Week 1: Your day-by-day separation anxiety training plan

Before you start: Setting up for success

Before day 1, set up a few things that will make the week go smoother.

• Choose a settle spot. This is where your dog will learn to relax — a bed, mat, or crate (if they’re already crate-comfortable).
• Get a camera. You need to see what happens when you leave. A cheap webcam or old phone works fine.
• Prepare enrichment. Frozen Kongs, lick mats, or food puzzles for departure practice.
• Block off time. You’ll need 10–15 minutes per session, ideally twice a day.
• Tell your household. Everyone needs to follow the same approach. Bubbas’ household sync helps with this.

Days 1–2: Calm departures (no actual leaving)

The goal for days 1–2 is to break the association between departure cues and panic. You won’t actually leave the house yet.

• Session 1: Pick up your keys 10 times. Each time, set them down and go sit on the couch. Reward your dog for staying calm.
• Session 2: Put on your shoes. Walk to the door. Walk back. Sit down. Reward calm behavior. Repeat 10 times.
• Session 3: Combine cues. Keys + shoes + walking to door. Return to couch. Reward.
• Between sessions: Practice “boring departures” from rooms. Leave the living room, come right back. No fanfare.

If your dog shows stress during any of these exercises (panting, pacing, whining), slow down. You may need more repetitions at this stage.

Days 3–4: Micro-absences (seconds only)

Now you’ll start real separations — but they’re measured in seconds.

• Session 1: Step outside your front door. Close it. Count to 3. Come back in calmly. Repeat 10 times.
• Session 2: Extend to 5 seconds, then 10. Watch your camera. Come back before your dog reacts.
• Session 3: Try 15–20 seconds. If your dog stays calm, celebrate (internally — keep your return boring).
• Key principle: Always return before your dog panics. You want every departure to end with a calm return.

Yes, 5 seconds feels silly. That’s the point. You’re building a new association: “that door closes, but the person always comes back.”

Days 5–7: Building to minutes

If days 3–4 went well, you’ll start extending to real (short) absences.

• Session 1: 30-second departures. Repeat 5–8 times.
• Session 2: Mix durations — 15 seconds, then 45, then 20, then 60. Unpredictability teaches your dog that they can’t predict the length, which reduces hyper-monitoring.
• Session 3: Push toward 90 seconds to 2 minutes. Watch your camera. Return calmly.
• End-of-week check: Can your dog handle a 1–2 minute absence without barking, pacing, or whining? If yes, you’re on track.

What to expect this week

Week 1 is the hardest week emotionally — for you. The sessions feel tedious, the progress feels tiny, and you’ll wonder if it’s working. Here’s what’s normal.

• Day 1–2: Your dog might be confused. Why are you picking up keys and sitting back down? That’s exactly what you want.
• Day 3–4: Some dogs show immediate improvement with micro-absences. Others need more repetitions. Both are normal.
• Day 5–7: You should start seeing your dog’s body language shift. Less following you to the door. Less tension when you pick up keys.
• Setbacks are normal. If your dog has a bad session, just go back to a shorter duration next time. This isn’t linear.

Tracking your progress in Bubbas

At the end of each session, log it in Bubbas. The app tracks your dog’s maximum calm duration, number of sessions completed, and any setback notes. After a week, you’ll have real data showing your dog’s progress — even if it doesn’t feel dramatic yet.

The AI coach is available throughout the week if you’re unsure about your dog’s response to any exercise. Just describe what happened and get guidance for your next session.