Is your dog displaying a problem behaviour? – We can help!

We specialize in Aggressive, Fearful and Reactive dogs.

About "Problem Behaviours"

Nobody wants to have a “problem dog”. It’s embarrassing to have a dog that reacts in public with barking, lunging and other behaviours that people are uncomfortable with. It can take a not insignificant emotional toll on the humans involved with such a dog. There is social pressure that our dogs “just get along” with everyone. There is little or no public understanding for a dog that reacts fearfully, and very little understanding and support for people that are trying to work with these dogs in public. The pressure is to “keep your dog under control”.

There is also an emotional toll on the dog herself. She is the one who is living with her fears, and trying to deal with them in a world where the individuals who decide her fate do not speak her language. The dog is not choosing to be anxious – she simply does not believe in her own ability to cope with a given situation. Next, she may panic, and she will then act out her panic (in the form of barking, lunging, etc) without being able to reason logically about what she does, or process information from her environment. At that stage, it is quite useless to try to tell her to ‘be quiet’ or to ‘behave’. She is unlikely to hear you, and will certainly not be able to process what you are telling her. It would be like telling a person that is afraid of spiders to just "calm down and don't worry about it" as a spider is crawling up to them on a table!

Dog training in general, and behaviour modification in particular, does require patience and consistency on the part of the owner and trainer. As owners and trainers of reactive dogs, we need to be aware of our own feelings of embarrassment, as well as the possibility of a growing frustration. It is not easy to separate our personal feelings from the dog’s issues!

Training Solutions

1. Private, In-home Behaviour Consultations

The first consultation will be spent on taking a history, making sure that we have as full a picture as possible of the situation. Then we will show you how to best prevent, manage and train your dog in order to start to modify his behaviour. We will give you a number of exercises to work on with your dog, most likely on a daily basis. You will likely also be given a number of reading assignments, to support the instructions and the exercises that you have been given.

At our second consultation, approximately 7-10 days later, we follow up on yours and your dog’s progress, answer any questions you may have, and then we work together on the next step of your customized training programme.

After the second consultation, a confidential report will be sent to you, and a copy will be sent to your veterinarian. This report includes a detailed behaviour modification plan. As we continue to work together, we will review the plan as we progress and update the report regular intervals.

How much does it cost?

Our standard rate is $95 per consultation. A consultation is usually 1 – 1 .5 hour.  The following PREPAID packages are available:

New Client Package*: 2 consultations for $165, inc a written report with training plan.

FIVE Consult Package:  $450 (5% discount)

TEN Consult Package: $850 (10% discount)

All service fees are subject to GST.

Individual payment plans can also be set up to suit your budget.

*We offer the New Client Package once only, to new clients. It gives you a chance to learn what potential solutions are available and what they might involve as regards training and costs. It is a rare behaviour problem that can be solved in only two training sessions, but the training plan that you will receive after our two sessions will give you an idea of what the training will consist of, how you should go about it, how we can help you and what the costs might be.

2. We Train Your Dog For You! = “Day Training”

“Day Training” means that we come to your home and do the training, either while you are at home or while you are at work. (It is not a pet sitting service, however.)

This solution is quicker and easier for the owner, in that the trainer, who has extensive training and experience in the modification of problem behaviours, will come in and do the training for you. This solution is suitable for busy owner, or owners that are unable, or do not particularly desire, to be involved in the specifics of the training process.

The Day Training process starts with an initial consultation and evaluation. We take a full history and make an assessment of the issues that you wish to have resolved. Two days later, you will receive a quote on a “per behaviour”-basis. In other words:

YOU PAY PER BEHAVIOUR, NOT PER HOUR! This gives you a known budget from the start. You know what the cost will be and there is no open-ended contract.

For more details on this solution, please click on “Day Training” above, in the “Private Training” drop-down menu.

3. Reactive Dog Classes

Depending on the type and level of your dog's reactivity, he/she may fit into our Reactive Dog Programme. This programme consists of three levels of courses for owners with dogs that are struggling with “issues”.

For more details on this solution, please click on "Reactive Dog Programme" above, in the "Classes" drop-down menu.

Call us today

Call or email us to discuss the problem in an open and friendly atmosphere, where you can ask any questions that you may have. Without any commitment from your side, but also on the understanding that it is not possible to give an assessment without an in-person consultation, we can give you an idea of the scope of the training solutions that may be available for your dog.

Call or email us now and take the first step to have your problem solved for you.

Call 250-743-7648 or 250-732-5415, or email [email protected].