Understanding Thresholds in Separation Anxiety

When addressing separation anxiety in dogs, understanding and respecting thresholds is crucial for effective, humane treatment. Threshold in this context represents the point at which a dog begins to show ANY signs of anxiety or stress when separated from their guardian or presented with the possibility of separation.

What Are Thresholds in Separation Anxiety?

In the context of separation anxiety in dogs, thresholds typically relate to:

1. Duration or Time: How long the dog can be alone before showing signs of distress, or how far ahead of a separation they begin to worry.
   

2. Distance or Visual Separation: How far the guardian can move away or be out of sight before the dog begins becoming anxious.
   

3. Departure cues: Which pre-departure activities trigger anxiety responses.
   

Identifying Your Dog's Thresholds

To determine your dog's thresholds, you and your trainer will:

1. Observe your dog's body language during brief separations.
   

2. Note the time at which your dog first shows signs of stress.
   

3. Watch for early anxiety signals like panting, pacing, or whining.
   

4. Identify which departure cues (e.g., reaching for jacket, picking up keys, putting on shoes) trigger a response.
   

5. Work on daily missions, keeping track of responses over time.
   

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The Importance of Working Under Threshold

Keeping your dog under threshold during threshold training for separation anxiety:

• Prevents reinforcement of anxious behaviors
  

• Allows for positive learning experiences
  

• Reduces overall stress for both dog and guardian
  

Monitoring and Adjusting

Thresholds may change based on:

• Progress in training
  

• Environmental factors
  

• Life factors
  

• The dog's overall stress level
  

• Health and physical condition
  

By understanding and respecting your dog's thresholds, you can create a training environment that promotes learning, builds confidence, and reduces stress, all while adhering to force-free separation anxiety training principles. If you're having difficulty assessing or working with your dog's thresholds, don't hesitate to reach out to your Homeschool Trainer or message Homeschool directly for personalized guidance and support.

Author bio:

Written by The Homeschool Dog Expert Team

Our team of certified trainers and behaviorists brings over 50 years of combined experience, and every expert is personally vetted, Fear Free certified, and deeply committed to helping dogs (and their people) thrive at home. Need help with your pup? Talk to a dog expert today