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Many owners leave the house without considering their dog’s emotional needs when left alone.
Home Alone and Happy! gives you the tools you need to teach your dog how to enjoy his own company, before behavioural problems arise, so you can both spend quality time apart.
List of contents
Acknowledgements and Dedication
Foreword by Nando Brown
Introduction
1: What is separation anxiety?
Signs to look out for
Why prevention is better than cure
Why punishment should never be used
2: Managing emotions
Exploring emotions
Analysing emotions, and how these may outwardly display
Managing emotions on departure
Establishing solid foundations
Building anticipation
3: Building independence
Mealtime training: feed him and leave him!
Eating for pleasure
Food ingredients
Fussy eaters
Feeding raw bones and bone safety
Teaching ‘settle on bed’
Building independence
4: Managing the environment
Beds and sleep quality
Room temperature
Reducing arousal
Movement restriction
The crate: your dog’s bedroom
Scent
The sound of music
5: Home alone and happy toolbox
Environmental cues
Key training reminder
KongsTM and other interactive toys 4
Toys
Should we feed our dog every time we leave him?
Signs that our best friend is happy
6: Assessment and worksheets
Comfort evaluation worksheets
Appendix: Resources and further reading; references
Rogues’ Gallery: the Cast
Index
About the author
Kate Mallatratt is a member of the International Canine Behaviourists and Pet Professional Guild for force-free training. She is degree-level qualified in Canine Behaviour Management, and runs her behaviour and training business, Contemplating Canines, in East Devon, UK. Kate is a highly experienced trainer and assessor, specialising in errorless learning: a concept she incorporates into problem prevention and enriching the home environment for the family dog. Kate has owned and trained dogs for 25 years, and is passionate about canine nutrition, having fed a raw diet to her dogs for many years. She takes an holistic approach to her own dogs, using homeopathy and chiropractic methods to maintain health and wellbeing.
