Dogs

 
 

Building confidence is important for the prevention of behavior issues.

Being able to settle in places with high levels of distractions is an important life skill.

Foundation Behavior Training

Foundation behavior training is comparable to a child learning the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Without a solid foundation, your dog, much like a child, would lack the essential tools to become a productive, healthy, and well-adjusted individual.

Our training methodologies and philosophies build a relationship based on trust, cooperation, and mutual respect. We do not employ fear or force in our training.

The program spans 6 weeks, starting with a 1 1/2 hour in-home consultation, followed by 5, one-hour sessions either at your home or in various locations nearby to enhance the learning experience.

The foundation behaviors we focus on in our program: Attention, Targeting, Sit, Down, Settle on a Mat, Leash Walking, Leave It, Drop It, Recall, and Place.

Rates:

$250 for initial 1 1/2 hour consultation. Payment is required 72 hours in advance via Venmo or Zelle.

$750 for 5 additional one hour sessions. Payment is required 72 hours in advance via cash, Venmo, Zelle, credit card or PayPal.

The Foundation Behavior Training Program is just the beginning. If you're considering further training for your dog, especially if you're aiming for therapy work or the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification, it's not the end. We can explore your aspirations for your dog during our meeting.

A set up with a reactive dog and building core skills, like automatic eye contact.

Teaching dogs an incompatible or alternate behavior is sometimes necessary to prevent undesirable behavior.

Behavior Consulting and Training

Behavior consulting and training is outside the realm of foundation behavior training (sit, stay, come, etc.) and encompasses such behaviors and issues as the following:

  • Aggression

  • Reactivity

  • Fear, anxiety and lack of confidence

  • Fence fighting

  • Excessive chewing and destructiveness

  • Hyperactivity, “unruliness” and inability to settle and focus

  • Separation anxiety (See section below for more details)

  • Children and dog issues

  • Resource guarding

Behavior consulting begins with a 15 to 20-minute discovery call in which we find out more about your dog and the issues you are facing with them.

This is followed by having you fill out a comprehensive questionnaire, diving deeper into your dog’s life so we can gain a better understanding and prepare for our consultation and subsequent sessions.

The consultation can take place in person or via Zoom and typically lasts between one and a half to two hours. In this session, we explain the reasons behind your dog's behavior and what our steps and training plan will be for achieving the change you wish to see for your dog. We will also give advice and recommendations you can implement immediately to restore peace to your life. If you choose to move forward with training and behavior consulting, we will suggest a customized training package that meets both your short-term and long-term goals for your dog.

Rates:

Initial 1 1/2 to 2 hour consultation session-$350. Payment is required 72 hours in advance via Venmo or Zelle. Subsequent sessions after initial consultation-$175 per hour.

Helping your dog be comfortable with being alone is important.

Feeling high levels of anxiety and stress being left alone is difficult. But we can help!

Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety refers to the excessive worry or fear a dog may exhibit when parted from a person or another animal they are emotionally attached to.

The origins of Separation Anxiety are thought to be rooted in biology, with environmental factors playing a role. Contributing factors may include a chemical imbalance and a natural inclination towards anxiety. Additionally, anxiety and fear can be learned behaviors or stem from a traumatic event.

Indeed, Separation Anxiety is common and can affect any mammal, including children. It is manageable through a systematic desensitization program, which underscores the importance of engaging a skilled Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT).

Our program begins with a comprehensive 90-minute consultation and assessment led by Patti O’ Farrell, a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer. In this session, Patti will conduct an in-depth analysis of your dog's behavior in a live remote assessment. She will discuss her findings, offer recommendations, and outline the subsequent steps in the behavior modification program should your dog be diagnosed with separation anxiety.

Rates:

Initial 1 1/2 Zoom consultation-$250. Payment is required 72 hours in advance via Venmo or Zelle.