How To Properly Address Separation Anxiety and Dog Reactivity

Separation anxiety and dog reactivity are 2 very common problems dog Montreal area dog owners face.

Ricardo and his Doodle Esme came to see Family K9 Dog Training for help with both of these issues.

Many owners and their dogs struggle with separation anxiety and like Ricardo did. Ricardo sought help from multiple montreal area dog trainers. Nothing they did helped. He trained with esme for the better part of 2 years and made no progress whatsoever.

When he reached out for help it was evident that he is a very dedicated dog owner and wanted to do right by his dog – he hadn’t given up hope, they just needed to find a better way to resolve these common canine behavioural problems.

Esme came in for Family K9’s In Kennel/Board & Train program and her progress was just gorgeous.

After a 3 week in kennel training program @ Family K9 Dog Training they were reunited and this is a big day on so many levels:

The dog doesn’t know the owner is coming to get them.
Think about the dog with separation anxiety and what this does to them emotionally.
The dog reunited with the owner and then we ask her to go into her crate and relax.
Previously Esme could not be in a crate for even a moment without freaking out, barking, screaming and trying to fight her way out.
Now she can go into the crate and settle down!
Door open – she’ll stay in!
Leave her alone with the door shut – no barking at all.

Onto her dog reactivity:

Out come my trouble maker out sisters Lily and Ruby!
Esme had no trouble remaining focused and walked beautifully on a nice loose leash. She also demonstrated her calmness in the crate with another dog right nearby.
Finally we went outside where the dogs all got to zoom around and have a blast and Esme did several perfect off leash recalls.

Many dog owners struggle with issues with their dog’s behaviour that are so simple to address with the right technique and mindset.

If you have worked with your dog, worked with a trainer or several and are not where you’d like to be yet – don’t give up. Family K9 Dog Training specializes in helping owners with challenging dogs and behaviour.If you have worked with your dog, worked with a trainer or several and are not where you’d like to be yet – don’t give up. In fact many clients have already gone to other trainer and not had results that proved to be useful. Let Family K9 Dog Training help you have the dog and relationship with your dog that you’ve always wanted but never thought possible.

Ricardo and Esme reuniting @ our transfer lesson after not seeing one another for three weeks. Both of them are practicing being calm to minimize any setbacks and doing a great job.

Look for a video series on Family K9’s Youtube to be out shortly detailing Esme’s progress during her stay for training.

Esme can now calmly go into a crate and settle down right away.

She exhibits calmness and a sense of comfort and well-being that was not at all present before our training. Before our work together she would typically panic in a crate and bark, screams nd fight with the crate risking injury.

Her dog reactivity as seen here is all but a distant memory. Here she is on place with Lucky, A Portuguese water dog – who was in for dog reactivity (among a long list of other issues). Both dogs are calm and cool and able to remain relaxed and focused.

Crate Training Your Dog – Advice From a Professional Dog Trainer Montreal

How to start crate training your puppy

Starting to crate train a puppy is as simple as feeding them in their crate.

Once your puppy is used to eating in the crate, you can begin leaving your puppy in for short periods of time.

Make sure your puppy has plenty of time to exercise and go potty before putting them in so that you do not add any additional stress or provoke accidents in the crate.

Crate training for older dogs and rescues

If you’re starting with an older dog, the dog may have already learned that barking, whining or acting up in the crate, may provide the dog with opportunity to get out.

It’s important to condition the dog to the crate and to use an approach that teaches the dog to be calm. Using positive reinforcement when the dog is calm and quiet in the crate so that the dog realizes that it is a temporary thing and one that brings reward if they are calm and quiet

Rescue dog used to panic in crate now is completely calm and relaxed

Take a look at Skyla who panicked in her crate when her owner tried to crate train her at home.

Look at how effortlessly she goes in on command despite the fact that her brother Dexter and I are having a great time & carrying on right in front of her.

She is able to follow commands, go into her crate up upon request and remain in there calmly until we let her out.

She is able to follow commands, go into her, crate upon request and remain in there calmly until we let her out.

Teaching a dog to remain calm and follow direction will always get you much further than any form of physical restraint be it a leash/harness/collar or door of a crate.

Dog training should be about communication with the dog and teaching the dog to think and follow direction.

And dealing with only the physical aspect of the dog. Ideally, we are communicating with the dog and teaching the dog to think and follow direction.

This creates a favourable outcome and teaches the dog to be calm and focussed as you can see.

Dog panics in crate – Montreal Dog Trainer Family K9 Dog Training

Helping a dog who had anxiety in her crate #dogtraining