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In this episode, Nathan sits down with Rachel Rodgers, founder of Nose to Trail and a registered clinical animal behaviourist with over 15 years of experience in rescue and behaviour work.
Rachel specialises in separation anxiety and brings rare honesty to a topic that’s often misunderstood, minimised, or handled with the completely wrong approach. Whether you’re thinking about adopting, freshly home with a rescue, or deep in the trenches of SA right now, this conversation will help you feel less alone and far more equipped.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ Why rescue dogs are more vulnerable to separation anxiety and what’s really going on emotionally when a dog has been rehomed
✅ The early warning signs of SA that most new adopters miss (including one that looks like a toilet training problem)
✅ How pain and underlying health issues can masquerade as separation anxiety and why a vet referral matters more than you think
✅ What the settling-in period should actually look like, and why “just leave them to cry it out” can make things significantly worse
✅ How to gently build independence without causing stress from day one
✅ Why working with a certified separation anxiety professional or clinical animal behaviourist is so important, and how to tell the difference
✅ How to manage caregiver fatigue and find real support when you’re struggling
Key Takeaways:
- Separation anxiety in rescue dogs often has roots in broken attachment, kennel stress, and unknown history. It’s not a training failure; it’s an emotional response
- Subtle signs like not eating, pacing, or toileting only when you’re apart can be easy to miss without a camera, but they matter
- Before starting any separation programme, a thorough vet check is essential; pain is a common and overlooked driver of SA
- Caregiver fatigue is real building a support network of people your dog trusts isn’t a luxury, it’s part of the treatment plan
Find a Separation Anxiety specialist on Yappily 👉
Thanks for tuning in! Let’s celebrate the joy and challenges of dog parenting together, because we’re all here for the dogs.
Connect with Rachel Rodgers
Connect with Nathan and Yappily
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