Home Alone – and Happy!
Kate Mallatratt (Hubble & Hattie 2016) ISBN 978 1 845848 61 3

Home alone and happy
Prevention is better than cure.  This is a quote that we have all heard, and this book is excellent at looking at how separation anxiety in dogs can help be prevented before it becomes problematic and distressing for both the owner and especially the dog.
Home Alone – and Happy! explains what separation anxiety is and the signs to look out for. Not only does the book give great ways to help your dog be comfortable on their own, it also tells you why these techniques help. It encourages the reader to think from the dog’s point of view. Home alone – and Happy! provides evaluation worksheets and an assessment worksheet for owners to fill in, which are very easy to use and helpful.

book helps the owner with different techniques and explains how to implement them in small steps that are easy to follow. Not only does Kate beautifully explain the techniques, she also tells you why these different techniques will help, using science and scientific research, in a reader-friendly way that certainly won’t overwhelm the average dog owner and will help them understand the process.

This book is beautifully illustrated and easy to understand, and I would recommend Home Alone – and Happy! to anybody who is thinking of getting a dog, whether a puppy or a rescue, or who wants to enrich their existing dog’s home-alone time.

Review by Sue Lefevre G.Dip ABM, MICB, Member of ICB

Home Alone – and Happy is a book which every new dog owner should put on his MUST HAVE reading list. It is clearly laid out and beautifully illustrated. A pleasure to pick up and read.
Kate approaches the subject of preventing separation anxiety with an in depth knowledge of how the dog feels and thinks when left to cope on his own. She explains what action to take in easy to follow steps and in clear language. Her knowledge is based on scientific research but makes easy reading.

This book offers charts and work sheets to fill in by the owner to record the dog’s progress and behaviour when being prepared for Home Alone – and Happy time.

The owner will know and understand what to do as Kate gives clear reasons for her programme and the dog will quickly learn to become independent and cope on his own.

The book is not only for little puppies but also for rescue dogs who already show signs of anxiety when owners have to go out and leave the dog behind. It is clearly explained how to progress step by step without rushing the process and experiencing setbacks. Every owner who has read this book will understand the dog’s body language from showing anxiety to being relaxed and it therefore makes it easy to follow Kate’s advice to help the dog cope.

I can strongly recommend this book for its scientifically based advice presented in easy to read language as well as the ability by the author to express her deep understanding of dogs.

Reviewed by Brigitte Barton, A.Dip.CBM, FISAP, Member of ICB

problematic and distressing for both the owner and especially the dog.

“