Behavior Camp
A 4 to 6 week immersive behavior-modification program, the best fit for moderate behavior issues.
Dog Behavior Solutions
Leave Home Without Leaving Your Dog in Panic
Separation anxiety can trap both ends of the leash at home. Partners Dogs helps you understand what happens after the door closes and build alone-time your dog can tolerate, one realistic step at a time.
Behavior severity
ModerateWhat you may be seeing
Common signs
- Vocalizing, pacing, panting, drooling, or trembling around departures
- Destruction concentrated near doors, windows, or confinement areas
- House-soiling only or mainly during absences
- Refusing food and being unable to settle when alone
- Following people constantly and reacting to departure cues
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- Broken teeth, bloody paws, cuts, or other self-injury during escape attempts
- Breaking through crates, doors, windows, or fences
- Sudden onset, confusion, pain, or abrupt house-soiling
- Collapse, breathing difficulty, or inability to function normally
Moderate is a starting point for planning, not a diagnosis. Self-injury, escape, or severe panic requires veterinary care and an in-person assessment before program placement.
Understanding the behavior
What is separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety is distress related to being apart from a person or left alone. It is not spite. Barking, destruction, house-soiling, pacing, drooling, and escape attempts may be signs of panic, but video and history help distinguish separation distress from boredom, confinement fear, outside triggers, or a medical problem.
Training uses absences short enough to avoid full panic and increases duration according to the dog's response. Repeatedly leaving a dog to cry it out can intensify distress. Some dogs also need changes to confinement because a crate can increase panic rather than create safety.
Sudden onset or house-soiling warrants a veterinary check. Medication prescribed by a veterinarian may be appropriate for moderate or severe cases. Many dogs improve with a consistent plan, but progress is rarely linear and results vary with severity, household logistics, medical factors, and follow-through.
Partners Dogs has trained Arizona dogs through every kind of separation anxiety case since 1997, at our Scottsdale and Cave Creek facilities. Lifetime trainer support is included with every board-and-train program.
The transformation
Before and after training
Drag the slider to see the change our programs make for a dog with separation anxiety. Same dog, same home, real outcome.
Watch
How we work on separation anxiety
Short walkthroughs from our trainers on the exact techniques we use to resolve separation anxiety. See how the work actually looks, then choose the path that fits your dog.
70,000+Dogs Trained
28+Years Experience
4.8★Average Rating
2Arizona Campuses
Recommended path · Moderate severity
The right program for separation anxiety
Based on how separation anxiety typically presents, here is where we would start. Not sure which fits? Take the PD360 assessment for a personalized recommendation.
Private Lessons
One-on-one sessions to address specific triggers and transfer trainer skills to you.
The process
How it works
Assessment and check-in
- We verify vaccination records and complete pre-check-in forms.
- Your dog receives a full behavioral assessment.
- We set goals and build a personalized training plan.
- You meet the primary trainer and tour the facility.
Training and progress reports
- Multiple active training sessions every day.
- Controlled exposure and desensitization to triggers.
- Immersive socialization in a managed environment.
- Regular progress reports with photos and video.
Transition and follow-up
- Private lessons that transfer the training to you.
- Pet Parenting group classes for ongoing support.
- Access to our full Pet Parent Guide.
- Weeks of follow-up so the change lasts at home.
Not sure which program
Get a recommendation in minutes
Take our quick PD360 assessment for a personalized recommendation, or talk to a trainer who has seen separation anxiety many times before.
What our clients say
“"I was working from home full-time just because I couldn't bear leaving Maple alone. After Behavior Camp and our home follow-through, she can handle meaningful time by herself without the old level of distress. I actually cried on the drive home the first time I left her and nothing happened."”
“"Our neighbors had approached us twice about the barking. We were embarrassed and at our wit's end. The team at Partners Dogs didn't just work with Biscuit, they changed how we approached being alone. Six months later, he settles on his bed when we leave."”
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can separation anxiety be improved?
In most cases, yes. With a structured plan and steady follow-through, separation anxiety usually improves and becomes much more manageable. How far and how fast depends on the dog and the household, and severe cases start with an in-person assessment.
How long does it take to see change?
Many dogs show early progress in the first weeks of a program, though the timeline varies with the behavior and the dog. The lasting value is in the follow-up: private lessons and group classes help the change hold at home over time.
What if my dog has more than one issue?
That is very common. During the assessment we identify every area of concern and build one plan that works on them together, rather than treating each in isolation.
Is professional training worth the cost?
It is an investment in daily life for you and your dog. Our board-and-train programs include weeks of follow-up, private lessons, and group classes so the results last, and financing is available up to 36 months.
When can we get started?
Right away. Schedule a call or take the PD360 assessment online and we will find the best time to begin, starting with a clear look at your dog's separation anxiety.
Related behaviors
Dogs with separation anxiety often show these patterns too. Explore the behaviors below. We treat them all.
Ready for the next step
Talk to a trainer now
Every dog and household is different. Get a real conversation with a Partners Dogs trainer who has treated separation anxiety for more than 28 years. No pressure, just guidance on your dog's best path forward.