Episode #6: The 10 Pillars to Separation Anxiety Success
To be prepared is half the victory.
-Miguel de Cervantes
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:
Viewing your dog as a study of one
Providing enrichment and meeting your dog’s needs
Managing your dog’s distress with absence suspension
Becoming fluent in body language
Reducing your dog’s overall stress
Getting your dog checked out by your veterinarian
Being open to the use of behavior medication
Executing a gradual exposure training plan
Setting realistic expectations
Taking care of yourself
Resources mentioned in this episode: