Rumor has it that Susan Miller, CVT, CPDT, CDBC, can work miracles… little wonder, then, that it was Susan I turned to when Lily’s separation anxiety needed to be brought under control.
My dear, sweet Lily doesn’t want me to be out of her sight. Actually, I am her person and she wants me in close proximity at all times. Not only is this impossible, it’s not healthy. When I’d let all the dogs outside to play in the back field, as soon as Lily would realize that I wasn’t coming along, she’d turn around and cry at the door to come inside. If we were in the kitchen together and I left to go upstairs, she’d moan until I reappeared. Even looking at me from the other side of the fence while I was gardening just a few feet away, set up too much of a separation between us. Instead of getting better, things were clearly exacerbating with time. I realized it was necessary to seek advice of a trained professional.
Although I’ve trained dogs myself since the age of 10 – and teach classes in therapy dog training, handling the issue of separation anxiety was beyond my capabilities. As a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Susan is equipped with the professional training needed to ameliorate the situation.
Susan came to our home for our first meeting. She assessed the situation, quickly noting that Lily’s eyes were constantly fixed on me as she and I stood talking in our kitchen/family room area. When I moved from one area of the room to the other, Lily would get up and follow me. In addition to seeing this type of behavior, I described in detail other scenarios, such as how Lily can’t bear to play outside with the other dogs putting me out of her sight. I often take one of the dogs with me on errands around town. They love riding in the car and patiently sit there while I run inside a store. This is impossible with Lily… she sets up a blood-curdling screech when I set foot inside a store. (Sad, because she, too, loves riding in the car. But, of course she would, we’re together in the car!)
Susan determined this to be a definite case of separation anxiety and she started giving me several different techniques to work on with Lily. During our session, we practiced each exercise she wanted me to work on with Lily. (I took copious notes.) As always, with any dog training, especially when working through a problem, patience and baby steps are the keys to success. Exercises were to build on one another… take a wee baby step – many times, then try a step ever-so-slightly larger.
Susan left me with homework – and the encouragement that working through this problem slowly and with perseverance would result in eliminating the it. She predicts that by the end of the summer, Lily will be a much more relaxed dog. We scheduled our next appointment 3 weeks out, which would give us plenty of time to work on the basic building blocks. During this time, we would have weekly check-in calls with Susan to discuss progress and get further suggestions from her depending on the progress made.
We are now 2 weeks into our exercises… I am a very patient person. I want this to succeed for Lily – for all of us. Sometimes it’s two steps forward, then one step backward. So important not to advance to the next level too soon. Susan and I have had our weekly pep talks – and I am already seeing a more relaxed – therefore, happier – dog. Lily is a wonderful, sweet dog… she will get there. It all depends on me!
Stay tune for updates on Lily’s progress…
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