PlayTyme Papillons

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Here's how we make Separation anxiety happen in dogs.

Pet your dog, all the time
Talk to your dog, all the time
Allow your dog to follow you, all the time
Allow your dog to be on your lap or laying on your feet, all the time
Pet, soothe, comfort your dog when it whines or barks for attention...or is simply anxious
Allow your dog to demand affection/interactions
Be emotionally dependent on your dog to the point that unhealthy dependency and interactions are no longer noticed
Allow your dog to do whatever it wants, whenever it wants—aka, provide no structure, rules, or accountability
Foster an environment of chaos, stress, and anxiety
Refuse to train and pattern calmness
Refuse to crate train your dog
Refuse to correct your dog when inappropriate behavior occurs
Refuse to train your dog how to be independent/alone by using a “Place” command, “Downstay, and/or “away” time in the crate
Let your dog out of the crate when it whines or barks
Avoid training or anything that makes your dog temporarily uncomfortable or unhappy—in other words, cater to your dog’s every desire/need, designing your life around your dog, rather than having your dog fit into yours

Basically, baby, soothe, allow, enable, disable, lean on, omit teaching necessary life skills, prioritize what feels good for you rather than what does good for your dog, and through this master plan of leadership-free chaos, and systematic cultivation of creating a toxic dependency between dog and human...you’ll ensure that when you leave, your dog will be a true emotional mess, because you haven’t prepared them to be calm, obedient, strong, resilient, robust, independent, and alone.

How to avoid Separation Anxiety

Leadership is Key

Leadership—meaning

structure

rules

accountability

clarity of what is expected

what’s allowed, what’s not

vigilant advocacy, and the ever present guidance of how to best navigate this world—isn’t a magical “thing” which makes imperfect dogs, perfect. Perfect dogs don’t exist, regardless of what’s shared. But when it comes to helping dogs become their best, it is the closest “thing” to magic that you DO have to offer.

I’ve seen enough dogs, and am skilled enough in the implementation of what I’ve listed above to be able to confidently share that leadership is indeed a profoundly transformative exchange between human and canine, and its ability—when engaged in properly—to positivity affect a dog’s behavior, as well as your relationship, is something magical to behold.

That said, there are no magic fixes in the canine world, just as there are none in the human world. All we have are what works best; and if you’re looking to help your dog find his or her best, leading them—in a healthy, loving, but firm fashion—is the greatest gift, and the best guarantee you can offer your dog, and yourself.