Principles first. False precision never.
SettledSolo is built around gradual systematic desensitisation: begin with an absence mild enough not to evoke meaningful distress, observe the dog, and adapt difficulty to the individual rather than forcing a fixed timetable.
Systematic desensitisation
Butler, Sargisson and Elliffe (2011) reported reductions in separation-related behaviour during an owner-applied systematic-desensitisation programme. The study was small, so SettledSolo treats the behavioural principle as useful evidence without pretending it establishes a universal progression formula.
Butler et al., Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2011)
Observe, do not just time
Video-observation research has documented behaviours such as vocalisation, panting, environmental orientation and destructive behaviour during separation. That is why SettledSolo encourages direct observation and records behavioural signs alongside duration.
Palestrini et al., Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2010)
Signs can be easy to miss
Stress is not always loud. Pacing, panting, repeated lip-licking or yawning, freezing, refusing a normally welcome treat, watching the exit or following you closely before departure can all be useful observations. None of these signs is diagnostic on its own; context and direct observation matter.
Management is part of the plan
Where practical, avoid absences that are longer than your dog can currently manage while you are building comfort. A sitter, daycare, friend, schedule change or work-from-home day can protect the gaps between planned sessions. Calm comfort after a return is fine; there is no need to make reunions cold or dramatic.
Medical questions stay with a vet
SettledSolo cannot decide whether medication, confinement changes, illness or a procedure such as spaying or neutering is relevant to an individual dog. The evidence is not strong enough for a general app rule, so those decisions belong in a conversation with your veterinarian.
What the app adds
The exact software increments, repetition rules and support flags are cautious rules of thumb chosen by SettledSolo. They are deliberately explainable and are not described as a clinically validated dose of training.
How big each step is
Each change is about a tenth of the current time, never more than two minutes. Dogs judge durations by ratio, and in a small timing study they needed a difference of roughly 44% or more to tell two durations apart, so a 10% step should be barely noticeable. The step only moves up after clean relaxed sessions, holds when you note stress signs, and starts a step easier after a week or more away. The pace also follows recent sessions: about 5% after any recent difficulty, 10% normally, and 15% after a sustained calm run.
Frequency and warm-up variation
There is no published universal number of timed departures to perform each day. SettledSolo uses two timed sessions as its default daily ceiling and three as its absolute maximum; a session that stops during a warm-up still uses one allowance. Departure-cue practice does not count because the owner never leaves. This is a conservative product boundary, not a clinical prescription.
SettledSolo's practical guidance also favours short, realistic practice, enough recovery between repetitions, management that avoids rehearsing panic and regular easier days. Those are an independent synthesis for this product, not a universal dosage or guarantee.
High-risk signs
Self-injury, escape attempts or damaging doors, windows or barriers are not a reason to collect more app data. Pause timed departures and contact your vet or a qualified behaviour professional.
The peer-reviewed sources and product boundary notes are collected in theSettledSolo resources, including printable checklists and an observation log.