... canine behavioral science to turn your anxious pup into a confident, independent companion. ## The Science of "Safe Departures": Desensitization * **Identify the Triggers:** Explain how dogs associate "exit cues" (grabbing keys, putting on shoes) with abandonment, spiking cortisol before you even leave. * **The Muted Exit:** Techniques for performing these cues 20-30 times a day without actually leaving to break the association. * **Incremental Absences:** Starting with 5-second "departures" to keep the dog below their threshold of panic. ## Rewiring the Brain ... ... more tiring for an anxious dog than a 30-minute run. * **The Morning Routine:** Rearranging your schedule so the dog is in a "rest and digest" state immediately before you depart. * **Predictability:** How a rigid routine lowers baseline cortisol