Head Over Heels

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Head Over Heels

Head Over Heels specializes in separation anxiety training for dogs and their owners. Busy schedules can get in the way of the greatest plans for your dog.

Head Over Heels engages your dog's body and brain with a Walk & Train solution for Reno-area dog owners.

01/06/2026

Does your dog fall apart when you walk out the door? I'm building something new to help with exactly that. More soon. 🐾

08/05/2026

Independence isn’t just for teenagers—it’s for dogs, too. 😉

If your pup struggles when left alone (or you just want to prevent it), our Healthy Alone Time webinar has you covered.

Simple, practical strategies. No overwhelm. Real-life results.

Because a confident dog = a more flexible life.

Save your seat by commenting "workshops" below!

15/04/2026

You can't hurry love — and you definitely can't hurry separation anxiety training. 🎶

Your dog's nervous system is on its own timeline. The science works when you work with it, not against it.

That's exactly what The Away Team is built around — understanding your dog's threshold and learning to read what they're telling you, so you can make real progress without accidentally making things harder.

Curious? Comment "???" below and I'll send you some info. 🐾

13/04/2026

🐾 Exciting news — founding members wanted!
I’m launching a brand new self-guided separation anxiety training program and I’m looking for a small group of founding members to be the first in.
You’ll get access at a special founding member rate — and your feedback will help shape the program.
If your dog struggles when left alone, this was made for you.
👇 Drop a comment or DM me to learn more!

10/03/2026

A lot of people think separation anxiety training is about getting your dog to "get over" their fear.

But that's not actually how it works.

The fear memory doesn't get erased. What we're doing instead is building something stronger than the fear — a deep library of safe, calm experiences that your dog's nervous system can draw on when you walk out the door.

Every successful absence is a deposit into that library.

That's why the protocol is so gradual. We're not tiptoeing around the fear. We're building something that can outlast it.

18/02/2026

I hear this so often: "Everyone told me crating would help my dog feel safe, but when I leave them in there, something goes terribly wrong."

Here's what nobody tells you: for dogs with separation anxiety or confinement distress, crating doesn't just fail to help—it often makes everything significantly worse.

When you combine the terror of being separated from you with the inability to escape, you create amplified, compounded distress that can quickly escalate into full-blown panic.

🚨 Signs your dog is genuinely panicking in their crate:

Bent or broken crate bars
Broken teeth or damaged nails from escape attempts
Excessive drool, sometimes mixed with vomit
Intense vocalization that doesn't stop
Self-injury

This isn't "testing boundaries." This is a nervous system in crisis.

The science is clear: You can't habituate to panic. Research shows that repeated exposure to panic-inducing situations without the ability to escape doesn't lead to habituation—it leads to SENSITIZATION. The fear response gets stronger, not weaker.

So what DO you do instead? There are humane alternatives:
✅ Baby gates and room confinement
✅ Exercise pens for more space
✅ Dog-proofed safe rooms
✅ Sometimes—supervised freedom

And most importantly: treating the underlying separation anxiety through systematic desensitization.

Your dog deserves better than being trapped with their terror.
Read the full blog article to understand what's really happening with your dog and what actually helps. (link below in comments)

09/02/2026

🎯 BULL'S EYE 🎯

Meet Stanley Tucci 🐕 - who just crushed his separation anxiety practice session today with perfect calm from start to finish. No pacing, no whining, no stress signals. Just a dog being comfortable in his own space. In fact, he's hard to see in this pic. Let me know if you spot him.

This is what systematic desensitization looks like when guardians trust the process and do the work. His human, Joey, has been showing up consistently with missions, and Stanley is showing her exactly what's possible.

Celebrating this huge win! 🎊

02/02/2026

The Hidden Cost of Rushing the Dog Adoption Process

As a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer, I see a pattern: Many separation anxiety cases could be prevented (or significantly reduced) if we better supported the critical settling-in period after adoption.

Here's what I mean:
When a dog enters a new home, they're not just learning house rules - they're making fundamental assessments about safety, trust, and predictability. This "decompression period" typically takes 2-4 weeks minimum, but many adopters expect immediate adjustment.

The result? Dogs who never fully settle. Who develop anxiety around alone time because they haven't yet learned that departures aren't permanent. Who struggle with reactivity because they're constantly in survival mode.

What actually helps:
→ Predictable routines (even imperfect ones)
→ Patient trust-building without forcing interaction
→ Appropriate exercise balanced with genuine rest
→ Recognition that "settling-in stress" looks different than separation anxiety

The dogs I work with often show significant improvement once we address foundational security needs alongside specific SA protocols.

I've written a guide for new dog owners on navigating this critical period: [link in bio or in comments]

Supporting the transition properly isn't just kind - it's preventative care.

31/01/2026

Bringing home a new dog? Here's what the first few weeks actually look like (and why patience matters more than perfection) 🧵

1/ Most dogs need 2-4 weeks MINIMUM to start feeling comfortable in a new home. Dogs from shelters, outdoor situations, or major transitions may need even longer. This is the "decompression period" - and it's not optional.

2/ During this time, your dog is learning: ✓ Is this place safe? ✓ Can I trust this person? ✓ What's the routine here? ✓ What do they want from me?
Uncertain behavior, clinginess, accidents - all normal. Not problems to "fix" but signs of a dog trying to figure things out.

3/ The #1 thing you can do? Create predictability. Feed at the same time. Walk at the same time. Even small consistencies help an anxious dog feel grounded.
Want the complete guide to helping your new dog settle in? [link in comments or in bio]

30/01/2026

🏡 "My new dog won't settle down. What am I doing wrong?"
You're probably not doing anything wrong. Here's what most people don't realize about bringing a new dog home:
🕐 Most dogs need 2-4 weeks just to START feeling comfortable
🧠 They're processing EVERYTHING - every sound, smell, routine, rule
💙 What looks like "behavioral problems" is often just adjustment stress
Your new dog is learning:
→ What this place is and whether it's safe
→ Who you are and if they can trust you
→ What the daily routine looks like
→ What behaviors you expect from them
The settling-in period is real, and rushing it doesn't help anyone.
Want to know what actually DOES help? I wrote a complete guide on helping new dogs settle in (link in bio). It covers everything from creating predictable routines to knowing when normal adjustment becomes separation anxiety.
Give your dog time. Give yourself grace. You're building something that will last years - a few weeks of patience is worth it.

Address

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 19:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 19:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 19:00
Thursday	09:00 - 19:00
Friday	09:00 - 19:00
Saturday	09:00 - 19:00
Sunday	09:00 - 19:00

Telephone

+17753423610

Website

http://www.headoverheelsreno.com/

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