Since we brought Alfie home as a young puppy, he has had what I would describe as severe Separation Anxiety.  Cavapoochons are known to be incredibly sociable dogs and Alfie certainly lives up to this.  He’s well socialised with both people and dogs and is super friendly, cuddly, and affectionate.  The down side of this is that he really struggles to be on his own for any length of time.   He wakes up from a deep sleep to follow us out of a room only to immediately return to sleep wherever we are. He would even choose to follow us to the bathroom rather than be alone for a few minutes.   If left on his own Alfie would literally go into a blind panic, howling, barking and on occasion being destructive.  He was never able to fully relax and get the proper rest that young puppies need.    

We tried the traditional method of leaving him for increasing increments of time with the hope that he would eventually learn to be okay with being alone, knowing we would always come back.  However, watching from afar on an internal ‘baby monitor’ we could see that he was extremely distressed, and was not showing any signs of calming down.    Incredibly stressful for both him and us! 

We decided to give the Trust Technique a go and are so glad we did.    We had a few sessions with Jenny and the difference is really quite incredible.  Jenny taught us how sensitive animals can be to the humans around them in how they are feeling and thinking.  I now believe our own anxieties about leaving him alone were a big part of the problem!  Practicing mindfulness in this way allows Alfie to feel completely at peace.  During one of the sessions, all three of us left the room and he didn’t even lift his head, never mind follow us.  We couldn’t believe it!  

We now practice the technique daily where possible and although it’s still a work in progress, we are seeing improvements in Alfie’s behaviour every day.    We have even managed to leave him alone in the house for short periods of time and although he still much prefers a human (any human!) to be present,  he no longer panics.   The more we practice the technique, the calmer he seems to get in any situation.    When guests come to the house, he no longer jumps up excitedly, but rather greets them with a tail wag and a cuddle then happily takes himself off for a snooze nearby!   A welcome extra bonus. 

I would highly recommend Jenny’s help for anyone with a pet who has behavioural issues.  She is so knowledgeable about all animals and their thoughts, feelings and sensitivities to the world and people around them.    We’re so grateful to Jenny for introducing us to this wonderful technique, it’s been a real game changer for all of us!   

Susie J