The Independent Dog

The Independent Dog is a practical guide from the Indiana Dog Whisperer to helping dogs become more comfortable with separation, alone time, crates, and healthy independence.

In this downloadable guide, I explain the same principles I use during my in-home behavior sessions, including:

• How independence begins while you are still home• Helping a “Velcro dog” relax without constant contact• Why the crate should not only mean that you are leaving• Where I prefer the crate to be located in the home• Moving from the crate to a bed or resting place• Making departures calm and uneventful• Making arrivals calm too• Practicing short 5-, 10-, and 15-minute separations• Helping dogs that are overly dependent on another dog• Using structured activity before you leave• Why the timing of affection matters• Real lessons from dogs I have worked with• A 7-Day Independence Reset you can follow at home

The goal is not to make your dog less attached to you. The goal is to teach your dog that being a few feet away, in another room, or home without you for a period of time is safe and normal.

Digital PDF download By Vernon Taylor, Indiana Dog Whisperer Need more than the book? Schedule an in-home behavior session with Indiana Dog Whisperer.