When people hear that I work with anxious dogs over Zoom, the first question is almost always the same: can that really work?
It’s a fair question. Most of us picture dog training as an expert working hands on with the dog. For obedience, that picture makes some sense.
For anxiety, it gets things backwards.
Anxiety lives where your dog lives
A dog with separation anxiety doesn’t panic in a training center. They panic in your home, when your car pulls out of your driveway. A dog who is afraid of strangers reacts on your street, at your door, on your walks.
Fear is tied to place and routine. Your dog has learned that certain moments in their own life are dangerous: the jingle of your keys, a knock at the door, a man in a hat on the sidewalk. Changing that fear means changing how your dog feels in those exact moments.
That can only happen where those moments happen.
Your dog changes when an expert walks in
When a trainer comes to your house, your dog is no longer in a normal situation. A stranger is in the room.
For a dog who is afraid of people, that visit may be the most stressful hour of the week. A frightened dog can’t learn much. And a dog with separation anxiety won’t show the problem at all, because the problem only appears when everyone leaves.
Over Zoom, there’s no stranger in your home. Your dog stays relaxed in their own space, and I see the real behavior. For separation anxiety, a camera shows me exactly what your dog does after the door closes, which is the information a good plan depends on.
The real work happens between sessions
Here’s the part most people don’t expect: the sessions aren’t where the change happens.
Anxiety improves through small, repeated experiences, practiced day after day, at a pace your dog can handle. A short absence your dog gets through calmly. A visitor who stands still and tosses a treat. Each one teaches your dog that the scary thing is safe. Over weeks, those small moments add up to a different dog.
No trainer can be there for all of those moments. You can.
That’s why my job is to teach you, not just your dog. When you understand why your dog reacts the way they do, you can read the early signs of stress, adjust in the moment, and know when to move forward and when to slow down. That understanding is what makes the change last after our sessions end.
I’ve seen it all, and it follows patterns
After decades of hands on work with dogs, including the frightened ones who came through my training business and my rescue, I’ve learned that anxiety follows recognizable patterns. The details differ from dog to dog, but the types of fear and the way they respond to treatment are remarkably consistent.
That experience is what lets me assess your dog over video and build a plan that fits. I don’t need to touch your dog to understand what they’re telling you. I need to see them in their real environment and hear from the person who knows them best.
You are the most important part of your dog’s plan
Your dog trusts you more than anyone. You know their routines, their quirks, and the moments that set them off. With the right plan and the right coaching, that makes you the best person to help them.
If your dog is struggling with separation anxiety or fear, I’d be glad to talk about whether my program is the right fit.