also have a look at Purdy
Cookie is a 4 year old Bichon X and her owners contacted me as they were struggling with her separation anxiety at being left. Jill had adopted Cookie 6 months ago and there was very little history about her previous life to go on, all Jill did know was that Cookie could not be left on her own, she screamed and barked if Jill even went outside to hang washing on the line!!
A home visit was set up and off I went to meet little Cookie
Update from Jill 2 months later..
Dear Tricia.
Thank you so much for putting us on the ‘ correct pathway ‘ with Cookie.
She has made great progress and we can now go out to shop for 2-3 hours , leaving her on her own. We have since learnt that Cookie did live with another dog before she ended up in rescue. So with this in mind had never lived on her own.
We have followed your plan rigorously and at times we doubted whether it would work…. BUT it has!! and we are so grateful because although we love Cookie so much, just occasionally we would like to go out to dinner or the cinema on our own!
Thank you so much
Jill.