I am not currently accepting clients in this training category.
Please note: I do not work with aggressive dogs - please work with a qualified behaviorist to help your dog.

 

Fearful & Reactive Dogs…

I’ve had them. Sometimes in the same dog. Let me assist you with bringing some relief to you and your dog.

Your dog barks and lunges at people and other dogs….

It’s embarrassing. You wonder why your pup isn’t like the one that walks along with their owner, not paying much attention to others…

You sent your puppy to daycare….

And now, he can’t go to daycare anymore. He’s become a bully, or very fearful, suddenly. Toward many of the dogs, and possibly people, he sees…

Do either of these sound familiar? Having a reactive or fearful dog isn’t fun. You walk your dog early morning and late at night, when the general population isn’t out walking. If your dog’s a rescue, we don’t often know their history. And we can’t assume we know what has happened to them (or not). Sometimes it’s genetic. Sometimes it’s learned behavior.

We just do our best to give them some relief and instill confidence, that they can trust you will take care of them.

It’s important to address fear and reactivity as soon as possible, because it usually worsens if gone unresolved.  In some cases, I may refer you to a veterinary behaviorist for a consult.

Fearful/Reactive Dog Initial Package:

6  in-person appointments, 45-60 minutes each. 
3 ZOOM appointments, one is scheduled prior to meeting in person. The other 2 are scheduled as needed by you.

What I use:

  • Counter-conditioning & desensitization

  • Specific Control Unleashed exercises

  • Some exercises from Click to Calm

  • Some exercises I’ve developed over time

  • Brain games/sniffing exercises to work their brain as they work their nose

  • If your relationship with your dog is damaged (are they cowering? running away?) - the first step is to regain their trust and confidence in you. And build confidence in me.

Working with fearful/reactive dogs takes:

  • Patience

  • Observation

  • Timing

  • If the relationship is damaged, repair it

  • Proceeding at the dog’s speed - staying under their threshold

  • Management of the environment, if possible

  • Not putting them in proximity to triggers, so they feel the need to react

  • Even with progress, regression happens. So we just back up and work forward again.

  • Sometimes working with a veterinary behaviorist

Fearful/Reactive Dog Initial Package: $775

Add-on appointments are available

Scared little pup

  • Appointments will start with a ZOOM appointment to get acquainted, go over equipment, review video provided by the owner, and teach a couple basic exercises to you and you your dog before we meet in person.  

  • Meet weekly for 2 weeks, then every - other - week. This lets you get in enough practice between sessions and spreads the cost out over more time. If you need appointments weekly, we can schedule weekly.

  • Appointments are captured on video and uploaded for you to review as needed. Videos are available for approximately a month.

  • Handouts are emailed after each appointment. If there is no handout for a particular exercise, please refer to the videos.

  • Fees are not refundable for appointments missed or cancelled by the client.

  • An administrative fee is charged for any appointment that is rescheduled. Payment is due upon receipt of the invoice.

  • Any in-person appointment may be converted to virtual, at no charge.

  • All appointments are positive reinforcement, using a clicker/marker, and treats.

  • We will work at your home to teach you certain skills, and help your dog with some basic confidence, then possibly  at various locations as the dog progresses.

  • Typically, clients who choose this package continue with follow-up appointments for as long as their dog needs help. Depending on your dog, training and behavior modification can take anywhere between several months to a over a year. This process requires patience since fear inhibits learning, and progress timelines vary greatly on a case-by-case basis.

What I can’t do:

  • Raise my voice, jerk the leash, use electronic collars, prong collars or other items/techniques that scare your dog.

  • It simply is not fair.

  • Make guarantees. Dogs are (as you know) living, thinking creatures, and as such, are unpredictable at times. And I can’t enforce that you practice as taught.