Background:
Poppy was experiencing high levels of stress whenever her family prepared to leave the house. Her anxiety would begin the moment they started their usual "leaving the house" routine - grabbing keys, putting on shoes and coats. This led to her barking and vocalising intensely. However, once the family had actually left, Poppy would settle down quickly and remain calm in their absence.

Assessment:
It became clear that Poppy's distress was tied more to the anticipation of being left alone than to the experience itself. Her reaction was rooted in the specific cues associated with her owners’ departure.

Training Plan:
To address this, we worked on two key areas:

- 1. Desensitising the Departure Routine:
We systematically broke down the elements of the family’s leaving routine and practised them in a controlled, non-threatening way. This helped reduce Poppy’s anticipatory stress by removing the emotional charge from those cues.
- 2. Introducing a “Bed” Command:
We taught Poppy a solid “bed” cue, giving her a calm and positive place to settle as the family got ready to leave. This provided her with a clear expectation and a structured activity to focus on during those critical moments.

Outcome:
Poppy made remarkable progress within just a few sessions. Her vocalisations reduced significantly, and she was able to remain calm and relaxed as her family went through their departure routine. Her owners have continued with the training techniques and have seen sustained improvements in her behaviour.

Conclusion:
By identifying the root of Poppy’s stress and giving her both structure and clarity, we were able to transform what was once a high-anxiety experience into a calm, manageable routine. With continued consistency from her family, Poppy is now well on the path to long-term success.