Dog friendly programs to help your dog overcome separation anxiety

Transform your dog from scared to comfortable alone with my evidence-based programs.
Dr Else and white dog

Would you like to be able to leave your dog alone at home without feeling worried and guilty?

Does your dog whine inconsolably the moment you step out of the door? Do they run around drooling and panting from room to room looking for you?

This is perhaps not what you imagined when you got your dog. Perhaps you imagined your dog would be your best friend, but you’d also have time to see your human friends while your dog stayed happy at home?

Instead, do you feel trapped in your own home? Do you get a tummy pain when you see your dog getting anxious the moment you step out of the door? 

The good news is that overcoming separation anxiety in dogs is possible. What’s even better is that we can help your dog to cope better when home alone using animal friendly methods backed by science, without resorting to punishment and aversive training techniques.

In my unique approach, we take small steps that we’re sure your dog can handle. This way, your dog is never confronted with their fears in an unpleasant way. And they learn that being alone is actually not so scary. Imagine finally being able to go out the door for a few hours without your dog? Without worrying if they’re going to tear up the rug and without feeling guilty.

Do you recognize this?

Owning a dog with separation anxiety can rule your life!

The problem is that separation anxiety doesn’t go away by itself. In fact, it tends to get worse over time. The problem is that your dog’s brain is biassed towards danger and has very strong neural circuits in place to keep it this way. This is your dog’s ancient safety mechanism. In the past, there was danger everywhere and the ‘cost’ of not paying attention to potential danger – for example, getting bitten, injured or even killed – was much greater than the cost of not paying attention to something nice.  

The problem is that these ancient fear meachanisms are still very active today, and maintain anxiety even when there’s no actual danger, like when your dog is home alone. Every time your dog is stressed when left alone, the ‘scared to be alone’ brain circuits are strengthened. And every time, your dog becomes more fearful and the separation anxiety gets worse. In other words, your dog’s brain has built a dysfunctional fear circuit that tells them to have a panic attack every time you step out of the door.

The only way to break the ‘cycle of anxiety’ is to gradually expose your dog to being alone, but in a safe, systematic and controlled way. However, this process takes time. Only when we slowly start to replace these ‘scared to be alone’ with ‘okey to be alone’ neural circuits – by teaching your dog that being alone is nothing to be scared of, we can start to change their behaviour. 

Yes, overcoming separation anxiety is possible. Imagine you could:

What's stopping you from taking action?

You tried to solve your dog’s separation anxiety - perhaps more than once - but you have not made any real progress. You don’t believe there’s anything you can do and have simply accepted things the way they are. But secretly you wish that things were different.

You’ve already read every single piece of information about separation anxiety, but you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start.

You don’t want to be in this alone, you need professional support so that you can make lasting positive changes in your dog’s behaviour and wellbeing.

I’m here to help you better understand your dog and create a step-by-step plan to solve your dog’s separation anxiety. You’re not in this alone! Changing your dog’s behaviour for the better is a real possibility so that you will finally have a dog that’s comfortable to be alone.

Why I can help you

I’m a scientist specialising in dog behaviour, cognition, stress, anxiety and the neuro-endocrinology that controls these processes. I have helped hundreds of animals overcome their fear of being alone over the last 15 years. 

My vision is that behavioural problems are only the surface of the real issue. We often only pay attention once our dog’s behaviour is undesirable (the tip of the iceberg), but the cause of the behaviour lies much deeper (underneath the surface) and started long before we first noticed it. 

We can only change our dog’s behavioural patterns and ‘break’ the cycle of anxiety when we begin to understand why dogs behave the way they do, and by meeting their underlying emotional needs. An important part of my approach is therefore to address their underlying emotional needs long before we start addressing the separation anxiety itself. If you’ve taken the online course ‘reducing stress in separation anxiety’ you’ve already come halfway to solving the problem. Well done! And you’re now ready to start working on the separation anxiety. 

