If you live with a dog that suffers from separation anxiety, then you know the disasters that could happen if you leave them alone. Whether your dog destroys the couch, escapes out of windows, urinates in the foyer, or howls until the neighbords complain, you have probably spent at least some of your time away from your home and dog worrying about what exactly is happening while you’re not there. One of the first steps to treating your dog’s separation anxiety is going to be suspending absences that your dog cannot handle. Which means, essentially, not leaving your dog alone ever, except whe ..read more

Step one in dealing with separation related distress: take a deep breath. Millions of dogs in the US and worldwide have shown signs of separation related distress. So I want you to know, unequivocally, that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. But where do you go from here? Your best first step is going to be to your veterinarian’s office. True Separation Anxiety is a medical condition that can only be diagnosed by a doctor. And having them by your side helping you with any health issues that might arise is critical to helping your best friend. If your dog injures themselves trying to escape a crate, if you ..read more

Ok, so the title might be a bit click-baitey. But hear me out. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people describe their cat as being an asshole, a jerk, a stubborn brat…however you want to phrase it. And I’m not trying to say that your cat isn’t doing something that tries your patience, I am no fonder of pee on the bed than anyone else. But the point is the cat is displaying upsetting behaviors as a form of communication, not as a form of psychological warfare on their owners. Does your cat lash out at you seemingly unprovoked? Trust me, there’s a reason for it. FIguring out that reason? Th ..read more

As I progress in my career, I have observed a trend wherein I tend to teach the same skills no matter what the issue. Because some skills are so versatile, they can be applied to any issue. What are these skills? I thought you would never ask…. stationing on a mat or bed can come in handy so often The first skill I find myself teaching in most cases is a “go to mat” or a stationing behavior. This is where your dog or cat will go to a specific location when you ask them to. I love this skill for any animal because if you build value in that mat, you can bring it with you to all sorts of new e ..read more

Welcome to Ear To Tail!   If you’re here, it’s probably because you’ve thought to yourself at least on one occasion, that you wish something about your pet was different. Does your cat hiss at your feet when you walk across the room? Does your dog fall apart when you’re walking them on a leash? Have you or anyone you know been bitten by your pet? The face of anxiety. A face I can help with.   That’s what we’re here for. It can be stressful dealing with problems no one really thinks about dealing with when they bring a new member of the family home. It can be embarrassing when you’re ..read more