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Certified Behavior Consultants who specialize in separation anxiety.
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The Certification
What it means to be an SA Pro
The Certified SA Pro Behaviour Consultant — CSAP-BC — is a specialist certification created by Julie Naismith for trainers who want to offer expert-level separation anxiety support to their clients. General dog training credentials don't cover separation anxiety in any depth. CSAP-BC does — trainers are tested specifically on the science of separation anxiety, assessed on real cases, and held to a strict practical standard before they qualify.
Science-based methods only
SA Pros are trained in systematic desensitization — the only evidence-based approach for separation anxiety. They understand why other methods don't work, and can explain it clearly to clients.
Precision you can't get alone
Separation anxiety training requires catching signals that are almost impossible to spot yourself — a micro-shift in posture, a split-second freeze, an ear position. SA Pros are trained to read those accurately and build plans around exactly what your dog is showing them. You don't have to figure it out. Your trainer does the thinking.
Client-centred approach
SA Pros are trained to work with empathy, not blame. They use engagement-based coaching, keep things simple, and understand that the emotional experience of the owner is as important as the training plan.
To earn the CSAP-BC designation, every trainer must
- 1
Body language and plan-building assessment
Trainers must watch real dogs on video, accurately read their stress responses, and construct precise, individualized training plans to match. Plans are marked against strict standards — there is no room for guesswork.
- 2
Written examination — 80% pass mark
A comprehensive test spanning the full body of separation anxiety science: desensitization theory, threshold assessment, classical and operant conditioning, differential protocols for complex cases, the role of medication, and the limits of unproven alternatives. Pass mark is 80%.
- 3
Assessed client practical
Trainers must demonstrate real-world competency with an actual client case, assessed by a qualified instructor against the full certification standards. Those who don't pass on first submission face a rigorous oral examination before they can qualify.