Welcome to Little Weirdos! 💗
Let's get to know your dog!
I'm so happy we're going to be working together!
Before our first session, I've got a few things for you to complete. These will help me get to know your dog, understand what's been happening when they're home alone, and start connecting the dots between their behaviour, health, movement, and everyday life.
Separation anxiety work is about helping your dog feel genuinely safe and comfortable when they're alone, and understanding the whole dog is a big part of getting there.
Don't worry about getting everything perfect. Just share what you can, and we'll figure out the rest together!
STEP 1: Let's connect on WhatsApp! 💬
WhatsApp is where we'll stay connected throughout your coaching program!
Think of it as having your very own behaviour consultant in your pocket. You can send me questions, videos, updates, little wins, or anything weird you're noticing along the way.
Let's get connected first, so you can reach out if you have any questions while working through the rest of your onboarding.
Don't have WhatsApp yet? No problem! It's a free messaging app that works just like texting. You can download it from the App Store or Google Play.
Your coaching support officially begins on the date of our initial consultation, but your support starts now!
STEP 2: Complete Your Behaviour + Wellness Questionnaire 📝
This is where I start getting to know your dog.
We'll look at their behaviour, health history, daily routines, environment, and all those little details that help me understand the bigger picture.
Some questions might seem unrelated to the behaviour you're looking for help with, but I promise there's a reason I'm asking!
Please complete this at least 48 hours before our first session, so I have time to review everything and start connecting the dots.
STEP 3: Complete your waiver ✍️
Just one more little bit of paperwork!
Before we get started, please take a moment to review and sign your coaching waiver. This covers the important details about working together so we're both on the same page.
STEP 4: Why We Talk About Pain 💗
One thing you'll quickly learn about working with me is that we look at the whole dog, not just their behaviour.
Pain, discomfort, health concerns, and physical limitations can all affect how a dog feels about being home alone. And sometimes the signs are incredibly subtle!
That's why every Separation Anxiety Coaching program starts with a Behaviour + Movement Deep Dive.
We'll look at your dog's history, everyday activities, posture, movement, and physical comfort alongside the behaviour concerns that brought you here.
This helps us identify possible contributing factors, recognize anything that might need veterinary attention, and build a training plan that supports your dog's overall well-being.
You don't need to know what you're looking for. That's my job!
STEP 5: Send Me Your Photos & Videos 🎥
Every Separation Anxiety Coaching program starts with a Behaviour + Movement Deep Dive.
Before we start working on alone-time training, I want to get a fuller picture of your dog's health, comfort, movement, behaviour, and everyday life.
Pain, discomfort, and other health concerns can all affect how dogs cope with being alone, so this helps us make sure we're supporting the whole dog, not just focusing on what happens when you leave. start connecting the dots.
📹 Step 6: Share Any Existing Alone-Time Footage
If you already have camera footage of your dog home alone, I'd love to see it!
These videos can give me a better picture of what happens when you leave, how your dog responds, and whether there are any patterns we should be paying attention to.
A few things to know:
If you have existing footage, send me a few clips through WhatsApp or share a Google Drive link.
Footage from the beginning of an absence can be especially helpful, including the moments leading up to your departure.
Don't worry about editing everything perfectly. Just send what you have!
Please don't deliberately leave your dog alone or push them into distress just to collect footage. If you don't have any, that's completely okay.
We'll talk more about cameras, what to look for, and how we'll use video throughout our training together.
💗 Step 7: What Happens Next?
Once you've completed your checklist, I'll review everything before our first session so we can hit the ground running!
During our consultation, we'll talk through what I've learned about your dog, explore what might be contributing to their separation anxiety, and start putting together a plan that works for both of you.
We'll also talk about how to manage unavoidable absences, what safe alone-time training will look like, and how we'll get started.
One important thing: You don't need to practise leaving your dog alone before we meet. For now, focus on keeping things as comfortable and manageable as possible.
If you have questions along the way, just send me a message on WhatsApp!
See you soon!
Liz 💗