One of the biggest worries I hear from clients is this:
"We've booked a holiday, but we're halfway through separation anxiety training. Have we just undone all of our hard work?"
How long does separation anxiety training take?
One of the first questions people ask me is:
"How long will it take before I can leave my dog home alone?"
And I completely understand why.
Living with a dog who struggles to be left alone can feel exhausting. Every trip to the supermarket requires planning. Social invitations become complicated. Even popping out to take the bins out can feel stressful.
When you're in the middle of it, you want to know when life will feel normal again.
The honest answer?
The hardest part of separation anxiety training? It's not the training itself.
Separation Anxiety Training: Your Dog Had to Be Left Longer Than They Could Handle… Now What?
You’ve been working hard on your dog’s separation anxiety training.
You've been carefully building up your dog's confidence, celebrating small wins, and finally starting to see progress.
Then life happens.
An emergency appointment.
Your dog sitter lets you down last minute.
A family crisis.
And suddenly your dog is left home alone for longer than they can comfortably cope with.
Baby, it's hot outside!!! Why Separation Anxiety Training Can Feel Harder During Hot Weather
If your dog's separation anxiety training suddenly feels harder during hot weather, there's usually a reason for it.
A lot of dogs cope less well with alone time during heatwaves, even when they don't look obviously distressed by the heat itself.
This can be frustrating when things were progressing nicely and your dog suddenly seems more restless, more vigilant, or less able to settle when left alone.
Before you worry that you've done something wrong or that your training has stopped working, it's worth looking at what hot weather can do to a dog's body and nervous system.
Bringing a Rescue Dog Home: What Every Adopter Needs to Know
We’ve recently brought home our new rescue Bonzie, from Greece. A sprightly one year old mix-of-all-the-furry-best-and-love. He is perfect
Adopting a rescue dog can be one of the most rewarding things you ever do. It can also be challenging, emotional, and very different from bringing home a puppy or a dog with a known background.
Here is a practical, kind, and realistic guide to help you support your rescue dog through those early weeks and beyond.
Dog Separation Anxiety: The Top 10 Owner Issues
Leading Specialist in Canine Separation Anxiety Behaviour & Dog Trainer of the Year 2025 - Sweden
Wolfgang and I are so very excited to announce that we’ve won the Award for ‘Leading Specialist in Canine Separation Anxiety Behaviour & Dog Trainer of the Year - Sweden’ in the 2025 Scandinavian Business Awards (run by EU Business News Magazine).
In its sixth year, the Scandinavian Business Awards continue to be a vital and inspirational source of information of a collection of award-worthy contributors to various industries across the region and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have been included.
Awards Coordinator Melissa Bramall: “Working with my fellow team members, it has been a pleasure to not only recognise a fine selection of businesses and individuals but also to reward them with their titles. They are truly altering their spheres and being part of their journey of success is a delight. Congratulations again.”
Thank you to all my clients who took the time to provide testimonials and review my services, which was a huge decision factor for the judging panel.
THANK YOUUUUUUUUU
And now we are off to celebrate with a bacon and sausage cake for the little furry Missus. After all, Wolfgang’s Way Dog Training wouldn’t exist without her!
Puppy toilet training: 3 little-known scenarios that could be behind your puppy still having accidents
“Will I ever be able to leave my puppy home alone???”
IS ONLINE TRAINING RIGHT FOR MY DOG?
Traditionally, dog training has been, and is, done in person, within a group class or 121 with a trainer.
However, many basic puppy and/ or dog training exercises, or working on behavioural ‘issues’, actually don’t require the trainer to be present or ‘do the training’ in person.
After all, what is most important is that the dog’s guardian learns ‘how to’ work with their dog, how to manage their dog’s environment, how to provide the right physical and mental enrichment and so forth.
Why Independence at Home Starts With Together Time
I wish more people knew this about treating their dog's Separation Anxiety
Dog Separation Anxiety Training Tips: what’s all the fuss about the “break area”
Did you know that where you start your dog's separation anxiety training can make all the difference?
Your and your dog's break area is their calm place — the spot where absence training begins and where they remain settled, or go back to, throughout each training exercise.
Getting this setup right helps your dog feel more secure and sets the foundation for a smoother training journey.
3 REASONS WHY YOUR DOG KEEPS PULLING ON LEASH
OVERWHELM / PAIN OR DISCOMFORT / YOUR EXPECTATIONS
One, or more, of these three reasons might just be why your dog won’t stop pulling on leash.
Albeit your very best efforts to patiently, and positively, train your dog to walk with you, rather than drag you sailing down every path or road.
Is your dog overwhelmed? This can be excitement, or fear, or frustration, or a bit of everything. And this happens often with young dogs, puppies and adolescent dogs.
Your dog may have some discomfort or pain and walking slowly, at your pace, could elevate the discomfort. Observe your dog’s gait: at the beginning of a walk, at the end, after they’ve been resting etc. Check in with your vet!
Are you expecting too much? Teaching a reliable loose leash walk takes time and dedication, don’t expect too much too soon from your young dog. Does your dog really have to walk by your side all the time? Try giving your dog a slightly longer leash (in the right environment), maybe they simply prefer walking a little ahead of you.
There are of course many other reasons why your dog may be pulling on leash and if you feel you could do with some help, please get in touch.
Phantom Pregnancy & Separation Anxiety 🐾
Phantom pregnancy, also known as pseudopregnancy or false pregnancy, is a condition where an intact female dog exhibits signs of pregnancy despite not being pregnant.
This phenomenon is primarily due to hormonal fluctuations and understanding how a phantom pregnancy can impact a dog's behaviour, especially concerning separation anxiety, is crucial for effective training and overall well-being.
Resource Guarding: we all do it!
Resource Guarding is one of the most natural behaviours, for us humans and for our dogs.
🐶 It’s just that when our dogs do it, let’s say ‘excessively’ from our point of view, it doesn’t fit into our lifestyle.
💜 The key to addressing resource guarding is understanding, not confrontation.
➡️➡️ Instead of punishing your dog for growling or snapping - simply behaviours that communicate their discomfort - focus on:
✅ building trust (counter conditioning)
✅ management (avoiding situations where your dog feels the need to)
✅ positively teaching new skills that will allow you and your dog to easily navigate these situations (drop, leave, hand target, back, off, etc).
🛑 also rule out underlying heath niggles (you’d be surprised by how much GI issues or pain/ discomfort can play into resource guarding behaviours).
🐾 and ensure your dog’s basic needs are met, from providing them with a safe place to rest to being able to eat in peace.
