Let's plan ahead
Think of behavior modification as "doggie therapy" rather than traditional obedience training. Our goal is to address how your dog feels (anxious, calm, etc.) rather than what he does (sit, stay, etc.). Like human therapy, it takes time, commitment, and a willingness to trust the process as your dog learns to feel more comfortable about his triggers. For a more in-depth description, read here.
Please read these guidelines before your lesson:
Why so strict? To teach a dog not to bark at, lunge at, or bite a person or animal, we first need to create an environment in which these behaviors are not possible. Resolving problematic behavior, especially in the beginning, requires managing the environment carefully until your dog learns new ways of interacting with others.
The video below outlines what to expect during your lesson.
Please read these guidelines before your lesson:
- Have treats of varying “values,” meaning something your dog likes (e.g., soft treats) plus something extremely special (e.g., deli meat or cheese). Depending on the protocol we agree on, we may use very high-value food rewards to help your dog feel better about stressors.
- If it is better for us to meet in a neutral location (like a friend's yard), we can arrange that.
- If your dog has a history of reactivity towards humans (even if he has not bitten) or has had unpredictable behavior lately, we must discuss precautions prior to the first lesson. Such precautions may include:
- Have your dog safely in a crate, separate room, or backyard when I arrive. Give him a chewy or stuffed food toy to keep him busy (assuming he is not a resource guarder). This allows us to discuss the training protocol first.
- Do not allow the dog to make physical contact with me until we’ve discussed a way to interact safely. We may use a gate, fence, leash, and/or a basket muzzle to ensure everyone is safe during training.
- If your dog already uses an e-collar, citronella collar, or other equipment for reactivity, you can have that equipment on if your dog is difficult to handle without it. However, we may remove it later.
Why so strict? To teach a dog not to bark at, lunge at, or bite a person or animal, we first need to create an environment in which these behaviors are not possible. Resolving problematic behavior, especially in the beginning, requires managing the environment carefully until your dog learns new ways of interacting with others.
The video below outlines what to expect during your lesson.