Module Number: CFBA2005P

Professional Canine Behaviour Course: Separation Anxiety

Course Dates

To be advised

Module audience:

The module is designed for professionals working with canines in dog training and behaviour occupations including the veterinary, instructional, and policing or welfare sectors

Course aims

To gain an understanding of how the domestic dog's mind works and the basic causes of separation snxiety in pet dogs. Use programmes to solve separation anxiety in dogs at a consultation.

Use the student's limited professional experience and the DVD client-based case studies to explore a range of general dog behaviour.
To discover some of the different human behaviour patterns that can affect the behaviour of problem pets and that cause and compound separation anxiety.
Student to appreciate how the owner's perception of their dog within the family environment affects and contributes to the development of separation anxiety
To learn how the owner's situation and family circumstances may contribute to the development of separation anxiety
To enable the student to discuss training strategies in the home and or domestic situation.
To discover how separation anxiety in dogs can result in their rejection by an individual or family.

Understand that there are different breed types that are more prone to separation anxiety, especially the smaller breeds
Have a understanding of why certain types of separation anxiety behaviour are triggered
Understand that the dog's location, the family make-up and environment affects dog behaviour
Understand that separation anxiety frequency differs between breeds

Understand that family and/or owner circumstances are often a contributory factor in dog behaviour
How the elderly and single person households can have a higher incidence of separation anxiety
Understand how early inappropriate care or conditioning more often causes separation anxiety
Understand how owner over-dependence on dog can trigger separation anxiety
Discoverand consider how separation anxietycan affect the family social dynamics
Understand how a dog owner's lifestyle affects success rates.
Develop a structured behaviour consultation process for use with clients
Develop the requisite administration, documentation, report construction and continuity of advice.

Understand that there are psychological human factors in separation anxiety cases
Be aware of a range of film-led technical solutions for coping with separation anxiety
Begin to assess one's own limitations and the potential for when to refer to more experienced professionals
Understand that there are basic strategies for working with a dog with separation anxiety
Develop a strategy for working with a dog with separation anxiety
Examine a range of equipment for assisting in directing secondary behaviour
Develop your skills with people who are over-attached to dogs for companionship
Develop a consultation style that explains the dog's needs to the owner

The 2-day residential workshop is an intensive highly-structured programme that builds on the student's limited professional experience investigated during phase 1. A range of real life DVD-based case studies will be used to take the student through the client-professional consultation process.

General briefings
Consultation begins
Separation anxiety questionnaire
Dogs: antecedents and chronology of incidents
Behaviour problem presented
Compiling separation anxiety and general behavioural facts
Compiling human chronology of events in dog behaviour cases
Use of film, recorders, written notes
Breed predisposition to anxieties
Ancillary problems
Report writing skills
Training and behaviour solutions
Critical period of conditioning puppies Spoilt and over-indulged dogs
Behaviour programmes: how to impart them
Film-led studies of general behaviour cases 1 1hr
Film-led studies of general behaviour cases 1 I hr
Identifying client prejudices, views, expectations, beliefs
Identifying a client's wish to change their previous behaviour.
Review and discussion separation anxiety sessions and analysis
Group behaviour review sessions for separation anxiety peer discussion
Discussion of problem behaviour presented to the practitioner
The programme finishes with a review of the activities and the learning experience.
Each day will include multiple choice assessment questions to reinforce the learning experience of that day's activities from the filmed behaviour activities.

The course cost includes refreshments and one night at the Rose & Crown Hotel. View accomodation information here