Episode 078 / 20th January 2023

078 Why it’s Not Your Fault – Or Your Dog’s Fault Either

You may have heard me say that your dog’s separation anxiety is not your fault. You didn’t cause your dog’s home alone issues.

I’ve been where you are and I know how much judgment you have to deal with, and how much guilt you can end up having when you have a dog with SA.

But it's not your dog‘s fault either.

That’s why, in this episode, I explain what‘s really going on with your dog, and why he or she is not trying to turn your world upside down. He can’t help how he feels and just wants you to help him feel better when you leave.

Tune in to find out more.

Episode 077 / 13th January 2023

077 Can “Calming” Music Really Soothe Your Anxious Dog?

You’ve most likely seen ads or posts about “calming” music for dogs, and how it can transform a nervous pup into a dog who confidently aces alone time. But is this really the case, or is this yet another separation anxiety myth?
There’s lots of misinformation about using music (and TV and other noise for that matter).

That’s why in this episode, I dive into the topic of music: when to use it, how it can help, and what it can really do for your home alone dog.

Episode 076 / 6th January 2023

076 Why Board and Train is Such Bad News for Dogs with Separation Anxiety

It can seem like an obvious solution to your dog’s separation anxiety: send your dog off to a trainer for two weeks and get his separation anxiety magically cured.

As tempting as it sounds, board and train is never the answer to separation anxiety. In this podcast episode, I explain exactly why.

Episode 075 / 23rd December 2022

075 The Truth About Whether Your Anxiety Caused Your Dog's Anxiety

Anxious people create anxiety in their dogs, don't they? Perhaps you've been told that. Perhaps you've thought that. It seems so plausible that it must be true, right? Well, not so fast. There isn't a ton of evidence, especially as it relates to separation anxiety.

That's why in this podcast I debunk this theory, and explain why it's unhelpful, limited thinking. Tune in to find out more.

Episode 074 / 17th December 2022

074 How To Deal With Judgy Comments and Unhelpful Advice This Festive Season

It’s that time of year: gathering with friends and family for special times and…conversations about your dog.

If you’re dreading the barrage of unsolicited tips, then tune into my latest podcast episode, where I dive into the most common bits of advice, and least helpful questions that I hear pet parents dealing with over and over again.
And for each one, I share my tips on how to handle them.

Episode 073 / 24th Nov 2022

073 All About Dogs and Pain With Canine Rehab Expert Sue Van Evra

Increasingly research shows the link between pain and behavior in dogs. While it’s not the only reason dog’s present with behavioral challenges, it can be a significant contributing factor.

And that’s why in the episode I chat with canine rehabilitation specialist, Sue Van Evra. Sue is the person we go to when our dogs, India and Percy, are feeling stiff and sore. She’s helped them deal with lots of different challenges including back pain and hip soreness.

But more than that, with her guidance on preventative physiotherapy, India and Percy have remained sprightly and active in a way that belies their age.

I joke that they do more physio than me. Actually, it’s not a joke – they do!

In this interview with Sue we discuss:

How we, as dog parents, can learn to spot pain in our dogs.
What we should do when we do suspect our dogs are in pain.
How physical therapy and rehabilitation can help dogs of all ages.
What you can do if you have a dog who’s been prescribed crate-rest but who freaks when crated (hint: the crucial word here is “rest).
Tune in to hear our chat about these topics, and many more.

About Sue Van Evra

Sue obtained her Physiotherapy Degree from McMaster University in 1993 (after completing both honors and Master’s degrees in Physiology from the University of Western Ontario).

Sue has spent the last 29 years working as a physiotherapist in outpatient orthopedics with humans, and first started studying Canine Rehabilitation in 2006. Sue obtained a Diploma in Canine Rehabilitation through the Animal Rehabilitation Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and has worked at the Canine Fitness Centre in Calgary since 2016.

She continues to treat humans (mostly dog lovers!) at Two Hands Physiotherapy – located within the Canine Fitness Centre.

Since December 2021 Sue has also been working at the Canmore Vet Hospital rehabilitating dogs.

Sue is passionate about learning and problem solving and has completed many advanced courses (both human and canine rehab) to better be able to assess and treat patients effectively.

Sue is a huge dog-lover and her passion for the canine world makes her excited to be able to work with dogs and to use her experience and in-depth knowledge of physiotherapy principles to rehabilitate the canine population! Sue is on the Advocacy Committee for the Animal Rehabilitation Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.

How to work with Sue

If you live in Southern Alberta then your lucky dogs can get to work with Sue. You can find Sue at the Canine Fitness Centre in Calgary and at the Canmore Veterinary Hospital.

Episode 72 / 17th June 2022

72 How To Stop the Feeling that Training is Taking Over Your Life

Does it sometimes feel like separation anxiety training is taking over your life? So much so that you sometimes feel like it's all you do?

If this sounds like you then check-out my super practical tips for making separation anxiety training fit your life, not be your whole life.

