I quit my job because my dog whined every time I left the house – this is how I cured his separation anxiety: ‘I had to do something’
Asha Dillon was so upset about her puppy whining and crying every time she left the house that she quit her job to help him with his separation anxiety.
The qualified nutritionist and product developer spent most of her free time with her Cocker Spaniel, Romeo, but it still wasn’t enough.
Romeo cried, tore up Asha’s furniture, followed her to every room in the house, and even insisted on being in the bathroom when she showered.
He also showed several other signs of behavioral problems, such as gnawing Asha’s Bottega shoes, clinging to her, and cowering behind furniture in the aftermath of a storm.
“I felt responsible for Romeo’s destructive behavior and I had to do everything I could to help him,” Sydney’s Asha told FEMAIL.
Asha Dillon was so upset to see her puppy whine and cry every time she left the house that she quit her job to help the dog with his separation anxiety
Asha had five dogs growing up, and most of them had been fearful – but none were as bad as Romeo.
“Honestly, I’ve had so many troubled pets that I decided I had to do something to fix it,” she said.
Romeo showed several other signs of behavioral problems, such as gnawing on Asha’s Bottega shoes (pictured)
The 30-year-old soon quit her job as a product developer at Bod Australia and began working on a solution that would help Romeo better adapt to being alone for long periods of time.
Asha previously worked at several ASX-listed companies and developed more than 75 human supplements during her decade in the wellness industry.
She first came up with her own brand, Leader Petwhen she realized that pets suffer from many of the same problems as humans.
“All my friends and family started telling me that dogs have problems just like we do – they have sensitive tummies, diarrhea, IBS, joint problems, stress, anxiety.
“We’re millennials — our dogs are like our kids, and we want them to be as happy and comfortable as possible.” Many of the pets adopted during the pandemic, including Romeo, suffer from separation anxiety.
“It’s especially hard because you spent so much time at home during the lockdown – and then you’re just gone and your pet doesn’t know how to live without you.”
The qualified nutritionist and product developer spent most of her free time with her Cocker Spaniel, Romeo, but all the hours she could afford in her busy schedule weren’t enough
Asha originally got into the world of pet supplements because her friends kept asking her what to feed their dogs – but she soon realized that many products were “completely unsuitable” for pets
Asha had five dogs growing up, and most of them had been anxious — but none were as bad as Romeo, who had a hard time functioning without Asha.
Asha originally got into the world of pet supplements because her friends kept asking her what to feed their dogs – but she soon realized that many products were “completely unsuitable” for pets.
Her issues with the products included a lack of clarity regarding the dosage of active ingredients and the physical form of the supplements.
“Many pet supplements come in pills, powders and capsules,” she said. “Which is just unfeasible — dogs just spit it out and refuse to eat it.”
Despite her fear of failing and using her own savings to fund a start-up, Asha quit her job and began developing pet supplements to address everyday issues experienced by dogs and cats.
Her brand’s supplements are sold in the form of chew toys, which get pets excited about taking their vitamins.
Despite her fear of failing and using her own savings to fund a start-up, Asha quit her job and began developing pet supplements to address everyday issues experienced by dogs and cats.
Asha’s own dog, Romeo, started showing a difference just days after taking Leadr Pet’s anxiety supplement Settle
“What I reminded myself of is that the products I developed for Leadr work, they are needed and there is nothing comparable on the market,” she said.
The secret to Asha’s success is using the vitamins and herbal extracts she relies on for her own stress and anxiety in Leadr’s supplements.
Romeo started to show a difference just days after going on ArrangeThe Leadr Pet Anxiety Supplement.
“Many of our customers see a difference in their dogs’ anxiety within days of starting Settle,” said Asha.
“For Romeo, it was probably four days where I really saw his separation anxiety diminish and I was able to leave him home alone for longer periods of time.
“He also stopped looking for things to chew on, like expensive shoes – which is a sign that he suffered less.”
One of the most important aspects of running her own business is the flexibility, and Asha can now spend more time at home with her pet
Asha said one of the best aspects of running her own business was the flexibility; she can now spend more time at home with her pet.
‘I enjoy spending time with Romeo and try to do so as much as possible, but my days are filled with encounters. So while I’m closer to him, my involvement with him is less than I’d like,” she said.
Asha takes Romeo for a walk twice a day and plays for an hour to make sure he is mentally stimulated and gets his exercise.
“If I have to leave him for any length of time I never worry – Settle has really worked wonders and he’s so calm and relaxed.”
All of Asha’s pet products are made from natural ingredients and contain several components present in human supplements.
In the five months since launch, Leadr has sold more than 30,000 chews to pet owners across Australia.
“Clients have called me crying and saying they’ve tried everything to solve their pet’s separation anxiety, but nothing has worked so far,” said Asha.
“They were really shocked by how quickly Settle was able to calm down their furry friends and give them inner peace.
“Many of our customers are repeat buyers and I’ve seen them buy more packets of supplements each month.”