How could a board & train program possibly be beneficial for a dog with separation anxiety? Isn't that too much separation? Actually, one of the benefits of the board & train program is that the dog is separated from its owner and away from its home environment. This halts the momentum behind the dog's deepest rooted, most emotional reactions and patterns, and we can leverage that break in momentum to teach your dog a different way.
That doesn't mean the dog won't feel their usual anxiety during the board & train—they sure will! It just means that the change of environment and change in relationships gives us (and your dog) an opportunity we wouldn't have if we were trying to train your dog in your home. Sometimes mild separation anxiety can be addressed in the dog's home, but for the most part, it's a complex behavior issue that requires a board & train in order to be successfully addressed.
At the very end of the board & train program when your dog is at their very best, we'll add you and your home environment back into the mix. Sometimes there are smaller challenges to work through as the dog transitions home, but so long as you're willing to adhere to the training protocols we teach you, these should resolve quickly.
That being said, it's also important to note that not all board & train programs are created equal. Not all board & train programs are this extensive, and not all trainers realize the importance of shifting the dog's state of mind. Read on to learn about our comprehensive approach to separation anxiety.
Our Approach to Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a complex, nuanced issue that's a little different for every dog, so the specifics of the training process vary by dog. However, the nuts and bolts remain the same. Below is a list of the training approaches we utilize in every separation anxiety case:
Crate training - teaching a dog to be comfortable and relaxed in the crate no matter who is around (or not around). During this process we use extremely durable crates that dogs cannot break out of, we have the dog on camera 24/7, and we never leave a dog to freak out.
Confidence building - dogs with separation anxiety need to learn that they're okay on their own. This starts with general confidence building and then as their confidence grows, we'll start to utilize that confidence in situations where the dog is crated and alone. Obedience is a piece of this puzzle, too (it's all related).
Accountability and boundaries - A huge part of overcoming any behavior issue, including separation anxiety, is explaining to a dog that certain behaviors are off limits. We teach every dog what want him to do (the expected behaviors) and we'll spend time building and practicing healthy behavior patterns. But we'll also tell the dog "no" for any behaviors that are off limits. In the crate, for example, we teach every dog how to be calm and we pattern lots of relaxation in there, but we also tell the dog no for barking/howling/carrying on. These boundaries around unacceptable behaviors are applied in a variety of situations, not just in the crate. For example, all trainees learn how to heel politely on the leash (the expected behavior) and they also learn what they're not allowed to do on the leash (dig their heels in and stop the whole show, lose their mind when a dog passes by, lunge toward things they finds exciting or scary, etc.).
E-collar communication - The e-collar is a key part of addressing separation anxiety because it allows us to communicate with the dog in a way they understand even while they're in the crate and not attached to us via leash. It also allows us to get through to a dog when they're in a heightened state of mind and verbal direction isn't getting through. The e-collar can be used for both regular communication and for correction, so the "no" happens with the e-collar. Every dog who graduates from our program is fluent in the language of the e-collar, meaning they understand what both communicative and corrective feelings mean.
Separation in the rest of life - Another piece to the separation anxiety puzzle is creating some separation during moments when you are home with your dog. This is a huge area of opportunity for all separation anxiety dogs! The place command is a key skill for a dog with separation anxiety both during training and when they return home. Instead of clinging to humans, following you around, etc. you'll create a little separation by putting your dog on their place (their dog cot or dog bed). Your dog will still be in the room with you, but there is some distance between you. This might seem like a small thing to us, but it's a huge shift for the dog. It's an opportunity to practice coping with separation on a minor scale. All of these minor instances add up and it helps the dog handle separation better with the "big" separation moments.
Returning home - This is another huge piece of the puzzle! The skills and mindset your dog learns here are transferable to your home environment, but that transition home is a delicate process. Once your dog's training is complete, our task is now to reintroduce your dog to you and your home while ensuring your dog brings their new good behavior home, too. We put a lot of effort into making this transition successful. One of the most important factors is training the human end of the leash (you and anyone else who lives in your home) so that you know how to use your dog's training to assist them through this transition, how to communicate with your dog, etc. The other important factor is your dog's lifestyle at home. When your dog first returns home, their lifestyle will need to mimic their lifestyle here at training. This helps the dog transition the skills and patterns they learned here at Sadie's Rules to your home environment. We'll teach you the in's and out's of this during our time together, and we'll send your dog home with a detailed go-home plan so you aren't left to figure out what to do with your dog once they return home.
Other skills - While your dog is here, they'll also learn all the other skills that we teach during a board & train, including on and off leash obedience, polite manners and leash skills, and the ability to calmly navigate public spaces with you (like trips to the pet store, park, etc.). These skills are not "extra"; they're all part of the process of building your dog's confidence and bringing down their anxiety. We'll teach you how to use these skills to keep your dog in a good space going forward.
In summary, the board & train provides an opportunity for your dog to "reset" their association with the crate and their feelings about being separated from you. We'll get your dog into the best possible behavioral space, and then we'll teach you how to keep that going once your dog returns home. Last but not least, we provide lifetime email support to help you through any questions or scenarios that pop up later on. (Learn more about our short and long term training benefits here.)
