Because I am not in control of the dog or human, 24/7, I cannot guarantee results. I do guarantee that my performance will adhere to the contractual agreement between the parties and that the information will be provided to the client in a clear and concise manner. As with any type of training, if the client is not willing to do the work and/or maintain the program, the dog will usually regress. This happens because dogs are instinctually obligated to identify and follow a qualified pack leader.
If there are no physical or mental deformities that prevent the dog from conceptualizing (ie dementia), a dog of any age can participate in dog psychology training and behavior modification training. I often customize the process to suit the dog in extenuating circumstances. The oldest dog I have worked with is 14 and enjoying his lazy days but with a few adjustments to the program, he responded beautifully to the training. Furthermore, I worked with a dog that had suffered a terrible accident, which left him with brain damage.
Although there are times when euthanasia is the only viable answer, my recommendation to do so is an extreme rarity. Other than those rare situations, proper leadership training can restore harmony and balance to the dog and her family. The most common reasons for euthanasia are aggression, excessive barking, failure to toilet train and costly medical treatment. Currently, pet guardians have many options available to them other than euthanasia.
Behaviorists specialize in the study of animal behaviors and Learning Theory. The behaviorist learns to observe, analyze and effectively translate the behavior in question. If the animal is not learning, the behaviorist does not blame the animal but resorts to Learning Theory and examines where he has gone wrong. The behaviorist holds himself to blame for the failure, not the animal. Therefore, yes, I am a dog behaviorist. (Cesar Millan is an animal behaviorist.)
Yes. Please see 'Services/Packages'
There is no way to predict life and a behavior-modifying event can occur at any time. One client called me, post training, to inform me his dog had become suddenly aggressive towards the children walking past his home as they journeyed to school. Some investigation led to the discovery that two boys had harassed the dog earlier in the week: screaming, charging and throwing gravel and sand at the dog.
I will use treats in some instances of behavior modification but rarely with the leadership program. It depends solely on the individual dog. The treats, if used at all, are a short-lived method that serves to a greater, treat free, end. In regards to clickers, they have been successfully used in training animals of varying species and many Hollywood trainers swear by their use. I believe there is a time and place for everything and have experience with clickers but have limited their use to true trick training.
Generally, the process is completed within a four (4) week period, excluding the assessment visit. I am diligent about the training process, scheduling visits no less than 7 days and no more than 10 days apart as a rule. This prevents stalling during the process and maintains momentum in both human and canine. The spacing of visits allows both dog and human to process the changes that are being made to routines as well as absorb and practice the new concepts being presented.
Behavior modification is the process by which behavior is modified (or changed) based on Learning Theory. There are a number of humane methods that can be used to achieve the desired change ranging from primary reinforcers, secondary reinforcers, flooding, operant conditioning, positive reinforcement and *negative reinforcement to name a few of the basics. I never use any method that would cause physical, emotional or psychological damage to the animal. More articles on behavior modification can be found in the article section of my website.
Psychology is the science of the mind, mental nature and behavior. In application to the dog world, simply put, Dog Psychology is the process of understanding the instinctual and cultural world of the dog in order to understand why they behave and feel the way they do, effectively dispelling inaccurate beliefs about dog behavior. Dog Psychology leads us to a deeper understanding of our canine charges, which helps us communicate more effectively with them. This skilled communication can then be used to achieve a beneficial and peaceful coexistence.