Dog Behavior Consultations
Providing Everything You Need
When you need us the most
Training is not enough sometimes.
Behavioral science investigates why your dog reacts the way he does, as well as what triggers his response. When we discover the reason, we can intervene and address the underlying cause and help your dog.
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Training is not enough when your dog is experiencing big emotions, and can no longer control his impulses or behavior. This is when training fails, when we try to modify the behavior of a dog appealing to his rational side, and the dog is not capable of coping with such demands. We must first understand the underlying cause of your dogs' emotions. This is what differentiates us from regular training, in that we can go deeper to understand the root of the issue. We only utilize positive reinforcement techniques as well as the latest holistic methods from Europe. We observe the dog as a whole, and we address the source of the problem.
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To request a behavior consultation for your dog, start filling out our request form. We will follow up with a phone call after you have filled out your intake. If we can take your case, we will set up your initial consultation. If we cannot accept the particular case, we will provide you a suited referral.
Fear, Stress, Anxiety
We have fostered dozens of dogs over the years and our personal dogs are rescues. We understand first hand that big emotions require more than a few cues and environmental adjustments. Dogs with big feelings need understanding, patience, and a wide variety of tools to access their emotional side. Fear is a powerful emotion and it can destroy a dog's life. Your dog does not have to live in fear, or have low confidence. We have very effective tools to help you enhance and improve his life. We have helped dozens of dogs to live their best lives and we can help you too.
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Our founder is a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant (CBCC-KA) and she has been professionally trained in canine behavior and dog training in the US, Norway and the UK.
We do not prescribe medications, however if we consider you need the help of a vet behaviorist we will refer you to one in addition to providing you with the behavioral analysis of your case. Read about our methods here.
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501c3 Rescue Support
If you are a rescue and have a rescue dog struggling with behavioral issues you can request assistance by filling out our rescue behavior intake form to get started.
If you would like decompression support within the first week of adoption, fill out our rescue decompression intake form instead. You must be a 501c3 rescue to access this service.
We reached out to her for advice when our corgi was having intense resource guarding issues. I reached out for advice as I was feeling like we had no choice but to rehome him. She offered to come over the next day to assess his behavior and offer some training support as a last ditch effort. I am SO glad I did because he has been a changed dog the last several months. We’ve worked with countless trainers on this issue and none suggested the strategies she offered but her strategies worked almost immediately. She looked at him holistically and offered ideas for us to build his trust, offer a calmer environment, all while managing his problematic behaviors. We went from feeling like we had no chance but to rehome my dog to feeling confident about supporting him and his needs. We can’t recommend Laura and her team enough!'
WHO CAN BEST HELP MY DOG ?
Behavior Consultant Here... ZZZZzzzzz
The field of dog training and behavior is a science, but still very much unregulated with no licensing requirements or regulatory oversight. Working with a qualified professional can mean the difference between the dog staying in the home or being re-homed or possibly even euthanized. Here are some main differences to be mindful of.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TRAINER, A BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT, AND A VET BEHAVIORIST
Dog training has to do with teaching good manners, life skills and having a fun time with your dog. It can also include some lighter issues where lack of management has developed of some annoying behaviors. For example: potty training help, play biting, polite greetings and leash manners. Educational level: The best option is to find a certified trainer through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA certification means 2 years + of experience ), a nationally certifying body (www.ccpdt.org). Other qualified trainers may be certified through the Karen Pryor or Jean Donaldson Academies, or the Pet Professional Guild. Certification demonstrates knowledge, dedication and professionalism. In Europe, the Pet Dog Trainer of Europe is a reputable association that is at the forefront of dog training with positive methods.
Dog behavior consulting usually involves assessment, management strategies, environmental adjustments, behavior modification through counter-conditioning and desensitization strategies, confidence building and empowerment protocols and in our case a holistic approach in every aspect of the dog's life. Examples of areas where a behavior consultant is more proficient: Generalized anxiety or a strong fear response to for ex. people, sounds or novel visuals. Separation anxiety or isolation distress, obsessive compulsive behaviors, Resource guarding, Any forms of aggression and fear, startle and handling issues that can trigger a bite. Educational level: The educational level goes beyond a regular trainer, typically 7+ years. The national CCPDT certification for behavior consultants is CBCC-KA. Other organizations who certify dog behavior consultants are the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (CDBC Certification), and the Pet Professional Guild (www.ppg.org).
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Dog veterinary behavior usually involves managing the medical or pharmacological intervention in cases in which it is necessary, for dogs that experience extreme behavior conditions. The veterinary behaviorist is a veterinarian who has been Board Certified in Behavior by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB).
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YOU CAN READ ABOUT OUR CREDENTIALS AND EDUCATION HERE
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Providing Everything You Need