Original subtitles

Let me see…

Have you been well-adjusted to society and seriously working?

Dr. Nosuke.

Sanju.

Nosuke, don't you have work to do?

I'm seeing patients nearby, so I dropped by.

This child is recovering well, great.

So you still remember the doctor.

Are you the doctor who neutered Sanju?

Yes, I'm Kubou Suzunosuke from the Nosuke Pet Clinic.

Dr. Nosuke, thank you for coming to see it,

but we have a new client coming for consultation later.

Then I'll take a look at how Shinichiro works.

Suit yourself.

(DOG SIGNAL)

(Farewell Ceremony)

The clientele of Proud Dog is gradually increasing.

The one who came for consultation today is…

It can't sit quietly at home, I'm really worried.

I looked it up online and found out that it may be "separation anxiety".

Is there any way to change that?

Please put the dog down first, just hold the leash like this.

OK.

Coco, down.

No, sit properly.

Coco.

I'm sorry, could I keep holding it? It's very clingy to me.

Niwa, what is separation anxiety?

Why do you have so many questions?

Miyu, I'll tell you.

The separation anxiety of a dog means

whenever it can't see its owner, it becomes extremely anxious, and cannot stand being alone.

Besides, various problematic behaviors will emerge.

This puts a tremendous amount of stress on the dog's physical and mental health.

So serious? It's my first time hearing it.

Separation anxiety disorder has four types of symptoms.

BARK One, excessive barking.

BARK It keeps barking whenever it can't see its owner.

Two, destructive behavior.

Walls, beams, furniture, they destroy these things at home.

Three, urinating anywhere.

They urinate in places they know they're not supposed to.

Four, self-harm behavior.

They become upset and hurt themselves because of anxiety.

Or they keep licking their forepaws or tail, even until they bleed.

In severe cases, they will suffer from diarrhea and loss of appetite.

Or even fall into a state of panic, just like human's anxiety disorder.

Sometimes they need food or drugs that can alleviate uneasiness.

Owners who have these issues can consult a veterinarian.

Dr. Nosuke, thanks for your explanation.

You're so amazing.

Rarely do I get the chance to show off, but the hospital called me back.

Goodbye.

Show off?

Separation anxiety.

Indeed, it's been sticking to its owner since they came in.

Isn't asking the client's name and making a medical record one of your few responsibilities?

Oh, right.

What's with your tone?

Hello, may I know your name?

Abe.

Miss Abe? How does it spell?

Sorry, my surname is Kozuka.

This is Kozuka Coco, a mini-Dachshund. It is five years old and a female.

Actually, I just divorced not long ago.

Two weeks ago, I moved here with Coco.

I started working last week after finding a job nearby.

But as soon as I close the door,

Coco starts to howl loudly. It never used to make this noise before.

I was so worried that I came home to check on it during lunch break…

Coco.

Coco!

Are you so scared?

It's all because of my divorce.

I'm sorry.

After the lunch break, it was still barking non-stop when I returned to work.

When I came home in the evening, it was still barking.

Its throat became hoarse, I felt so sorry.

Could it stay home alone before your divorce?

It…

Thank you.

I was a housewife.

Whenever I went out with my ex, I always took it with me.

Coco had never stayed home alone.

But from now on, I have to work to support myself.

Even though it's very pitiful,

I still hope that it can learn to stay home alone. That's why I came to you.

Pitiful…

After training, Coco should be able to stay home alone, right?

Record it when Coco stays home alone.

I'll lend you a pet camera.

Put it in the room…

-But… -Put it in the room…

Sorry. I felt too sorry for it, so I quit my job.

Now Coco doesn't have the chance to stay home alone.

Eh?

Then create a situation for it to stay home alone.

That… doesn't feel right…

I don't want it to have a hoarse throat from barking or get hurt.

Then please leave.

What?

Niwa, wait…

If it's pathological separation anxiety…

we should cooperate with the vet for treatment.

I can't make a precise judgment solely from the owner's emotional descriptions.

Even if your dog can't stay home alone, it's not my problem.

Go seek help from others.

How… how could you…

How could you say that, Niwa?

She came for your help because she has problems, you can't just send her away.

Shut…

Even if Coco has pathological separation anxiety…

we can work with Dr. Nosuke for treatment. Wouldn't that reassure the owner?

You always turn away customers. When can you repay the money you owe Izumi?

I'm sorry, he's a little…

No, his words sound super harsh, but his dog training skills are top-notch.

If you don't know how to set up the camera,

I can help you.

And if it's okay, I can also accompany you on outside recording trips,

like going out to buy dinner ingredients.

Okay, Coco?

