Behavior Modification Cases
“My dog is having a hard time, not giving me a hard time.”
-your new mantra as the owner of a dog with behavioral issues
As a member of the neurodivergent community, I’ve always had a thing with animals, dogs in particular. There is an intuitive quality to the way I work, but I have pursued a master’s degree from the accredited Unity Environmental University in canine behavior & wellness to have the science portion as well. Much to my dismay, dog training and behavioral rehabilitation is not a regulated industry in the USA. Anyone can hang a shingle and legally declare themselves a dog trainer or behaviorist. This has been the bane of my career, undoing harm by even well-intentioned wannabes who don’t have the professional training experience or science education to do right by dogs with behavioral issues.
Why do dogs develop behavior problems? Most often, I’d say it’s due to poor socialization as a puppy and trauma. However, elements like breed or mix, a genetic predisposition, and medical conditions absolutely play a significant role in how a puppy’s temperament develops, so I always recommend a vet rule out something medical before pursuing the behavior side. Even an everyday issue like arthritis pain can play a significant role in a dog’s tolerance of upsetting things. When you go to a breeder’s home to meet your puppy, whether the breeder has chosen for you or has left that choice to you, PLEASE ask to meet the parents, especially the mother (the sire may not be on-site). This is a great indicator of the type of temperament your own puppy could grow up to be. If the breeder is hesitant or puts restrictions on that, walk away. On the other hand, those adopting from a shelter or rescue don’t have the benefit of this most of the time, and it’s just a gamble. Puppies can appear one way, but develop into something else as they mature through no fault of any human.
I have worked with all sizes, breeds, and ages of aggressive, anxious, reactive, territorial, resource guarding, unpredictable, and so-called “dangerous” dogs. Not a single one needed a firmer hand, a stronger correction, a harsher tool, or tougher voice. All of them needed greater understanding, compassion, and to be setup for success. They need clearer patterns established to know how to cope with triggers that stress them out. They need counter-conditioning to undo the terrible response they’ve developed. They need gradual, fair desensitization at their pace to let them prove to themselves the world is not as scary or offensive as they think it is. You’ll never see me out with a client and their dog wearing a prong or e-collar. You’ll never hear me advise to correct them.
Everything I do focuses on rewarding the dog for the right answer. If humans are supposedly the alpha pack leaders (which was debunked and renounced, by the way), we should be using our superior intelligence to arrange the environment so the dog can choose the right answer easily. It is a process that requires patience and experience, but it is a repeatable process with great success in fairly short order. When there is a medical or genetic component, or if there is a time crunch, medication can be required and a vet visit is necessary for that. I do not recommend drugging a dog into a zombie, but correcting biochemical imbalances due to poor breeding, prolonged stress, or severe trauma.
Book a behavior consult to get started.