Petrina Firth

Petrina Firth, also known as The Pet Coach, is a certified dog behaviour professional and separation anxiety specialist with over 10 years of experience helping dogs and their owners. As a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT), COAPE Behaviorist, and full member of APDT and CAPBT, she focuses on practical, humane, science-based support for separation anxiety, isolation distress, puppy training, and canine behaviour. Petrina trained with Malena DeMartini, one of the leading names in separation anxiety support, and her work is centred on helping dogs become more confident while giving owners clear, realistic guidance they can actually use. She also writes about dog nutrition and animal emotions, because behaviour, health, and wellbeing are closely connected.

Anxiety in dogs treatment - Cute poodle working on their behavior plan

Dog Anxiety Treatment Plan: Stop Your Pet’s Suffering Today

Anxiety in Dogs Treatment: How to Build a Successful Treatment Plan If you’ve tried out any of the quick fixes for your dog’s anxiety, whether it’s calming chews, new toys, even weighted vests, only to see minimal progress, you’re not alone. It can feel like there is an overwhelming stream of contradictory information online about […]

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tiny baby apricot english cocker spaniel puppy for 12 week old puppy potty training article

12 Week Old Puppy Still Not Potty Trained? Real Reasons & 6-Month Regression Fixes

The Real Reason Your 12 Week Old Puppy Still Isn’t Potty Trained Picture this:You’ve done everything “right” — the crate training, the frequent trips outside, the enthusiastic praise plus treats when they go to the bathroom in the yard. Yet here you are at 3AM, staring at another puddle on your freshly cleaned rug, wondering

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Tug of war play with a dalmatian

The Secret Power of Play: Why Being Silly is Serious Business for Your Dog

The Secret Power of Play: Why Being Silly is Serious Business for Your Dog As a certified companion animal behaviorist, I often see people laser-focused on “fixing” their dog’s problem behaviors. Whether it’s separation anxiety, noise phobias, or recall issues, we tend to dive straight into specific training protocols. But here’s something that might surprise

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puppy_home_alone_tips close up of Yorkshire Terrier puppy on a light blue background

Puppy Home Alone Tips

5 Essential Tips for Teaching Your Puppy to Be Home Alone Successfully Puppy separation anxiety is something most new puppy parents worry about, and it’s true that it can be a challenge to leave your puppy home alone, especially at first. But here’s something many don’t realize: puppies aren’t naturally wired for isolation. In fact,

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