Separation Anxiety

Puppy Pre School

1-on-1 Dog Training

Separation Anxiety Program

Helping Dogs Feel Safe, Calm, and Confident When Alone

At Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR), we understand how overwhelming separation anxiety can be for both your dog and your family. Feeling trapped, worried, or guilty every time you leave the house is something many loving pet parents experience, and you’re not alone in facing it.

Separation anxiety is more than a behaviour issue; it’s an emotional response rooted in fear and distress. Left untreated, it often intensifies over time, affecting your dog’s wellbeing and placing ongoing stress on your household. That’s why early, compassionate intervention is so important.

SCAR’s Separation Anxiety Support Services are designed to help address the root cause of your dog’s distress using humane, evidence-based training methods. Our team works with you to create a personalised plan, and guide you step by step toward lasting change. With the right support and structure, dogs can learn to feel calm, safe, and confident when home alone.

This service is beneficial not only for improving your dog’s emotional health, but also for restoring balance and peace of mind for you. With patience, guidance, and the right tools, progress is possible, and freedom, confidence, and calm can return to your home.

Support is here, and taking that first step today can truly make all the difference for you, and for your dog.

Want to Know More About Separation Anxiety in Dogs?

Gerry Pearson, our Shelter Trainer, explains what Separation Anxiety means for dogs

Help Your Dog Feel Calm and Confident

Separation anxiety is one of the most challenging behavioural issues for dogs, and their owners. Many pet parents feel trapped at home or guilty knowing their dog is distressed when they leave.

Common signs of separation anxiety include:

Pacing, panting, or excessive drooling
Constant barking or howling
Chewing or destroying property, especially around exit points
Attempts to escape
Inappropriate elimination
Self-harm or obsessive behaviours

If left untreated, separation anxiety usually worsens over time. Millions of dogs worldwide struggle with this condition, but the good news is that it can be treated successfully.

How Our Program Works

Our approach slowly helps your dog get used to being alone in a way that feels safe for them, starting small and building up over time. We always use positive methods to boost their confidence and comfort.

The process works like this:

Your dog is introduced to short, stress-free periods alone.
These periods are gradually increased as your dog starts to feel safe.
Over time, your dog becomes comfortable with normal alone time, stress-free.

Research shows this method is not only humane but also the most reliable path to lasting results.

Remember!

It is very important that while your dog is in the program, any time they’re left alone needs to be planned as part of their training. Unexpected or stressful alone time can set them back. But don’t worry, we’ll help you with practical, creative ways to make this doable.

What to Expect

Separation anxiety training requires patience, consistency, and commitment, but the results are worth it! Imagine coming home to a dog who has been calmly resting instead of barking, howling, or destroying your home.

Setbacks are normal. Dogs can react to changes in routine or environment, so progress may be slow at times. Every plan is tailored to your dog, and we guide you through every step.

Meet Gerry, Our Shelter Trainer!

Gerry is a dedicated behaviour technologist with extensive experience working with dogs in shelters and rescues. He holds a Diploma in Canine Behaviour Science and Technology and has a special interest in supporting dogs who experience distress when left alone. Gerry is a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer, successfully obtaining his training through Malena De Martini, a leading expert in the field for over 25 years through her certification program.

Gerry’s philosophy is that behaviour is not inherent in the animal but emerges from the environment we create. By carefully analysing the function of a dog’s behaviour and arranging the environment to make desirable behaviours easier to perform, he helps dogs build confidence, develop skills, and respond to requests voluntarily rather than through fear or coercion. Using the least intrusive, most positive interventions, Gerry fosters trust, motivation, and skill development, allowing dogs to express natural behaviours and thrive emotionally and socially while strengthening the bond with their caregivers.

“The commitment to using the most positive, least intrusive, effective interventions allows us to think before we act, so that we make choices about the means by which we accomplish our behaviour goals. In this way, we can be both effective and humane.”

— Dr. Susan Friedman

Puppy Pre School

Building Confident Pups, Happy Families, and Lifelong Bonds

At Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) Puppy Pre School, we’re passionate about giving puppies the very best start in life. Our program is designed to support you and your new pup during those important early weeks, when learning, confidence, and positive experiences matter most.

Join us for a welcoming orientation followed by a 4-week training course that’s jam-packed with fun, interactive play and practical guidance. Each session covers a range of essential puppy topics, helping you understand your pup’s needs while building strong communication and trust. Our classes focus on safe socialisation, basic skills, and real-life learning in a supportive environment.

The SCAR Puppy Pre School program is carefully formulated using positive reinforcement-based training methods, encouraging pups to learn through praise, rewards, and success. Starting young helps puppies build confidence, resilience, and good habits early on, reducing fear, preventing future behavioural challenges, and setting them up to grow into calm, happy, well-adjusted dogs.

