BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
Offered as In-Person Outdoor, In-Person In-home or Virtual
Starts at $100/hour
It is very frustrating dealing with behavior problems that try your patience and/or cost you more and more money all the time! Whether your dog is destroying your belongings (chewing on rugs, furniture, drywall), not coming when called, is struggling with socialization, aggression, reactivity, anxiety or is a rescue dog trying to learn the way of their new world we can help!
All dog owners communicate with their dogs every day, but that does not mean their dogs clearly understand them. Humans can unintentionally give their dog mixed signals that set them up for misunderstanding, which on the surface looks like the dog’s just choosing not to pay attention. All of these problem behaviors and miscommunication can be managed or completely eliminated, so let us show you how!
Here are some of the behavior issues we have helped owners overcome with their dogs:
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Resource guarding
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Separation anxiety
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Refusing to go for walks
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Barking at noises
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Chasing cyclists, joggers, wildlife
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Pacing, watching, always aware and ready for what might happen
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Nipping, biting and over excitement
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Aggression towards other dogs on walks
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Inappropriate behavior towards dogs and/or people
Peace, cleanliness, and stability can return to your home.
You and your dog’s relationship will benefit greatly through structure and leadership. This doesn’t mean we need to dull their personality or force them into a military-style regimen. Quite the opposite, actually: a dog who is easily commanded gets more freedom because you can trust them in more situations. All of this contributes to more freedom, happiness, mental stimulation, and opportunities to release energy – for you and your pet! You get a more relaxed dog at home and have more versatility when you do go out.
The whole family wins...
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes behavior issues in dogs?
Behavior issues in dogs can be a result of many things. Some common reasons behavior issues occur include:
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Lack of proper, early and appropriate socialization
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Fear, anxiety and stress
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Lack of training
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Traumatic experiences
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Rehearsed behaviors: when a behavior is practiced over and over
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Improper training and/or use of tools, such as: electric collars, chokers, fear tactics, and physical force
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Genetic predisposition (poor breeding)
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Medical and physical issues
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Reinforcing inappropriate behaviors
How long will it take to fix my dog's behavior issues?
Animal behavior (including that of humans) is never fixed or static; it changes depending on circumstance and environment. Even well trained behaviors are at risk of fading over time without repetition and practice. In cases of fear or aggression, although behavior may be modified, the dog is never “cured."
Depending on different factors around the specifics of your dog's behavior, improvement could be a slow and gradual process. Modifications to the environment may be required, so that your dog can be kept away from the stimuli (in the forms of sights or sounds) that incite the problem or from the areas in which the problem occurs.
Some of the factors to be considered for the progress of any behavior management plan include:
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What the behavior issue is
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The severity of the problem will determine how long it can take to address a problem
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How long the issue has gone on
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How the issue may have been addressed prior, if at all.
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How long it will take your dog to process and comprehend behavior modification protocols and training
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If the owner chooses to follow through on implementation of training and behavior modification protocols
Successful execution of the protocols and exercises depends on the level of commitment and compliance of the owner: a combination of learned skills, and ongoing practice.
Click here for more information about our Day Training.
Why is prevention so important in Behavior Management?
Prevention is necessary to avoid further compromising the dog’s welfare and to ensure safety in cases of aggression. Repetition of the behavior further aggravates the problem if the dog successfully accomplishes its intended goal (eg, aggress, escape or retreat from the stimulus), while each exposure in which the outcome is unpleasant can condition further anxiety.
In general, our program begins with prevention and avoidance of problems, while the owner implements the strategies provided to modify the dog’s behavior so that it might gradually be reintroduced to the problem situations while achieving a desirable outcome.
Helpful tips for behavior change
Upload Video Footage
If you have any videos of the problem behaviors, it is helpful to upload them to your computer. You can also upload a couple of videos where your dog is just being him/her self, regardless if it shows any of the behavior issues. If possible, please upload videos on Youtube and make sure to select it as “Unlisted” so that it is not public. Once your appointment is scheduled, you can send Two Dads an email with the links to each video. You will also have an opportunity to upload video when scheduling your FREE Introductory Call. All videos will be reviewed together during the consult. If you do not have video footage of the issues, do not worry. It is NOT worth trying to provoke your dogs behavior or put yourself or your dog in harms way for video footage.
Keep a Behavior History Journal
In a notebook, you should be writing down specific incidents when the problem behavior(s) happens is key! You should also include what happens right before and after the behavior(s) as this provides valuable information. Include as much detail as you can.
Understand What Your Dog Is Saying
Our dogs are constantly communicating through their body language and behavior. Understanding canine body language and communication signals is important because it can help us learn about how our dogs are feeling and why they are doing the behaviors they choose to display. Taking the time to learn about canine body language and communication signals is the first step in treating any behavior issue. Here are some credible sources of information to learn about canine body language and communication: ispeakdog.org, whole-dog-journal.com, positively.com