Ardent Dog • Online Training & Behavior, Seattle, WA (2025)

03/05/2025

Does your dog struggle when you leave the house? 🐾 Separation anxiety is more common than you think—but many dog parents don’t know how to spot the signs or help their pup feel better.

Your dog isn’t being “naughty” when they panic—it’s fear, not mischief. With the right tools, you can help them feel calm and confident when they’re alone! 💛

✨ Want more support? Check out my Separation Anxiety Solutions Course for step-by-step training that works. Comment “separation anxiety” and I’ll send you the link! 🐶✨
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03/03/2025

🚫 Stop believing these myths about separation anxiety! 🚫

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about dogs with separation anxiety, and these common myths can make it harder to find real solutions.

💡 Separation anxiety isn’t about being “spoiled” or “naughty.” It’s a real fear that requires patience, training, and support to overcome.

If your dog struggles with being alone, you’re not alone! My training programs are designed to help anxious dogs feel more confident and secure.

If you need help, comment “free guide” and I’ll send you my Beginner’s Guide to Separation Anxiety Training! 🐾💙
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02/24/2025

Does your dog struggle when you leave the house? 🐾 Separation anxiety is more common than you think—but many dog parents don’t know how to spot the signs or help their pup feel better.

Your dog isn’t being “naughty” when they panic—it’s fear, not mischief. With the right tools, you can help them feel calm and confident when they’re alone! 💛

✨ Want more support? Check out my Separation Anxiety Solutions Course: www.ardentdog.com/separationanxietytraining

02/18/2025

Let’s take a look at what some would consider nuisance behaviors!

Do you have a dog that barks all day?
Do you have a dog that digs up your plants in the yard?
Chews on your shoes?
Gets in the trash to get food?

All these nuisance behaviors are actually natural or instinctual behaviors for dogs! But what causes these natural behaviors to become nuisance behaviors is when our dogs do it at a time or in an environment we don’t want, causing issues or even destroying property.

If we try to suppress or discourage our dog’s natural behaviors, they will find a way to express the behaviors themselves! And this usually means getting into something that we don’t want them to.

What nuisance behaviors do you experience with your dog? Raisin used to constantly dig holes in my garden, I had to keep filling them in and replanting my plants. It became so frustrating!

But I decided to get a kiddie pool and fill it with sand, giving her endless opportunities to dig!
I was able to solve the garden digging problem without any punishment, yelling, or anger, just by using an enrichment plan to meet her needs! Isn’t that awesome!

Many people worry that if we “encourage” digging or destroying, etc. our dog will do it in even more inappropriate ways. But actually the opposite is true. If we can provide them with an appropriate outlet, it will reduce the dogs’ need to find an outlet for themselves!

Do you want to learn more about canine enrichment? Check out our online course: www.ardentdog.com/canine-enrichment-essentials

02/10/2025

As a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant, I do not use punishment in my training for many reasons. This stance is also backed by science! According to a scientific article in the Veterinary Medicine Research and Reports, for the treatment of separation anxiety “Dog owners should immediately cease all punishment of any dog behavior.”

According to the article, “Dog owners who return to a house subjected to destruction may punish the dog. However, high frequencies of punishment are associated with anxious behavior for small dogs and dogs are less anxious when a high proportion of their training interactions involve positive reinforcement. Additionally, punishment delivered upon the owner’s return to the house is unlikely to be temporally contingent upon the problem behavior and is likely, therefore, to be ineffective. Thus, punishment is best avoided in dealing with dogs with separation-related problems.”

Separation anxiety can be an overwhelming behavioral issue but there are many ways to help your dog, without the use of any punishment!

If you need help with your dog’s separation anxiety training, check out our online course: www.ardentdog.com/separationanxietytraining

02/03/2025

Do you ever feel alone with a dog who can’t be left alone? 🐶💔

Living with a dog that has separation anxiety is incredibly challenging, both for the dog and their humans. It can feel overwhelming but know that you're not alone in this journey.

A scientific study found that living with a dog experiencing separation-related problems causes significant emotional and financial stress in households. This is a common struggle, with an estimated 20% of the dog population showing signs of separation-related behavior issues.

