to know! By Stanley Coren, https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/can-dogs-tell-time/114428

Yes, your pet can tell time, New study finds 'timing cells' in the brain may underlie an animal's inner clock, Northwestern University, 2018, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181023130518.htm

Can Dogs Tell Time? New research shows that dogs can measure time, Miller PhD, 2020, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181023130518.htm

Hachi: A Dog's Tale https://g.co/kgs/eo5QC2

In this episode the girls explore how they deal with Separation Anxiety in households of more than one dog. Rowan joins them for lunch and they go in search of some Japanese drummers.

SHOW NOTES:

Taiko Drumming - Kodo - "O-Daiko": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7HL5wYqAbU

The girls do a deep dive into sleep.  They talk about why it is important, unpack some common questions and provide some tips.  Stacey & Ness also made a shocking discovery in this episode about Sarah's mystery pet.  Enjoy!

SHOW NOTES:

A functional linear modeling approach to sleep–wake cycles in dogs https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-79274-2

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The interrelated effect of sleep and learning in dogs (Canis familiaris); an EEG and behavioural study https://www.nature.com/articles/srep41873

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Dogs, Cats and Humans: The Best Sleep Partner...? https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2018/12/dogs-cats-and-humans-best-sleep-partner.html

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Dogs Sleep Badly After a Stressful Experience  https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2017/11/dogs-sleep-badly-after-stressful.html

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The Five Domains Model Aims to Help Animals Thrive  https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2017/01/the-five-domains-model-aims-to-help.html

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The Effect of Dogs on Human Sleep in the Home Sleep Environment  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S002561961730486X

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Royal Python (also known as a Ball Pytho) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_python

Do we really need to shut a dog in a separate room to build independence?  Join Ness, Stacey and Sarah this week while they discuss the pros and cons of stopping your dog from following you.  Will it help with your training or just give you more to do?  

Also special guest Rowan pops in to add his own unique perspective ...

While Sarah enjoys a well-earned holiday, Stacey & Ness examine the fundamentals of dog body language and why it's so important to understand what our dogs are telling us through their non-verbal communication.

SHOW NOTES:

iSpeakDog - http://www.ispeakdog.org/

Lili Chin - https://www.doggiedrawings.net/

Brenda Aloff - https://brendaaloff.com/shop

In this episode the girls talk to Lisa Spector who has established herself at the forefront of creating calming music for dogs. Lisa combines her musical talents with her passion for improving the lives of dogs.

Lisa's piano recordings for dogs can be heard soothing pets in more than 1500 shelters worldwide. After 10 years of creating music for canine anxiety, NPR called her The Pet Calming Maestro. 

She's been featured on The CBS Early Show, CBS Australia, and Martha Stewart Living Radio. Lisa is the only classical pianist to reach Billboard’s Classical Top 20 Chart with pet music.

Lisa is the host of My Zen Pet, the first podcast with music for pets. The short episodes air every Monday and Friday and include a zen behavior tip and Dog Gone Calm music. 

You'll find her new album, Dog Gone Calm Vol. 1 on streaming channels June 25. The music is designed to calm the canine nervous system and relieve anxiety issues. When you cuddle up on the sofa with your dog and enjoy, you'll never know there are only 5 fingers on the keys. 

Links:

Website - https://myzenpet.com

Website - https://lisaspector.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/my_zen_pet/

Podcast - https://myzenpet.com/podcast/ 

Clubhouse - Lisa Spector

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Dog TV - https://land.dogtv.com/newnormal/

Music and Dogs Studies:  soundsensitivedogs.com/dogs-music-sound-research-bibliography/

In this episode the girls are joined by holistic psychologist Birdy O'Sheedy who talks us through the emotional impacts of having a dog with separation anxiety and how to deal with it. Having a dog with separation anxiety is stressful, frustrating and oftentimes just heartbreaking and Birdy provides some tips on how to deal with the emotional rollercoaster that comes with it. 

Birdy is an accredited clinical psychologist and qualified dog trainer who specialises in the human at the end of the lead. She also has a dog which had severe separation anxiety and needed an extensive behavioural modification program so she is coming from a position of understanding and empathy. Since her dog overcame his anxiety, she has been fascinated by how dogs impact the emotional wellbeing of dog owners, especially when the circumstances are challenging. 

Birdy hosts international workshops called "My Dog- My Teacher" and teaches dog owners the B.R.A.V.E formula to help them troubleshoot and navigate challenging situations in their relationship with their dog, whilst increasing the wellbeing of the dog, and the dog owner. 

Website: www.birdyosheedy.com  

FB https://www.facebook.com/BirdyOSheedy 

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/birdyosheedy/

In this episode we discuss what to look for in a vet or groomer if you have a dog with separation anxiety, how to make your dog more comfortable with what is likely to be a stressful situation and fear free facilities. Plus we learn about a couple of escape artists, mohawks for dogs and ear plucking!

If you would like to find a Fear Free Vet or Groomer, here is where you can find more information:

https://fearfreepets.com/

And just for giggles - check out these fancy groomer cuts. Mullet Life!! https://www.facebook.com/TheViralGroup/photos/pcb.502826934478582/502826671145275/

In this episode the girls examine separation anxiety in senior dogs alongside cognitive dysfunction, pain, and sensory decline.  As always, we discuss the best way forward to make our older dogs comfortable with being home alone.

To celebrate the 21st episode of Tails From The Dog House, the girls answer listener questions!

In this episode, the girls explore some of our big life changes that can not only turn our world upside down but also our dogs. They discuss the best ways to overcome them to help our dogs cope.