My unique approach to solve separation anxiety uses elements of ‘cognitive behavioural therapy’, in which we gradually modify the pathological fear brain circuits by first activating them and then providing new information that contradicts the pathological, unrealistic associations between being alone and feeling scared. 

This is by far the most effective method to address separation anxiety, and many of us scientists now recommend this method. 

Dr. Else Verbeek

Customers reviews

What other people say

What do you want to do next?

To really make a change?

How long have you been worried about your dog’s separation anxiety? How long have you been longing for a change? How many times have you tried to solve it yourself, but without making any real progress?

If you continue down the same road, do you really expect to see a change? 

So why don’t we start helping your dog overcome their fear of being alone together? I help you to find out what is triggering your dog’s separation anxiety (e.g., frustration, underlying anxiety, under-stimulation, etc), make an individual step-by-step plan to follow, and support you during this process. 

You’re not in this alone! You will finally see that it is possible to have a dog that’s comfortable alone. You’ll be able to pick up your life again without feeling guilty. 

My fail-proof approach to separation anxiety training:

Every dog is an individual

In order to find the best solution for your dog, we first need to identify the type of separation anxiety and the underlying emotional state. Of course all dogs with separation anxiety are scared when they are alone, but the reason for this may differ. For some dogs, there is an underlying anxiety, but for others the problem is frustration. Once we know, we can choose the very best approach to help your dog.

Tailored training plans

Once we have identified the root of the problem, you'll receive a tailored training plan just for you and your dog. This plan combines several different techniques to help your dog become more relaxed. For many dogs, the key to more relaxation is to start training even before you step out of the door.

Peace of mind

One of the major obstacles to overcome separation anxiety is the time it takes to train your dog, to monitor their progress and adapt the training program correctly. Unfortunately, most people use the wrong approach, go too quickly or skip critical steps.

I will design the training plans for you, so you can focus your energy on actually training your dog. You will also receive easy-to-use training progress sheets to fill out. So you don’t need to stress about the training plans, while still getting maximum results.

Increase your own knowledge and skills

You'll learn how to read your dog’s mind through their body language, and how to observe your dog’s behaviour like an ethologist. You'll receive my feedback on the exercises, so you’ll become an expert on your own dog’s behaviour. You'll also learn everything you need to know about separation anxiety, so you’ll get a better understanding of your dog’s behaviour and how you can help them.

Convenient

All consultations are offered remotely online. This is a very effective way to deal with anxiety. The advantage of remote consultations is that I can see your dog’s anxious behaviours in their normal environment. Introducing a new person (me) often distracts the dog, which means that it is more difficult to make an objective assessment. Saving time on commuting also means that I can spend more time on actually helping you.

This is not a miracle cure or a quick fix. Before enrolling in any of the programs, be prepared to:

Commit to your dog

Never leave your dog alone, except for the training sessions.
Find a dog sitter for any other time you need to leave your dog.

Stick to the training plans

Train four or five days a week, for 20-30 min per day.

Use a camera

To monitor your dog’s behaviour

Track progress

Follow my instructions and training plans step-by-step.
Keep track of every training session, and enter your dog’s behaviour in their training journal.

Be patient

Most separation anxiety cases take 6-12 months before you see any major improvements.

Choose the plan that's right for you.

There are different options for you to choose from. During all the programs we will work on teaching your dog to be comfortable to stay alone, but they vary in the level of support you get and in the duration that I will support you. Of course, the longer the program, the more support and the better results. 

Happy dog light

4 weeks
575
460
4,780 kr
  • First assessment and consultation
  • Online education about dog body language and separation anxiety principles
  • Daily training plans
  • 30 min WhatsApp and email support per week
  • 2 follow up consultations
20% off

Happy dog

8 weeks
975
780
7,980 kr
  • First assessment and consultation
  • Online education about dog body language and separation anxiety principles
  • Daily training plans
  • 40 min WhatsApp and email support per week
  • 4 follow up consultations
20% off

Dream dog

12 weeks
1475
1220
12,200 kr
  • First assessment and consultation
  • Online education about dog body language and separation anxiety principles
  • Daily training plans
  • Unlimited WhatsApp and email support per week
  • 6 follow up consultations
  • Lifetime support*
20% off

Or if you’d rather schedule your first consulation by email, or you have any other urgent questions, feel free to email me!

