Product Description

This booklet explains the difference between dogs who truly have separation anxiety and those that merely misbehave and the describes a behavior modification program for the prevention and treatment of both problems. A treasure chest of ideas for keeping your dog happy in your absence, this booklet can help prevent and treat both minor and severe behavioral problems related to dogs being "home alone." Clear and understandable, this easy to read booklet is written for anyone who wants to leave the house knowing that their dog is happy and their house is safe.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22011 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 36 pages

About the Author
Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D. received her doctorate in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin researching communication between people and dogs. She is the owner of Dog's Best Friend, Ltd., which offers family dog training classes and treatment for serious behavioral problems, where she and Dr. London specialize in the evaluation and treatment of aggression in dogs. She is Assistant Adjunct Professor in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin, teaching "The Biology and Philosophy of Human/ Animal Relationships." Co-host of Wisconsin Public Radio's "Calling All Pets", Dr. McConnell gives advice about behavior problems on over 110 radio stations across the country. She is the behavior columnist for the BARk magazine and a Consulting Editor for the Journal of Comparative Psychology. Currently she is working on a book for Ballantine/Random House titled "The Other End of the Leash, comparing human behavior to that of our four-legged best friends. She can be found either nestled within a pack of four dogs, one cat and a flock of sheep, or traveling to give speeches and seminars around the country.

Customer Reviews

Great for dealing with AND preventing separation anxiety
My new puppy didn't have a full-blown case of SA. But she barked incessantly everytime I left her alone in the house, which needless to say drove the neighbors nuts. By following the techniques in this book, I was able to replace the habit of barking with the habit of chewing on a specific treat - a kong filled with peanut butter in her case - so that now she actually looks forward to my leaving the house. It wasn't a change that happened over night. It took about a month to train her, but it was well worth it. The advice in this book is incredible, but it does require patience, especially if your dog is already displaying behavioral problems (such as chewing on things in the house or barking).

I think this book is helpful for anyone who has guilty feelings when leaving their dog alone. Whether your dog has behavoiral problems or not, this book can give you advice on how to turn your daily departure from the house into a positive experience.

Effective! Intentionally short.
Patricia McConnell knows how little time many of us have which is why she makes this series of books only 30 or so pages long. She is direct and to the point to solve your training problem without lots of fluff and cute little dog stories. When we have a dog training issue very few of us have time to read a novel on how to solve it. I for one want to cut to the chase and start solving the problem right away. The methods used in this book are clear and easy to apply and they work. My dog has stopped destructive chewing when I'm away and is clearly much happier. Thank you Ms. McConnell (oh and Daisy my APBT thanks you too) A few reviewers gave these books a low rating because they are short. Amazon clearly indicates how many pages this book has and it's priced accordingly.

This is a good start if your dog has Separation Anxiety
This is a good start if your dog has mild Separation Anxiety. This gives you the first few things that you can try and gives you a good understanding about Separation Anxiety. If you try everything in this book and it does not help your situation, try the book "The Dog That Loved Too Much" and see your vet.