In this episode, Stacey, Ness and Sarah discuss rescue dogs who are struggling with settling in to their new home.  In addition to their typical off-topic banter, they give really usable tips on how to help your rescue with the transition- whether they just need time to adjust or if they have separation anxiety. . A heartfelt thanks to those who have rescued! SHOW NOTES: Shelter-housed versus re-homed dogs: Adjustment, behavior, and adoption outcomes, Nitzan Reem, 2019 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1556/019.70.2019.19 . Canine separation anxiety: strategies for treatment and management, Sargisson R, 2014 https://www.dovepress.com/canine-separation-anxiety-strategies-for-treatment-and-management-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-VMRR

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How did the Netherlands manage to become the first country to have no stray dogs? Sawbridge, Freya, 2020. https://dutchreview.com/culture/how-did-the-netherlands-manage-to-become-the-first-country-to-have-no-stray-dogs/?fbclid=IwAR29wv9XTLd5OYGnld-Z0f2wDfhAiXiy6g7Cuff3SF48xP3oCMQe5-wnzWU

In this episode the girls explore Regression & Variability in training, why it happens and what we should do about it. They also delve into the deep south of the US in search of Scarlett O'Hara (sadly, no luck), swat moths in the dark in the UK and swelter in the heat in Australia!

In this episode, Ness, Stacey & Sarah examine some of the objections to undertaking separation anxiety training and why it is still worthwhile doing. The girls also discuss their "significant others" and who's always right (we know who that is right?) and Stacey makes up another new word ... you'll have to listen to find out what that is!

What is a threshold? How do you determine if your dog is going over threshold? What do you do if it does go over threshold? How do we stop Ness yawning (hey, she did just wake up)? and the three essentials - coffee, tea & hot chocolate!

SHOW NOTES: 

Aloff, Brenda, Canine Body Language: A Photographic Guide Interpreting the Native Language of the Domestic Dog, 2005, Dogwise Publishing

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http://www.ispeakdog.org/

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Chin, Lili, Doggie Language: A Dog Lover's Guide To Understanding Your Best Friend  https://www.doggielanguagebook.com/

Many dog owners balk at the thought of giving their dogs vet prescribed medication (listen to our last episode, Season 2, Episode 2, for more on that) and prefer to take a more natural route when trying to assist their dogs towards getting over their separation anxiety. In this episode we explore some of the options and how appropriate they might be.
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SHOW NOTES:
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Using Cannabis and Cannabidiol (CBD Oil) in Dog Training and Behavior Work, Helen Prinold, 2019, https://summer2019.iaabcjournal.org/cannabis-in-dog-training-and-behavior-work/

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DAP vs. Clomipramine:   Gaultier E, Bonnafous L, Bougrat L, Lafont C, Pageat P. Comparison of the efficacy of a synthetic dog-appeasing pheromone with clomipramine for the treatment of separation-related disorders in dogs. Vet Rec. 2005;156(17):533–538

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Pressure vests and SA:  https://veterinaryevidence.org/index.php/ve/article/download/152/226?inline=1

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LISTENER WARNING: Some giggling included!

Should you give your dog medication if it has Separation Anxiety? All your questions answered.

Incidentally, for those wondering, baby rats, or "ratlings" as Stacey would have you believe (!!), are actually called pups or kittens.

Show Notes:

The Use of Medications in Canine Behavior Therapy - Ilana Reisner, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVB Reisner Veterinary Behavior & Consulting Services, Media, Pennsylvania, 2014 https://bit.ly/3sFzH4L

Behavior Medication: First-line Therapy or Last Resort? - Dr Jens' Dog Blog, 2016  https://bit.ly/3qtp82S

Having a dog with separation anxiety can be very difficult; we get it. So it's important to keep a positive mindset and reach out for extra support when you need it.

In this, our final episode of the first season of Tails From The Dog House - and last one for the year- Lisa, Stacey & Ness get into the holiday spirit, answering listener questions around separation anxiety training.

In this episode, Stacey, Lisa & Ness talk about puppies, their upbringing, settling them into their new home and how to add a "protective layer" against separation anxiety. Lisa once again brings her monkey to the show and the Terminator also pays a visit.

Link to the Bradshaw study, Aetiology of separation-related behaviour in domestic dogs - https://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/151/2/43.short?fbclid=IwAR3jVq3qNGUzuOJTa-K5gRcQgX_VrZNmGeC1OKPUamM-BhWJC_TrCNQS59w

What do you do with a dog with Separation Anxiety during the pandemic? Does being with your dog all the time cause SA? We discuss the best way to tackle lockdown and the importance of starting training now, rather than leaving it until you have to head back into the office.

In this episode we discuss what trainers and owners should do - and what they shouldn't - when it comes to dogs with Separation Anxiety. We also go "hunting", get nekkid (well our dogs do!) and talk about locking naughty kids in their rooms and feeding them cauliflower! Also as promised here are the links to the two studies Stacey mentioned in the episode discussing predictability for dogs suffering from separation anxiety: Separation anxiety in dogs: The implications of predictability and contextual fear for behavioural treatment (2014) https://bit.ly/33gD2w6  Separation-Related Problems in Dogs A Critical Review - a summary of findings (2020) https://bit.ly/3fAHlqT

In this, our very first episode of Tails From The Dog House, we discuss what we mean by Separation Anxiety and what ISN'T Separation Anxiety along with monkeys, elephants and ... ummmm .... Poomageddon!

Ness Jones from Separation Anxiety In Dogs Decoded in Australia, Stacey Bell from Focused Fun in the US and Lisa Morton from The Complete Canine Online in the UK are all specialists in Separation Anxiety and teaching a dog to cope with being home alone.