Further reading
Books, research, and communities from the RESOURCES section of Be Right Back! — curated to go deeper on dog separation anxiety.
Recommended books
Marc Bekoff
Canine Confidential
Written by an award-winning scientist and dog-lover, this opens up the world of dog behavior and shows how to make your dogs’ lives the best they can be.
Dr. John Bradshaw
In Defence of Dogs
Overturns common myths about dogs’ emotions and behavior and shows how we should really treat our pets.
Jean Donaldson
Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding the Relationship between Humans and Domestic Dogs
Turned the dog-training world on its head and set up millions of dogs for a life free of punishment-based training.
Alexandra Horowitz
Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know
Introduces dogs’ perceptual and cognitive abilities and makes a serious attempt to explore what it might actually be like to be a dog.
Patricia McConnell
The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do around Dogs
Looks at humans as an interesting species and explores how dogs interpret our behavior — and how to interact in ways that bring out the best in them.
Articles & research
Dr. John Bradshaw — The Guardian, July 2017
"If Dogs Could Talk, They’d Tell Us Some Home Truths"
Read on The Guardian →Mark Brown — The Guardian, September 2017
"Antidepressants Work, So Why Do We Shame People for Taking Them?"
Read on The Guardian →Butler, Sargisson, & Elliffe — Applied Animal Behavior Science, 2010
"The Efficacy of Systematic Desensitization for Treating the Separation-Related Problem Behaviour of Domestic Dogs"
View paper →Niwako Ogata — Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 2016
"Separation Anxiety in Dogs: What Progress Has Been Made in Our Understanding of the Most Common Behavioral Problems in Dogs?"
Sherman, Landsberg, Houpt, & Robertson-Plouch — Veterinary Therapeutics, 2007
"Effects of Reconcile (Fluoxetine) Chewable Tablets Plus Behavior Management for Canine Separation Anxiety"
Rebecca J. Sargisson, 2014
"Canine Separation Anxiety: Strategies for Treatment and Management"
Online communities & resources
Fearful Dogs
Blog and Facebook group by Debbie Jacobs — a longstanding resource for owners of fearful dogs.
Companion Animal Psychology
Evidence-based blog covering dog behavior and training science.
Pet Professional Guild
Professional organization for positive reinforcement trainers. A good starting point for finding force-free trainers.
The Academy for Dog Trainers
Science-based dog trainer education, founded by Jean Donaldson.
Canine Enrichment
Facebook community dedicated to canine enrichment ideas and activities.
Services for managing absences
While you’re training, your dog shouldn’t be left alone longer than their current threshold. These services can help bridge the gap.
Online training
Jean Donaldson — The Great Courses
Dog Training 101
Field-tested training plans for basic obedience and solving common behavior problems. A good companion to the book’s foundation skills.
Want a personalized training plan for your dog?