Episode 71 / 26th April 2022

71 What’s Really Going On in Your Dog’s Brain When Training Wobbles

Oh, those infuriating dips, drops, setbacks, and regression. There isn't a dog parent out there who doesn't go through ups and downs in separation anxiety training.The thing is, though, what we see as confounding and confusion variable progression is actually very normal. And when we understand what's going on in a dog's brain when they learn to be home alone, it makes begins to make so much sense.

Tune in to find out more what happens as your dog learns, and how you can use that information to improve your training.

Episode 70 / 6th April 2022

70 Relax! What We Really Mean by Relaxation in Separation Anxiety Training and Why That Matters

You might be thinking you aren’t ever going to make any progress with separation anxiety training because your dog won’t stay on her bed. Or maybe she starts on the sofa but always follows you to the door and waits there.

She needs to relax, right? Well, yes and no. We definitely need our dogs to show no anxiety when doing home alone training. But that doesn’t mean she has to stay put. Listen to find out more.

Episode 69 / 24th March 2022

069 Why We Expect Too Much of Dogs and How to Redress The Balance

So many behaviors that come naturally to dogs are problems for us humans. Think barking, chewing, jumping up, counter-surfing – you name it! No wonder dogs get confused and get it wrong. And no wonder we get frustrated.

That’s why in this episode, I’m thrilled to share an interview with Jane Robinson, Chair of the Association for Pet Dog Trainers, UK, about our expectations for dogs, and how we can make our communication with them less frustrating for all concerned.

Episode 68 / 20th March 2022

068 3 Strategies for Self-Compassion with Christal Allen-Harrahill

When we see war and devastation in the news everyday it can be easy to think that our problems don't matter. But someone else's suffering doesn't make your situation magically okay.
That's why in this episode, I chatted with Certified Life Coach, Christal Allen-Harrahill and asked her to share her tips for dealing with our own emotions while processing the disasters we see unfold around the world.

Episode 67 / 13th March 2022

4 Separation Anxiety Notions You Need To Reject

Sadly, we are fed a huge volume of incorrect advice about separation anxiety. When we get bombarded with information, we start to believe what we are told, whether that information is fact-based or not.

That's why, in this episode, I go through four of the most commonly-held beliefs that we need to reject.

Episode 65 / 8th January 2022

Which Way Would Dogs Vote?

No dog ever voted for being left home alone. But we can give them choice during separation anxiety training.

Let's dive into what that choice looks like and explore tips for how to introduce choice into the separation anxiety training you do with your dog.

Episode 65 / 8th January 2022

Which Way Would Dogs Vote?

No dog ever voted for being left home alone. But we can give them choice during separation anxiety training.

Let's dive into what that choice looks like and explore tips for how to introduce choice into the separation anxiety training you do with your dog.

Episode 64 / 8th December 2021

Does It Ever Pay To Train When You/re Away From Home?

During the holidays, many of us are on the road visiting family and friends. And I'm often asked whether it's worth training when you're away.

That's why in this episode I dive into the pros and cons of doing separation anxiety training away from home. If you're traveling this festive season, tune in to find out what your best plan of action should be!

Episode 63 / 9th November 2021

Answered! Your Most Frequently Asked Questions (Part 1)

Having seen 1000s of owners go through separation anxiety training, I've got a pretty good sense of the most common questions people have, to say the least!

That's why in this episode and next, I'm giving you the answers to the most frequently questions that come up.

Episode 62 / 23rd October 2021

Emergency! What to Do When You’re Left with No Choice but to Leave Your Dog

As much as I know you're 100% committed to managing absences, what happens in an emergency? As horrible as it is to think about bad things happening is does pay to have a contingency plan should disaster strike.

In this episode, I look at how to plan for those rare occurrences where you might, just might, need to leave your dog.

Episode 61 / 17th October 2021

7 Facts About Crating That You Absoluetly Need To Know

I see way too much muddled and confusing advice about crates, and I can see that many of you struggle to get your head around whether or not to crate your dog.

To clear things up, this episode covers the seven facts about crating that you absolutely need to know.

Episode 60 / 9th October 2021

Why You Absolutely Must Leave Your Puppy Home Alone

You've heard the horror stories about people getting pandemic puppies only to find that their pup grows into a dog they can't leave. You're so scared that this will happen to your puppy that you just don't dare leave him.

You've taken on board all the advice about how this is a bad strategy. But you missed the bit about how you do need to leave them – as long as you so within context of gradual home-alone training.

In this episode I'm going to show you why, if you're worried about leaving your puppy, you don't need to be concerned, as long as you do it safely and gently and follow a structured training plan.

Episode 59 / 2nd October 2021

Is It Really a Problem If Your Dog Really Follows You To the Door?

You've started training. You manage to get to the door or even out of the door but your dog is following you the whole time.

Big problem, right? Well, maybe but maybe not. In this episode, I explain when following is okay and when it's not. And I look out what to do with a dog who waits by the door.