Despite how rarely it's discussed, many pet parents face these challenges daily.

I understand how isolating it can feel to have a dog with behavioral issues. But remember, there are many others who share your struggles and are here to support you.

If you need help with your dog's separation anxiety, check out our online course: www.ardentdog.com/separationanxietytraining.com
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01/27/2025

Debunking Separation Anxiety Myths!🐾

Did you know these common beliefs about separation anxiety aren’t true?

Many dog parents are told things like, “Your dog will grow out of it” or “They’re just acting out,” but these myths can prevent us from truly understanding and helping our anxious dogs.

✨ Why this matters:
Separation anxiety isn’t just bad behavior—it’s a sign of stress and fear. By addressing the root cause, we can help our dogs feel more secure and confident, even when they’re home alone.

💡 Save this post to revisit later, and share it with someone whose dog might be struggling with anxiety. Let’s work together to spread kindness and understanding for all our furry friends. 🐾

Want to get started? Check out our website: www.ardentdog.com/separationanxietytraining
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01/21/2025

Fearful dogs thrive with predictability! 🐾✨

Pattern games are a powerful tool to help reduce anxiety, build confidence, and promote calmness through movement. These simple yet effective exercises provide a safe and structured way for your dog to process fear and develop resilience. 💕

Patterns help your dog:
✔️ Feel in control by knowing what to expect.
✔️ Redirect focus to something positive and familiar.
✔️ Build confidence through repetitive success.
✔️ Foster calmness, even in stressful situations.
✔️ Generalize skills across different environments.

Want to help your dog overcome fear? Check out our Training Games for Confidence Building online course today! www.ardentdog.com/training-games

01/13/2025

Even non-anxious dogs need to learn how to stay home alone! 🐾🏡

Wally wasn’t anxious, but he didn’t like being left out or left behind. This led to barking and stress whenever I tried to leave without him. 😢

Here’s what helped Wally feel comfortable being home alone:
- A relaxing environment with his favorite bed, calming music, and white noise.
- Meeting his needs before leaving—exercise, play, food, and potty.
- Short, positive departures to build his confidence that I would always come back.
- Patience and consistency to show him that being home alone could be safe and okay! 💡✨

Home alone training isn’t just for dogs with separation anxiety—it’s a skill every dog needs to feel secure and calm on their own.

To help your dog, join our online course, Separation Anxiety Solutions, today! www.ardentdog.com/separationanxietytraining

01/06/2025

Overcoming fear isn’t about bravery—it’s about rewiring the brain. 💡🐾

When dogs are scared, their brain creates strong connections between fear and panic—it’s a survival instinct. But here’s the good news: with techniques like counterconditioning (positive associations) and desensitization (slow, safe exposure), you can help them learn new habits! ✨

Unlike fear, which is automatic, learning takes repetition, consistency, and patience. Every small step forward helps your dog build confidence and create positive associations. 💕

Keep going—you’re helping their brain make incredible changes! 🙌

To help your dog overcome separation anxiety, enroll in our online course: Separation Anxiety Solutions! www.ardentdog.com/separationanxietytraining

11/06/2024

Should you crate your dog with separation anxiety?

I get this question so often because there is a lot of misinformation on the internet which claims that crate training is the best way to solve a dog’s separation anxiety.

And while crate training is a good life skill, it should be taught outside of separation anxiety training.

If you confine an anxious dog to a crate, it can actually make their anxiety worse, and they can injure themselves trying to escape. Many dogs with separation anxiety also have anxiety around confinement. Giving an anxious dog more agency and allowing them a choice where they go when home alone can help make their separation anxiety training more successful.

Crate training is often suggested to solve behavioral issues, but all it does it confine the problem behaviors, not change a dog’s emotions surrounding alone time.

The best way to change a dog’s feelings about being home alone is desensitization within a systematic separation anxiety training protocol.

If you need help with your dog’s separation anxiety training, get our FREE beginner's guide to separation anxiety training: https://ardentdog.com/freeguide

11/04/2024

Enrichment impacts behaviors!