Really?

Is that really okay?

Of course.

Right, Niwa?

Do it quickly.

Alright.

Can I put the camera here?

I'll test the connection with the store.

Niwa, can you see me? Hi!

This guy…

It seems to work fine.

Let's go out.

The moment we stood up, Coco started to become anxious.

And it started to circle around Miss Kozuka's feet, whimpering.

I'm sorry, Coco, I can't take you out.

Be a good girl and watch the house. We will be back soon.

Mom doesn't want to leave you home either.

Behave, it's all for your own good.

You can understand me, right?

Miss Kozuka's farewell ceremony continued for three minutes.

I forgot something, can I return to get it?

Okay, I'll wait for you here.

Sorry.

When Miss Kozuka returned to me, it's already been 20 minutes.

Later, we went to the supermarket, but she was always distracted.

I'm sorry, I need to use the restroom.

Okay, I'll wait for you here.

After that…

SAMURA

Niwa, Miss Kozuka never came back after she went to the restroom!

You're noisy.

She just went back.

Back where?

Back home.

No way!

That's confirmed then.

Go bring her back here now.

Okay.

After watching the footage, I've confirmed one thing.

It indeed has separation anxiety.

I thought so.

Then through the training, Coco…

You're the one who needs training.

What?

It's not just Coco who has separation anxiety, but you too.

Before seeking veterinary treatment, I hope you can do something.

Me?

But Niwa, Coco did start barking the moment its owner left the house…

In the current situation, it's normal for Coco to feel anxious.

First, because of overprotection and doting,

it only began to guard the house for the first time at age five.

Second, the number of family members lessened after the divorce, and the home environment changed accordingly.

Third, changes in the living environment.

Under these factors, it's impossible for it to stay calm.

Humans know why they move.

But for dogs, they're suddenly brought to a new home.

It would take it some time to realize that this is its new home.

Staying alone in a new home, it would feel like being abandoned in a strange place.

However, the biggest issue is that

the owner's behavior has exacerbated the dog's anxiety.

Eh?

Among the mistakes made by overly worried pet owners, you check off two.

I think you probably always do this.

First is the pre-departure ceremony.

Sorry…

I don't want to leave you alone at home, but I can't take you out.

I'll be back at 8 a.m. Stay home and be good, no barking, alright?

Dogs can't understand what their owners are saying.

But the owner's anxiety and unusual attitude

can also exacerbate the dog's unease.

This leads to a counterproductive outcome despite wanting them to stay home quietly.

The second is returning home multiple times out of worry.

You can't bark. That makes me worried.

The owner returning home

will make the dog mistakenly believe that the owner comes back when it barks.

It may think the owner will be back soon, so it's can't settle down.

Maybe on the first day, it kept barking because of the anxiety.

But due to your excessive indulgence,

you have escalated Coco's anxiety,

resulting in its inability to stay home quietly.

For example, shortly after you left home, you came back and called its name.

At that time, Coco had given up and was about to leave the entrance.

When you left again, its barking time was twice as much.

What?

Your behavior has led Coco to believe as long as it barks, you will come back.

And this idea stayed in its mind.

Next is this.

Because of the constant barking and wandering,

Coco got tired and began to tidy up its sleeping nest.

After some time, it may just give up and go to sleep.

Just at this moment, it heard the sound again.

I guess it must be the footsteps of you rushing home.

So, Coco started barking again.

I thought Coco was always barking when I wasn't home…

So it had stopped in between.

Dogs like fixed patterns,

but this does not mean that they cannot adapt to changes.

However, dogs in regular families usually cannot adapt to changes quickly.

They have to learn gradually through failure to cope with anxiety and understand the situation.

Mom's not at home, I feel so lonely and scared!

I'll bark, maybe mom will come back.

Barking didn't work, I might as well sleep.

Coco, do you want to eat?

Mom came back after I fell asleep!

Coco, I'm going to work.

Mom will come back, I'm not worried, bye.

As the owner, you're supposed to help it grow.

But you constantly interrupted Coco's learning process.

In the end, you even quit your job to spend all day with it.

I thought it was too pitiful so I … my job

So, Coco learned the wrong thing.

It thought that as long as it barks, mom will come back.

If it makes a mess, mom won't leave.

I interfered with Coco's learning.

If you really can't let it stay at home alone,

then create the same environment as before so it doesn't have to.

But if you can't do that,

you have to be strong for Coco.

If you always feel sorry for it and spoil it,

you'll only smother its growth.

If the owner believes in the dog, the dog can do it.

What should I do?

While improving the home environment,

you first need to carry out the exercise to "leave Coco at home alone".

How does it work?