By enrolling in Puppy Pre School, you’re not only investing in your puppy’s future, but also supporting SCAR’s mission to give every animal the best possible second chance. Together, we help pups start on the right path, confident, connected, and ready to thrive.

1-on-1 Dog Training

Personalised Support for Confident Dogs and Stronger Bonds

At Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR), we know that every dog is unique—and sometimes group classes or general training advice just aren’t enough. When you’ve tried everything and still feel stuck, our 1-on-1 Dog Training Program is here to support you.

Not every dog thrives in busy group environments, and with the full schedules many families juggle, attending regular classes isn’t always practical. That’s where personalised, one-on-one training can make all the difference. This service is designed to meet you and your dog exactly where you are, focusing on the specific challenges you’re facing in real-life situations.

Our experienced team takes the time to help you understand why your dog behaves the way they do, not just how to manage it. From there, we create a tailored, ongoing training plan that suits your dog’s needs, your home environment, and your family’s lifestyle. This targeted approach often brings clarity, confidence, and progress when other methods haven’t worked.

Leaning on 1-on-1 training when all else fails can be a turning point—helping reduce stress, rebuild trust, and strengthen the bond between you and your dog. With the right guidance and support, even the most challenging situations can become opportunities for positive change, leading to a happier, calmer, and more confident dog for the whole family.

We’re Here When You Need Us.

Raising a puppy or supporting a dog through challenges can feel overwhelming at times but you don’t have to battle it out on your own. Asking for help isn’t a failure; it’s a powerful step toward creating a happier, healthier future for both you and your pet.

At Second Chance Animal Rescue, we are a community-focused organisation committed to supporting families with compassion and without judgement. Every situation is different, and we meet you where you are. Whether you have questions, need reassurance, or require hands-on support, we’re here to listen, guide, and step in when you need us most.

Everything we do is driven by our vision and mission of keeping people and pets together. We’re dedicated to ensuring that every companion animal whose path crosses ours is set up to thrive in their new life, supported, understood, and given every opportunity to succeed.

If you’re feeling unsure or need an extra helping hand, reach out today. Call us to speak with our friendly team and get started, because with the right support, brighter futures for you and your pup are absolutely possible.

Paws, Progress & Happy Tails

Dogs and Puppies on Their Journey with SCAR

Phone

03 9357 0834

Email

sheltertrainer@secondchanceanimalrescue.com.au

Address

23 Grasslands Ave Craigieburn Victoria 3064

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Paws At Work Registration Form

Thanks for your interest in SCAR’s Paws at Work Program!
Due to the popularity of this program, our calendar is fully booked out for the rest of the year. Applications are temporarily closed until we have new dates locked in, but please check in again soon so we can bring some four-legged joy to your workplace when we can!

If you are interested in taking part, please complete the following registration form, and we will add you to our waitlist to be contacted for the next available round of dates.

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*50% fee for cancellations within 14 days of your booking. 100% fee for cancellations within 7 days of your booking.

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If you are interested in taking part, please complete the following registration form, and we will contact you to discuss availability and make your team’s booking.

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^{*Due to the physical nature of working in the shelter, volunteer roles may involve significant amounts of manual handling, and a reasonable level of fitness is required. Manual handling includes sustaining repetitive movements of lifting/bending, pushing/pulling, twisting/turning and walking for extended periods of time. Some heavy lifting up to 15kg may be required.}

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^{*50% fee for cancellations within 14 days of your booking. 100% fee for cancellations within 7 days of your booking.}

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Corporate Volunteering Registration Form

We are currently taking bookings for our Corporate Volunteering Program.

If you are interested in taking part, please complete the registration form below, and we will call you to discuss availability and make your team’s booking.

Group Organiser's Name

First Name

Last Name

Group Organiser's Job Title

Group Organiser's Phone Number

Group Organiser's Email

Availability

I.e: Your preferred month to volunteer

Acknowledgement

I acknowledge that my volunteer team must be fit for manual handling.

*Due to the physical nature of working in the shelter, volunteer roles may involve significant amounts of manual handling, and a reasonable level of fitness is required. Manual handling includes sustaining repetitive movements of lifting/bending, pushing/pulling, twisting/turning and walking for extended periods of time. Some heavy lifting up to 15kg may be required.

Details for Tax Invoice & Payment

Please make sure the following details are correct.

I acknowledge that my organisation will receive an invoice for a financial contribution of $800 (inc GST) or more, depending on the number of people who are booked in. I understand payment is within 14 day payment terms for hosting our volunteers.

Yes

I acknowledge the cancellation policy*

Yes

*50% fee for cancellations within 14 days of your booking. 100% fee for cancellations within 7 days of your booking. Please refer to full cancellation policy above for more information.

Contact Name For Invoice

First Name

Last Name

Contact Number For Invoice

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Name of Organisation for Invoice

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If you are human, leave this field blank.

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Additional Information

Separation Anxiety