Enrichment:
• Reduces anxiety
• Improves memory & learning ability
• Provides natural-stress relief by releasing endorphins
• Provides outlets for instinctual behaviors

When working on a behavior modification protocol, like working to improve separation anxiety or reactivity, all of the benefits above can impact behavior change!

For example, for a dog with separation anxiety, being home alone causes immense stress. To overcome separation anxiety, you’ll need to work through a separation anxiety training protocol. If we can add enrichment into the life of a dog with separation anxiety, we can reduce the overall stress and anxiety in their life and improve their learning abilities!

Think about how much more effective the separation anxiety training protocol would be when you are improving the overall wellbeing of your dog! If you do need help with your dog’s separation anxiety, check out our Separation Anxiety Solutions course! (https://ardentdog.com/separationanxietytraining)

Every dog is an individual, so you’ll need to observe your dog to understand what works best for them. The enrichment you choose will totally depend on you, your dog, and the type of behavior you are trying to change.

Do you want to learn more about canine enrichment? Check out our Canine Enrichment Essentials course! 💕 (https://ardentdog.com/canine-enrichment-essentials)

10/29/2024

We love pumpkin at our house! Does your dog love pumpkin?

08/20/2024

Ever been told that ‘spoiling’ your dog or treating them like a baby causes separation anxiety? If so, I want to start by saying I’m truly sorry that you have been made to feel this way. 🙏 I know how it feels. People can have a lot of opinions on how we care for our dogs!

But let’s set the record straight: Loving and caring for our dogs as if they were our children is not only natural but something to be celebrated! 🎉 These acts of affection do not spoil them; rather, they foster a deeper, more meaningful bond.

Our pups are more than just pets; they’re integral members of our families. Their emotional well-being is as important as our own. 🏡 And guess what? Scientific research supports this nurturing approach. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reveals that ‘spoiling activities,’ like allowing your dog on your bed or feeding them treats from the table, are not linked to separation anxiety. 📖

This insight challenges the myth that excessive affection leads to behavioral issues. Instead, it highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the root causes of separation anxiety, which can be complex and varied.

Are you navigating the challenges of separation anxiety with your pup? Interested in learning more about how to help them? Check out link in bio to get our comprehensive Beginner’s Guide to Separation Anxiety Training. Let’s work together to ensure our dogs feel secure, loved, and happy. 💕
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08/07/2024

Separation anxiety training is so much more than just stopping unwanted behaviors like barking or howling. 🐾

It’s really about addressing the underlying fear and anxiety that your dog feels when alone. These emotions drive the behaviors we see, such as potty accidents, scratching doors, and destroying furniture. By treating the root cause and helping your dog feel safe, these behaviors will naturally fade away. 🩵

Join our separation anxiety self-study course to learn how to help your dog overcome their fears! Link in bio. 🐶✨
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07/30/2024

My favorite tool for separation anxiety training is a camera! It is critical that you can observe your dog while you are out of the house! Whether that be during a training session or an actual absence.

Preventing your dog from having a scary alone time experience is key to successful separation anxiety training!

Do you use a camera to watch your dog while you are out of the house?

If you would like to find out more about how to help your dog feel comfortable being home alone, comment “FREE GUIDE” and I’ll send you a link to our FREE Beginner’s Guide to Separation Anxiety Training! Let’s tackle this together! 🌟
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07/18/2024

Do you allow your dog on furniture? Do they sleep on the bed with you? If you do, that is OKAY!

As a certified dog behavior consultant, I specialize in separation anxiety. According to a scientific study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, there is no association between separation anxiety and “spoiling” activities, such as letting your dog on furniture or sleep on the bed.

If you have ever been made to feel bad that “spoiling” your dog has caused their separation anxiety, I want you to know that is NOT the case! And you can continue living and loving your dog how you choose to!

Now, there might be other reasons that you choose not to allow your dog on furniture, and that is okay too. Do whatever works best for you, your dog, and your household.

Check out our website for our separation anxiety self-study course! www.ardentdog.com/separationanxietytraining

Ardent Dog • Online Training & Behavior