Private training
Private training for separation anxiety
Separation anxiety happens when nobody is home to see it. The chewed frame, the shredded blind and the neighbour's note about howling are evidence that something happened, not proof of why. We coach separation anxiety one-on-one at $150 + GST per hour: watching video of the dog alone, working out what the dog can currently cope with, and writing a weekly plan that starts under that line.
Last reviewed September 29, 2026
Watch before changing
A camera answers the question a chewed door cannot.
We start with what the dog does when the door closes, and the cheapest way to learn that is a phone propped on a shelf. Pacing, panting, howling that starts the moment the car leaves, or a dog who settles after twenty minutes: each points somewhere different, and a torn cushion alone cannot say which. Boredom, a noise outside, a sore hip or genuine distress can all leave the same mess. Where the footage shows panic, a vet is part of the conversation early.
The plan starts below the point where distress begins, which sometimes means practising with the door still open, or a hand on the keys and nowhere to go. A step ends when the dog shows distress, not once it goes quiet, and the next step is smaller. A crate that raises panic or escape attempts is not a settled spot for that dog and stays out of the plan. Absences the dog cannot yet cope with are managed around where possible.
- Video before any changes
- Practice below the distress line
- Steps end at distress, not silence
- No crate that raises panic
When to pause
Panic and self-injury need a vet conversation first.
Some dogs are not unsettled when alone; they are frightened. Drooling through a crate tray, chewing a door frame until gums bleed, throwing themselves at a window: that is closer to panic than to a manners gap, and a departure routine on its own does not address it. A dog that is hurting itself, or cannot settle at all, should see a vet before training is booked, and we say that at the consultation rather than after.
Private sessions are not the right format for every dog. Behaviour Rehab is the program built for anxiety, reactivity and aggression, a five to six week board and train at $4,850 to $5,760 + GST, planned and priced after a full assessment, with two free follow-up sessions and in-depth owner education so you learn the why, not just the what. The program is recommended at the consultation, and when the smaller option is enough, that is the one we recommend.
The programs
Programs and prices
W · One-hour session
Private Training
One-on-one coaching with you on the other end of the leash.
Includes a written weekly plan to work from
SW · Weekdays, drop-off 8–10 am · pick-up 5–7 pm
Day Training
Professional training all day, your couch at night.
Includes weekly one-hour go-home lesson, daily structure
NE · 2-week board & train
On-Leash Foundations
If every walk is a wrestling match, pulling, barking, zig-zagging, this two-week program rebuilds the walk from the ground up with foundational on-leash obedience..
Includes handover lesson, follow-up session, lifetime support, slip lead + collar
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Does private training help with separation anxiety?
Private training coaches the household through what it can control: reading the video, managing absences the dog cannot yet cope with, and practising departures below the point where distress starts. Each one-hour session is $150 + GST and ends with a written weekly plan. We do not promise an outcome, and a dog who panics or injures itself needs a vet conversation first.
What does a separation anxiety dog trainer actually do in a session?
We look at what the dog does when alone, ideally on video, and at the real leaving routine: keys, coat, the door. Then the plan rebuilds that routine in pieces the dog can currently handle, starting well before an actual exit. The steps come home in writing.
Is one on one separation anxiety training better than a board and train?
It depends on the dog. Separation anxiety happens in your home and around your schedule, so coaching the household is one reasonable place to start. Behaviour Rehab is the program built for anxiety, reactivity and aggression after a full assessment, and the consultation recommends the fit.
How many private sessions does separation anxiety take?
There is no honest number to give in advance, because it depends on the dog and how each week's plan goes. Behaviour may temporarily increase when a routine changes; if distress persists or escalates, that is a reason to reassess with us and with your vet rather than push on. Sessions stay at $150 + GST each.
Keep reading
Start with the video
Tell us what the camera shows and how long your dog is alone. Book a consultation and we will recommend the format honestly.
From real owners
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Real Northline dogs