Start by closing the main door and immediately coming back.

SIGH…

Then stand at the door for one minute, three minutes.

WOOF Stand outside the home for five minutes, ten minutes.

Finally, increase the interval to the time you are out for work.

Keep practicing until both of you stop feeling anxious and are used to loneliness.

Some dogs can get used to it in a few days,

but other dogs may need weeks or even months.

Unlike most people,

this is a great challenge for you who feel anxious about leaving Coco.

If you can't overcome it, Coco can't either.

A new happy life for you and Coco is just ahead.

For the new happy life for Coco and me,

I will do it.

Before the practice, you need to create an environment that allows it to calm down and guard the house.

First, you have to set up a dog cage.

I feel sorry for leaving it in the cage, so we don't have a cage at home.

This is a human thought.

The ancestors of dogs lived by digging holes and building nests,

so a small space can actually make it feel safe.

Really?

Letting it roam at home is actually dangerous.

Human food, plants.

What if it accidentally eats these things?

But in a dog cage, how is it supposed to go to the bathroom?

I have to work for several hours.

WATER, DOG CAGE, BED, TOILET Such a living area can be set up for it to stay for a long time.

This way, it has two places to sleep. It is quite spacious too.

Then the toilet and water are settled.

Before you go to work, take it out for a walk to relieve stress.

After a walk, the dog is tired and will naturally want to sleep.

Next, don't be too dramatic when going out and coming home.

Ignore it when you leave and come back.

The key is not to let the dog get too excited.

The first week is Coco's cage training.

It seems to be used to staying inside.

Yes, I put dog food and snacks in its living area like you said.

So it likes this place very much.

Recently, it takes its favorite stuffed toy here to sleep.

Next is the practice of separation.

Miss Kozuka?

Yes… yes, I'll do my best.

Do you take a bath with Coco?

Eh?

How… How can you ask a girl this question so seriously?

I don't take a bath with it.

I just tell it to behave in the living room before I go…

In severe separation anxiety cases,

even if you're both at home, the dog starts barking and making a mess if it can't see you.

In other words, as long as you're relaxed, Coco can stay at home and wait for you.

So just leave with the feeling of going for a bath.

It's true! Coco can do it, Miss Kozuka!

Next is you.

From tomorrow, you will come over every day to practice with Miss Kozuka.

-Eh? -Eh?

Having someone by the side can alleviate unease.

You have nothing to do in the store, so you might as well do something useful.

Watch your wording!

The store is like a garbage house when I'm not there.

But you have a point.

Miss Kozuka,

do you need my company?

The smile of an idol!

Well… Thank you.

What kind of ability is that?

The next day, Miss Kozuka and Coco start practicing to overcome separation anxiety.

Coco, can you go inside?

Very smart.

Here, this is a reward for you.

First, leave the house and then return immediately.

Is it delicious?

Next, stay outside the door for a minute.

It doesn't bark.

Then three minutes.

Come on.

Then five minutes.

It's barking!

What should I do? Has it noticed?

It keeps barking.

It's calling me, but if I go in now…

This song is about five minutes long, want to listen to it together?

The time of a song passes quickly.

It stopped!

Two weeks later, we are going to conduct the final test today.

A separation test that lasts as long as work hours.

Samura.

Good morning.

Five barks.

It has given up.

Seems okay.

Let's go then.

Miss Kozuka and I had a date from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as Niwa instructed.

I wonder if Coco is sleeping.

This is the first time you mentioned Coco today.

Really? I'm so happy.

That's good.

At this time, Niwa might say something like…

You passed.

Just like him.

And that arrogant attitude too.

I've had this feeling too when my dog had the sterilization surgery.

I felt very anxious.

It was my first time having a dog.

Thoughts of anesthesia and surgery were very scary. I fear that the dog might die.

At that time, Niwa said the same thing to me.

If the owner trusts the dog, the dog can do it.

It won't die.

Then my Sanju woke up safely.

It's the same for Coco. As long as you trust it, it can do it.

Definitely.

I'm sorry for taking your whole day, even though it's work.

No… I'm glad to be able to help!

Hat!

Thank you, you are really nice.

I have a job interview tomorrow.

Eh?

It's about time I go to work.

This is also for Coco.

When Miss Kozuka turned around to say that,

she looked very confident, completely different from when we first met.

It'll be okay.

Miss Kozuka and Coco will definitely live happily.

Passed.

TODAY'S KEY ADVICE

Dogs' rearing methods

vary with their breed, personality,

and living environments.

The interaction methods and ideas in this episode

are not applicable to all dogs.

Please be careful.

(Next Episode: Niwa's Teacher)