DD 3 Flashcards
Complex ques (29 cards)
What are the areas do tricky questions often come up?
Recovery, progression and time investments
Real Life Application
Medication
Diagnosis and behaviour
How long does recovery typically take?
Months, not weeks. Every dog progresses at their own pace.
What analogy is used to describe changing a fear-based emotion?
Turning an oil tanker—it’s slow at first but eventually ramps up.
What should I say when a client asks why progress feels slow at the start?
“Every owner who has successfully helped their dog through separation anxiety felt the same way. Stick with it, and you’ll start to see things ramp up.”
How do you respond when a client asks “Do I really need to put my dog on anxiety medication?”
Medication isn’t required, but research shows a combination of behavioral therapy and medication gives the best chance of recovery.
What should clients avoid when tracking progress?
Doing the math. Recovery isn’t linear, and slow initial progress doesn’t mean it will take years to reach longer durations.
Why should clients be wary of trainers who guarantee recovery?
Recovery can’t be guaranteed—each dog is unique, and progress depends on various factors.
How can trainers help clients spot misleading training claims?
Any trainer who promises quick fixes or uses punishment-based approaches should be avoided.
Why is patience essential in separation anxiety recovery?
Dogs develop resilience gradually—consistency is key.
How do dogs perceive training versus real-life absences?
They don’t differentiate—if they learn they can be left safely in training, they’ll apply that confidence everywhere.
What should owners do if their dog hits a plateau in training?
Stick with the plan—progress often stalls before another breakthrough happens.
How should progress be measured in separation anxiety training?
By looking at emotional recovery, not just time duration.
What are the key tricky questions in progression, recovering and time taken?
How long to recover
I’m at 2 minutes, won’t it take forever?
I don’t have time to train
Can’t I just run the clock
This takes way too long
What are the key tricky questions in real life application
My dog knows we are training
What are the key tricky questions in medication
Is it essential
What are the key tricky questions in diagnosis and behaviour
Does he really have SA
Can’t he just bark it out?
Won’t I reinforce the barking
If we don’t crate him he will destroy my house!
What should we consider when answering: how long will it take my dog to get over SA?
Long process
months not weeks
hard to predict its different for all dog
compare to human anx
We go dogs pace
No guarantee - this is a big red flag!
How arout the O stuck on it took me 2 months to get to 2 minutes this will take forever
PAth analogy - foundations
We need to stop doing the math! It doesn’t work like that.
Progression curves are not linear
Its’ slower a the start
Everyone thinks this .. and yet!
What should we consider when answering:My dog thinks this is just training!
Its all real for dogs
Dogs don’t think like us
They see things in pictures
It is real to them!!!
Cues don’t necessarily mean bad things! Its what the cue predicts
Celebrate this question - there is a safe way to leave them!
What should we consider when answering: Do I need to put my dog on anx meds?
No BUT!
Most powerful comb
Best chance of success
ARe you open to trying
May enhance progress
Unless hyperattachment in play then yes, we need to get that threshold down!
What should we consider when answering: I don’t think my dog has true SA he’s just barking
WHY is it SA
How long have you thought this?
How long have you tried to change it? and yet!!!
PErsistence of B
Loooks the same as frustration BUT worst case scenario of false diagnosis fear vs frustration
What should we consider when answering: Barking it out
Could be cry for help
Can make them worse
What if we called it wrong?
Adds to fearful experience - harder to change
Frustration is also unpleasant!
What should we consider when answering: If I come back when he is barking I am R+ it
Releif! for the dog from an over threshold experience
Building trust - what message do we give him if we don’t come back and he’s asking for help
Comfort is not a bad thing
Crying for you!
Telling/giving you info
Hey! We’ll make it easier so he doesn’t feel the need to bark!
