See Spot Sit, LLC, offers counseling for management of problem behaviors in pet dogs. Many typical and normal dog behaviors such as barking, chewing, jumping up on people, etc. can be addressed in the course of a basic training program. However, if a behavior has progressed to the point where it is affecting your daily life or your relationship with the dog, or seems to dominate all of your interactions with the dog, you may benefit from a focused behavior management program.
The first thing to understand is that there are no cures, quick fixes, or magic pills for behavior problems. Addressing a behavior problem is more like losing weight. When you are trying to lose weight, you have to change your eating and exercise habits, and you have to maintain those changes forever. If you slip back into your old habits, your body slips back into its old shape. When addressing a behavior problem with your dog, you will have to change some things in his environment, change the ways you and others interact with him, change the ways you manage his time, and teach him some new behaviors to replace the old ones. Most of these changes are not difficult to make, but they are for the rest of the dog's life. If you revert to your old habits with your dog, it is very probable that you will see a recurrence of the problem behavior. Addressing a behavior problem takes time, commitment, and the cooperation of the entire family. We cannot "fix" anything. We can coach you on how to make the necessary changes to shape your dog's behavior.
Having said that, here are some types of problems we may be able to help you with:
The first step in a behavior counseling program is a thorough examination by your veterinarian. Health issues can have a strong impact on behavior. Particularly for behaviors that seem to have had a sudden onset, it is important to rule out or treat medical conditions before beginning a behavior modification program. One extremely common example is a formerly housebroken dog who suddenly starts urinating frequently in the house. Many of these cases are not behavior problems, although they can develop into behavior problems (habits) if the underlying illness remains untreated. We ask you to schedule an appointment with your vet for an exam and to discuss the problem with him or her before contacting us for a behavior consultation.
The next step is collecting background information. We will send you a questionnaire concerning your dog's health, history, and habits. The questionnaire is very detailed; however, the more you are able to tell us about your dog and the problem, the better we will be able to help you. The questionnaire must be completed and returned before a consultation will be scheduled. It is best if the whole family works on the questions together. Different family members may have had different experiences with the dog. You may not all agree on the answers. If two people have different opinions, record them both. This type of information is also valuable in determining the circumstances in which the problem behavior is exhibited.
An initial consultation is then scheduled. The initial consultation takes about 1.5-2 hours; the cost is $150. In general, the consultation is done at our premises. In special cases, a home visit can be arranged; however, please note that there is an extra charge for a home visit and that the wait for a home visit may be six weeks or more. During the consultation, we will review, discuss, and ask questions about the health, history, and habits information you have provided. We will ask you to describe several different instances of the problem behavior. We will give you time to ask questions. Then we will outline a basic strategy for addressing your problem and try to give you a realistic picture of the effort it will take. If you decide you would like to proceed, we will set up an individualized program and series of appointments with you.
Two things we can never tell you are a) whether you will have a successful outcome, and b) how long it will take to address the problem. These answers are dependent on too many things, not the least of which is the time and effort you are willing and able to invest in your dog's future.
If you are interested in a behavior consultation, please first schedule an appointment with your veterinarian, and then contact us to discuss your case.
©2002-2008, See Spot Sit, LLC
rev. 13 Jan. 2008