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

All programs start with an assessment of your dog’s separation type, using a scientifically validated questionnaire. You will also send me videos of your dog’s behaviour and additional information. I will use this to prepare my plan for you, and we will have an initial one-on-one live consultation in which we discuss your dog’s behaviour, how to start training and all the practicalities, and you can ask me any question you may have.

Then you will receive daily training plans in a shareable spreadsheet. You will fill out your dog’s progress every day, so that I can adjust your dog’s training accordingly and give you feedback. We will then have several follow up consultations (depending on the plan you choose) and you can also ask me questions via email or whatsapp in between. I’ll answer your questions within 24 hours.

Following the prescribed schedule, you’ll learn the basics of separation anxiety and how to train your dog in the first 1-2 months (all programmes), then you’ll spend the last month learning how to adjust the training schedules and monitoring your dog’s progress correctly (the 12 week programme). 

Furthermore, I’ll give you all the knowledge and skills you need. We’ll dive deeper into body language reading skills, and I’ll teach you how to observe your dog like an ethologist. I’ll also teach you everything you need to know about separation anxiety. So there’s no need to purchase additional courses, materials or books.

Most separation anxiety cases take between 6-12 months to see a significant improvement. You can choose between a 4, 8 or 12 week programme, each of which offers an excellent foundation to kick-start your separation anxiety training. 

Following the prescribed schedule, you’ll learn the basics of separation anxiety and how to train your dog in the first 1-2 months (all programmes), then you’ll spend the last month learning how to adjust the training schedules and monitoring your dog’s progress correctly (the 12 week programme). 

Once the program is finished, you are an expert in separation anxiety training and I’m super confident that you can continue without me! Perhaps you feel a little uncertain about your own skills right now, but this will change during the program. 

We’ll have regular live one-on-one online coaching sessions, and you’ll receive more essential information by email with text, video and workbooks. I’ll design the training plans for you, which you will find in a shareable spreadsheet. You will use these to fill out progress and I can give you feedback and adjust the training plans accordingly.

The discount is valid 5 days from the moment you received the first email with the link to the course evaluation. Use the discount code that was in the form (where you filled out your email address) in the booking form.

Yes, you can receive monthly invoices. What’s even better is that there’s no extra cost and you pay the same total amount.

There is a huge amount of value in the programs. You don’t only receive private coaching sessions, daily personalised training plans and feedback on your progress, but also additional training on body language observations and separation anxiety principles so you better understand my approach and how to help your dog. 

If this sounds like a lot, think about the ‘hidden costs’ of separation anxiety. How much do you lose out on by not being able to leave your dog alone? How much do you spend on dog sitters, gadgets/apps and useless advice? Let’s focus on getting results instead and finally being able to leave your dog alone for a couple of hours.

My background as a scientist gives me a unique perspective on dog behaviour, welfare and how to help dogs overcome separation anxiety. Many dog trainers simply don’t have enough understanding of dog behaviour and stress physiology to help with complex problems such as separation anxiety. Most approaches only deal with the symptoms (the tip of the iceberg) while I go a layer (or several layers) deeper and address the real problem (underneath the surface). This is not only more effective, but also ensures that your dog’s well being improves. 

You can always extend any program for EUR 425 per month, which includes 2 follow up consultations and a continuation of the daily training plans. 

If you finish the 12 week dream dog program, you will be an expert in separation anxiety training and I’m super confident that you can continue without me! Perhaps you feel a little uncertain about your own skills right now, but this will change during the program. 

In the 12 week programme, you still have the right to one 30 min consultation per month after the completion of the program. So ’ll even keep coaching you for free until you reach your goals. This also gives you peace of mind that you can get help in case something changes in your personal circumstances later on, and I’ll support you to get back on track even then.