09/12/2025
The last one might be exactly what you and your dog are missing.
Whilst meeting needs, setting up cameras and masking noises are all really important, none of these things will solve your dog’s Separation Anxiety.
But what if you had a specific routine, that communicates with your dog that you are about to leave them BUT that the alone time is safe and not scary?
For Sully, this routine is as simple as:
1️⃣Preparing my things (shoes, jackets, keys & bag ready to go).
2️⃣Turning on white noise & a specific playlist, then sitting down on the sofa.
3️⃣Pressing the front door handle once, then sitting down again.
4️⃣After sitting for a minute, I get up and I go for real.
But let me be clear - there is absolutely nothing special about this routine. Pressing your door handle before you go out will make zero difference to how your dog feels about alone time - unless you give the handle press meaning.
If your dog panics when you grab your keys, put on your shoes or open the coat cupboard then you’ll already know what that I’m talking about. The reason your dog panics when these things happen, is because they have associated those actions with alone time that they have found to be scary and difficult.
What Sully has learned about a door handle press, is the exact opposite of this. By repeatedly pairing a front door handle press, with safe alone time afterwards, I have taught him that the handle press is a predictor of safe alone time.
So when he hears me press the handle, he knows he is about to be left alone BUT that there is nothing to worry about, and that he can switch off and relax instead of worry that I’m gone.
Want help to create your own safe departure routine? Comment ‘Home Alone’ to schedule your free enquiry Zoom call and find out more about my 121 Separation Anxiety Training Programmes 👩🏻💻🌍
