Your dog can't be left alone due to crate or separation anxiety? When attempting to go on a walk, is your dog reactive on the leash with barking, growling, or lunging at other people or dogs? You can't have people over due to the fear they might snap? Do they seem to be afraid to leave the house or to go to a new place, as if they have a general fear of the outside world?

 

If any of those questions resonate with you, or you have other similar concerns you have been struggling to understand, you may need a Behavior Modification Program. Our expertise is focused on anxiety and fear-based behavior modification.

 

Issues like those described above are often related to a few common errors:

• Lack of boundaries

• Too much freedom​

• Unclear communication or expectations

• Lack of education during critical development, imprint, or transition stages

• Lack of confident leadership, guidance, and teaching

• Suppression based training without addressing the root of behaviors

• Trauma without effective counter-conditioning

• Insufficient mental or physical exercise to channel energy in a healthy way

 

Unhealthy relationships are the common thread that brings it all together.

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We don't mean your dog does not love you, or that you do not love your dog. 

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What we're talking about is usually from a lack of understanding the right ways to love, nurture, and respect another species. When there is a breakdown in the relationship and communication, behavioral concerns may begin to show up. Sometimes this begins in subtle ways that may go relatively unnoticed, and other times this issues appear to be sudden and urgent.

 

If you think you have warning signs of behavioral problems, do not wait for them to resolve on their own. They will not. It will only escalate.

 

Unfortunately, this is what so often leads to the overcrowding of shelters, high euthanasia rates, an abundance of stray dogs, rescues being over run, or the revolving door of rehoming needs. These dogs aren't broken. They need guidance. 

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Our Behavior Modification Programs will support your dog by developing a better relationship with life based on clear communication, healthy boundaries, and confidence building for you and your dog. 

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Even though they are our best friend, we can't just expect them to understand what we want, need, or how to understand the world. It is our responsibility to teach them - just like you would need to teach a child these same concepts.

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We will cover topics like:

• Handler focus and proper handling skills 

• Confidence building

• Relaxation exercises

• Come

• Sit

• Place

• Heel

• Down

• Impulse control / "Stay" 

• Boundary management

• Crate training 

• Leash reactivity

• Not jumping

• Threshold management

• Brain games and mental exercise appropriate for your dog's needs

• Social development and common mistakes (What is "Socialization"?)

• And more

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Obedience training, in the traditional sense, may not be what you need to help your dog. Generally we need to turn attention to the mental and emotional needs of your dog to help reframe behavioral responses. Obedience may help accomplish this so we may work through teaching skills that will be most helpful in the overall process.

 

Our goal is to guide you to a path of finding the joy with your dog and getting back to adventuring, without the worry or stress.