Description

I’ve never been a big fan of labels. I have blogged about why they can be problematic.  But I also recognize that they can be innocuous, and in some cases, helpful. 

When it comes to separation anxiety training, getting clear on the terminology is important. 

It’s important because a clear understanding of what specific triggers are at play is imperative in planning and executing a successful training protocol. 

And labels like separation anxiety, isolation distress and fear of missing out (FOMO) allow us to group common triggers into categories that make training for efficient. 

In this episode of the Believe in Your Dog Podcast, you will learn:  

• The difference between clinical Separation Anxiety, isolation distress and FOMO
• The umbrella term that most certified separation anxiety trainers (and lay people alike) use to describe separation-related challenges
• The two key distinctions between bona fide separation anxiety and a dog who is just having a party while you’re away
• Why the distinction between “upset” and “non-upset” is so important, even though the resulting behaviors can look very similar
• What FOMO really is and why I worry that it trivializes the distress that a dog may be experiencing
• Why it’s normal for dogs to become distressed when left alone

I also touch on the subject of the next episode: How to run an assessment with my mentor, Malena DeMartini. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

https://www.believeinyour.dog/blog/defining-separation-anxiety

https://www.dacvb.org/page/AnimalOwners