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With a little guidance you dog can learn to be calm at home.
CSAP-BC
Certified Separation Anxiety Professional Behavior Consultant — through Julie Naismith's program
M.S.
Master of Science in Behavior Analysis — Simmons University, 2021
100%
Virtual — conducted in your dog's real environment, where it actually matters
8 weeks
Structured intensive with daily custom lesson plans and weekly live coaching
WHO THIS IS FOR
For dogs with true separation anxiety, being left alone is not uncomfortable — it is terrifying. It is a panic response, not a behavior problem. And it will not improve with more exercise, a stuffed Kong, or simply letting them figure it out.
Barking, howling, or whining within minutes of you leaving
Destructive behavior focused on exit points — doors, windows, crates
House soiling only when alone
Pacing, panting, drooling, or trembling before or during departures
Self-injury from escape attempts
Extreme hyperactivity when you return — every single time
THE APPROACH
Separation anxiety is one of the most misunderstood and undertreated conditions in dogs. Most training approaches make it worse — flooding, crate confinement, and punishment can intensify the panic response rather than reduce it.
The only evidence-based treatment for separation anxiety is systematic desensitization — a careful, gradual process of building your dog's tolerance for being alone, one second at a time. It requires precision, patience, and a specialist who understands both the science and the reality of living with an anxious dog.
I hold the CSAP-BC credential through Julie Naismith's CSAP program — one of the two most rigorous separation anxiety certifications available. Every lesson plan is built around your dog's individual threshold. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is guessed.
WHY VIRTUAL WORKS BEST FOR SA
This is not a preference — it is a clinical requirement. Virtual delivery is the gold standard for SA treatment, and here is exactly why.
Desensitization must happen where the anxiety occurs
Separation anxiety is triggered by your departure from your home. Training in a neutral location — a facility, a studio, anywhere that isn't your actual environment — does not transfer. Your dog needs to practice being alone in the exact space where the panic happens. Virtual sessions make this possible. In-person visits don't.
Daily practice requires daily guidance
SA treatment isn't weekly sessions — it's daily practice. Short, carefully calibrated absences done every day, always staying below your dog's threshold. I can't be in your home every day, but I can provide 40 custom daily lesson plans over 8 weeks and review your video submissions each week so you always know exactly what to do.
Video captures what in-person visits cannot
Dogs with separation anxiety often mask their distress in the presence of a stranger. Video of your dog after you actually leave shows me what's really happening, how quickly distress escalates, and exactly where the threshold is. That data drives every lesson plan I write.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
My dog was having accidents and showing signs of distress when left alone. We can now leave him for several hours and he is able to relax and even sleep.
At the time we reached out, Willow was unable to be left for even 1 second without panicking. After just two months, we left her alone for 3 hours — and every time we checked, she was asleep in her bed. We have our life back.
THE INTENSIVE PROGRAM
8-week flat fee · fully virtual · everything included
What's included:
60-min initial consultation
A full behavioral assessment and program orientation before anything begins. I learn about your dog's history, triggers, and current tolerance for being alone — so every lesson plan that follows is built on accurate, complete information.
40 custom daily lesson plans
Monday through Friday for 8 weeks — every plan written specifically for your dog's threshold, never a generic template. Each plan tells you exactly what to do, for how long, and what to watch for. No guessing.
6 × 20-min weekly coaching sessions
Live virtual check-ins every week to review your dog's progress, answer questions, and adjust the plan based on what's actually happening.
Weekly video review
I watch your submitted footage throughout the week and respond with specific, actionable feedback — catching problems early and keeping training on track between coaching sessions.
Email & text support
Direct access to me throughout all 8 weeks. Questions don't wait until the next session.
30-min wrap-up session
A dedicated session at the end of week 8 to review your dog's progress, celebrate how far you've come, and build a clear plan for continuing beyond the program.
Not ready for the intensive? Start here.
A self-paced online course for owners who want to start making progress on separation anxiety before committing to a private intensive — or for milder cases that don't yet require one-on-one support.
By the end of the program you will have built up to your first 10 minutes of alone time — the hardest part — with a clear plan for how to keep progressing well beyond the course. Like the muzzle course, this one includes direct video feedback from me throughout so you are never working alone.
What's included
Easy-to-follow text and video lessons covering the science of separation anxiety and the mechanics of desensitization.
Downloadable PDF worksheets to track your dog's progress.
Personalized feedback on your homework submissions.
Community page access for ongoing questions and peer support.
Book a free 15-minute call to talk through your dog's situation. No pressure, no judgment — just an honest conversation about what your dog needs and how Fresh Start can help.
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sophie@freshstartcaninebehavior.com · Greater Boston · Bonded & Insured