Problem Behaviour
Modification & Management
Ninety percent of problem behaviours are manageable, and many times
curable! This includes aggressive behaviours.
The key to curbing problem behaviors in dogs lies
within the dog-owner relationship. Dogs are pack animals. They
look for guidance and leadership from their human owners. If a
dog does not receive the strong guidance that he requires he will
become unmanageable. This can be as simple as pulling too hard on
leash and not listening very well, or it can turn into destructive
behaviors, excessive barking, or aggression.
Many frustrated dog owners come to me with horror stories of entire
sofas ripped apart, doors chewed through, drywall missing! Other
stories are even worse..."My dog bit my son." or "My dog dragged me
across the street on my knees and attacked my neighbours dog." I
then also hear about how they have passed obedience classes, so they
don't understand why their dog is behaving the way that it is.
Obedience classes are great and they are very important, however, most
obedience classes do not teach owners about the leadership relationship
and canine pack behavior. Obedience is only 25% of your
relationship with your dog. The other 75% is based upon your
ability as a pack leader. If a dog does not view it's owner as
being an authority figure in the pack, then obedience training goes
right out the window. All obedience is based on authority because
we command our dogs to perform for us. If there is no respect for
the authority figure there will be no obedience.
We have years of experience with breeds of all type, age, size and
behavioral issues, from jumping up, to separation anxiety, to
aggressive behaviors. We also have an extremely high success rate
with those who are ready for change. There are many, many people
who are looking for a quick fix to their problems. Unfortunately,
there is no magical fairy dust that solves problem behavior overnight.
If you are a dog owner with a difficult dog, are you ready to
change for the sake of your dog?
The level of success you have with
your dog depends entirely on you. You may have to change your
daily routines, you may have to change your attitude towards your dog.
You may have have to do things that you don't like, or that put
you out of your way. Is your dog worth the work? Is your dog
worth the effort?
Testimonials:
(6 year old Jack Russel. Severe
aggression on walks towards other dogs. Owners had stopped taking him
for walk due to embarrassment. I worked one session with this dog
and his owners.)
Hi Kimberly,
Jackson is doing so well, actually he is amazing.
Steve and I can't believe that he is a completely different dog. I
say something if he starts to get too far ahead and he slows his pace
down to put him back. He is constantly watching me to see what I'm
doing. We have encountered many different dogs, ones out wandering, walking with owners
and those in their yards that Jackson usually fights with through the fence. He
doesn't even look at them. After we pass and Steve and I both stop to praise him
and pat him, he seems to walk prouder, you can almost see him being proud of
himself. Thank you so much!! We can't believe how different he is and we keep
wondering what took us so long.
-Neva
(3 year old Bichon, living with 2 elderly Bichons,
terrorizing the older male, aggression, including out write biting the
ankles towards strange people, aggression towards dogs on walks. I
worked one session with this dog and her owners.)
Hi Kim -
Amy survived her introduction on Monday. On Tuesday, Jim and I
walked her - she did will - no pulling. In fact, I had Jim walk
in front of us with Amy and I following - no tugging on her part.
It's a miracle! And we must have encountered about 6 dogs
on our walk - she didn't eve bark at any of them. I put her in
the crate for the first time after the walk - only for about 45 minutes
- she didn't fuss in the least - not a whimper of any resistance from
her. Jim put her in the crate this afternoon for a time.
We walked all 3 pups after supper and let Monty and Tonii lead
with Jim and Amy and I came up the rear. She and i went for a
longer walk together and Jim headed back with M & T. Again -
we encountered a couple of dogs on our walk and she managed well.
Thanks for all your help - we appreciate that this is only the
beginning for Amy - lot of work ahead of us.
- Jim and Beverly
(10 month old Border Collie cross had
decided that the teenage girl was his property and wouldn't allow her
to leave the house for school. He would have fits of aggression
if anyone came to the house to the point that no one could come in.
He had bitten one of the girls friends bad enough to need
stitches. He was a menace in the house and a horror on his walks.
He was extremely aggressive towards strangers and had no problem
letting you know with his teeth., among other problems. I had one
session with this dog and his family although I would have liked to
have more they did not pursue it.)
Kimberly,
Blue is much mellower in the house for most of the day. He gets a
little wound up in the evening and that is when he eats too. When
he is in the crate and Vanessa leaves for school there is a little
whimpering but nothing like what was happening before. He is awesome
with the crate, better than any of us imagined. We point to it or lead
him near it, tell him to go in and he goes right in and turns
around and doesn't even try to come out.He is staying off of the
furniture, doesn't even try to go on a bed. This afternoon I let him in
the bedroom when I was laying on the bed reading and he just curled up
on the floor beside me.Because he doesn't go up on the couch
he doesn't see people on the street and so he doesn't bark,
we were all saying today how much quieter he is. I think Vanessa
will have the most difficulty, he still goes to her for attention and
she automatically gives it to him, or remembers he isn't to do that so
she tells him no, instead of ignoring him. He knows she is the
weakest link. Josh, is totally dominant. Josh justs looks
at him and gets the desired behaviour. He will drop a toy when
Josh comes in the room in case Josh might decide he wants it, while
Vanessa fights to get a toy from him. He is much better on his
walks. No more aggression towards people. I am not afraid
to walk him now. We can now have company come over and not be
afraid of what he might do. So lots of good, lots to still work on. -Susan
(2 year old female English Mastiff
(130lbs)...aggression on walks towards strangers and other dogs,
completely unmanageable at the door to the point the owners put her in
the bathroom before they could open it. Last straw was a bite to the
head of the mail lady leaving a non-serious puncture wound. One
session with this dog and she allowed people to approach her and pet
her as well as sat like a perfect lady while other strange dogs danced
around in front of her. Not perfect at the door when I left, but much
better.)
Kimberly-
Hello there. Thank you again for
traveling to ____________ last weekend, it was great to get some real
professional help for Lexie. Sorry about the little fight you got into
with her......I bet you had some sore muscles the next day from
dragging her up the hill! Things have ben going remarkably well since
you left & wour walks are getting better everyday. We've had our
neighbours come knock on the door every evening, and she gets better
each time. In fact, an unexpected visitor cam over today, someone
looking for their missing cat, and only Bentley ran to the door, Lexie
just sat & lookd out the window...not even a bark! Seems too good
to be true!?!?!
Thanks again for all your wonderful help....I think
we are finally on the road to success, it's just going to take a lot of
time & effort, but she's worth it!
Talk to you soon,
Michelle
(Update about 1 month later - I had not been back to see this dog.)
Kimberly - Just wanted to touch base with you again
& let you know how things are going. Lexie is doing
fantastic! Going on long walks and getting her around strangers
and strange dogs is really helping. Someone, unexpectedly,
knocked on our door 3 days ago, and I told her NO and she immediately
ran to her bed and laid down....and stayed there until I shut the door!
Wow! I was quite surprised! In fact, I asked David
yesterday if someone has switched our dog in the middle of the night,
becuase she has been such a good girl lately.
Talk to you soon!
Michelle
(2 year old Golden Retriever was probably one of the worst
jumpers I have seen. It was bad enough that he was hurting people and
wrestling them to the ground in some cases. Walking was not fun as the
pulling was out of control and the desire to see people and visit was
so strong that he was wild and out of control. Not a mean bone in his
body, just a wild child. 2 "trainers" before me could not "fix" this.
This comment after one session.)
Thanks Kimberly!!
Yesterday morning was the best walk I have had in two years. My
neighbours could not believe how well he was behaving. I feel there is
hope. - Joni
Fee: There is no set fee for problem behavior solving, each problem is different, each dog is different.
|
