Separation Anxiety
Helping Your Dog Feel Safe When Home Alone
Why Work With Bark to Basics?
Expert guidance you can trust. Support when you need it most.
Living with a dog who struggles to be alone can make everyday life feel incredibly restrictive. Even simple things like running errands or going to dinner can require careful planning.
Separation anxiety isn’t stubbornness or something your dog simply needs to “get used to.” With gradual, individualized training, we can help your dog build greater comfort with being alone—without pushing them into panic.
A Different Approach to Separation Anxiety.
Separation anxiety training works by carefully building your dog’s tolerance for alone time at a pace they can handle. Using structured, science-based training, we’ll start where your dog is comfortable and adjust the plan as they progress.
Training is completed virtually, allowing me to observe your dog’s behavior where it actually happens—at home—while providing ongoing guidance and support.
The goal is simple: greater comfort and independence for your dog—and more freedom for you.
Why Support Matters.
Separation anxiety progress isn’t always linear. Your dog’s comfort level can change, questions will come up, and knowing when to progress—or when to make an exercise easier—is an important part of the process.
That’s why ongoing support is built into the program, allowing us to adjust your dog’s training plan and keep you moving forward without having to guess what to do next.
Sound Familiar?
Not sure where to start?
Questions about the training process or if separation anxiety training is right for you?
Schedule a Free 15-Minute Discovery Call
Pricing & Packages
Separation Anxiety Consultation
$200
What You’ll Gain:
- Clarity and a Starting Plan
If you have a dog who is suffering from separation anxiety, relief is on the way!
This consultation is our starting point on the road to a relaxed pup while you’re away and allows us to evaluate your dog during a trial alone-time period to determine if he is suffering from separation distress.
Package Includes:
- Virtual, 60-minute assessment of your dog during alone time
- Full consultation report
- Behavior report for your veterinarian (if indicated)
-
Support for the duration of our training
*If we determine your dog is not suffering from anxiety, Melissa can recommend other behavior consulting packages to reach your goals.
Comfortable Alone
$900
What You’ll Gain:
- A Personalized Path Toward Comfortable Alone Time
Imagine coming home from work and finding your formerly anxious dog snoozing peacefully in his bed…
Separation anxiety cases are very successfully addressed using virtual training with the focus on developing a plan and “missions” to teach your dog to become comfortable being alone.
Comfortable Alone will help your dog learn to cope with being alone so you can get back to living your life, without stress or worry!
Package Includes:
- Separation Anxiety Consultation Required
- Four 60-minute weekly virtual sessions
- Customized alone-time training plan, updated throughout the program
- 4 weeks of text/email support
- Access to twice-monthly virtual Office Hours during program
See what people are saying about Bark to Basics
Our dog developed severe separation anxiety after an injury, and we were overwhelmed in how to manage it. We asked our vet, read books, went online and nothing seemed to work. Then, we found Melissa at Bark to Basics. She took the time to speak with me and observe my dog to fully understand what was happening. She was then able to come up with a comprehensive training plan that we could do together and on my own. The training is all about positive reinforcement. Melissa made sure my dog was as comfortable as she could be while also making sure I could manage it! Our dog is now healthy and happy on her own. I highly recommend Bark to Basics.
After a 4-week program of 5-6 daily training sessions per week, my Maltese/Yorkie mix girl is learning to handle her separation anxiety. She suffers from severe separation anxiety and has been suffering since she was 5 months old. She is now 11 years old. We had a major destructive incident in December. We started working with Melissa in the middle of January. We’ve gone from severe panic in a matter of minutes of being left alone, to now being able to be alone for close to 4 hours! This for us is wonderful progress and we owe it to the great training and guidance from Melissa and her program. I can’t say Thank you enough!
Behavior Consulting for a better best friend
Virtual Sessions
Virtual Sessions are fully customized, one-on-one video sessions so you can get the help you need no matter where you are!
The support you need
Ongoing support doesn't have to end when your training package does. Office Hours are included with select Bark to Basics programs and available afterward through our client-only monthly memberships.
Payment
Credit cards, checks, Venmo and cash are accepted. Packages are paid in full at the first session.
Cancellation/Refund Policy
48-hour notice is required for cancellations to reschedule the appointment. There are no refunds on packages as your commitment to working consistently with your dog is key to reaching your training goals!