Ep 3. Kelia & BJ

Kelia and BJ are the focus of the third episode of Separation Anxiety. Kelia is a young woman who lives in Florida with her husband and their two dogs, a pitbull named Athena and a chihuahua named Sophie. Kelia is fiercely devoted to her dogs and considers them to be members of her family. BJ is a Navy veteran who lives in California with his wife and their German Shepherd, Rigby. BJ is equally attached to Rigby and credits the dog with helping him cope with the anxieties he experienced after returning from combat.

The episode opens with Kelia and BJ arriving at the Separation Anxiety studio with their dogs in tow. Host Iliza Shlesinger explains that Kelia and BJ will be participating in a series of challenges designed to test their dogs' loyalty and train them to be more independent. Kelia and BJ are eager to see how their dogs will perform and are also looking forward to the opportunity to bond with other dog owners who understand the special relationships they share with their pets.

The first challenge involves leaving the dogs alone in a room filled with tempting objects, including a plate of chicken wings and a bag of toys. Kelia and BJ watch anxiously from a control room as their dogs sniff around the room, clearly tempted but also hesitant to disobey their owners' instructions to stay put. After several nerve-wracking minutes, the dogs finally succeed in resisting the temptation and Kelia and BJ are able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Next up is a challenge designed to test the dogs' sense of direction and recall. Iliza takes each dog individually to a nearby park and plays a game of hide and seek, with the dogs expected to find their way back to their owner's location using only their own instincts. Athena and Rigby both perform admirably, making their way back to Kelia and BJ respectively with minimal assistance.

The third challenge is perhaps the most emotionally fraught for Kelia and BJ. Each owner is tasked with leaving their dog alone in a strange environment while the other owner works with the dog. Kelia is forced to watch as BJ leads Athena through a series of commands while Kelia's beloved pitbull looks on anxiously. Kelia struggles to keep her emotions in check as she watches BJ and Athena bond over the training exercises.

The final challenge is a difficult one: owners must leave their dogs alone in the studio and exit the building for a set period of time. Kelia and BJ watch from a nearby monitor as their dogs bark and scratch at the exit door, desperate for their owners to return. It's clear that both owners are feeling anxious and guilty about leaving their dogs alone for even a short period of time.

In the end, both dogs are successful at completing the challenges and Kelia and BJ are proud of their pets' progress. They also both acknowledge that they have learned new ways to be good dog owners and have a renewed appreciation for the bond they share with their furry companions. As they say goodbye to their new friends at the Separation Anxiety studio, Kelia and BJ vow to continue building trust with their dogs and to always put their pets' needs first.