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Private Behaviour Modification

 

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We can assist with behaviour modification that is specific and custom to you and your dog.   We will help you better understand your dogs behaviour, create a plan to address the issue and guide you through your modification program.  Many people who experience these types of issues feel frustrated and alone.  Our programs are designed for you to get results, provided you put the work into the dog, using humane and science-based techniques. 

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Aggression

• Usually seen as a result of fear toward a person or other animal via lunging, air snapping, growling, showing teeth, biting, etc.

• Can be fear based, territorial, barrier/frustration-based or predatory in nature

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Fears and Phobias

• This may be directed toward people, places, animals, items or other stimulus present in a dogs environment

• May be minor to severe (neophobias) and interferes with the dogs ability to cope

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Separation Issues

• Dogs who are disruptive, destructive (toward own or other items) or self harm when left alone in the home or other locations

• May be frustration, anxiety or pleasure driven

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Territorial Behaviours

• Aggressive behaviours/displays toward others when a dog is on his/her property/in mobile property such as a car - behaviours/displays may be present even when your dog can see the person from his/her property at great distances

 

Resource Guarding

• Behaviours displayed may be but are not limited to stiff posture, growling, air snapping, biting, showing teeth, etc. when in the possession of an item your dog feels valuable - food, toys, stolen items, locations, etc

 

Repetitive Behaviours

• Completing intentional, repetitive behavior that is non-functional (pointless) over and over. Many (but not all) of the behaviors are performed in a rhythmic manner.

• May present as pacing, circling, tail chasing, light/shadow chasing, fly chasing, tail chasing, flank sucking and self grooming

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Over-stimulation

• in situations or response to stimulus such as visitors or other dogs

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And more

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Dog Training Vs. Behaviour Modification

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Why can't we not just do training to change a dogs behaviour? Behaviour modification and dog training are different. While some behavior modification makes use of training techniques, such as teaching a dog to sit or lie down, these taught behaviors are called on as tools in an overall program that hopes to change how the dog thinks, feels and acts. Sit stay may encourage self-control, it does not change how the dog feels about the situation or stimulus.

 

Behaviour modification is different; the goal of behaviour modification is to systematically change the dog’s reaction to a stimulus (situation, state, person, item, animal, etc.) by altering the physiological and psychological state.  Behaviour modification makes use of desensitization, and counter conditioning without the use of flooding or feeling suppression. 

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An example would be a dog who growls when you reach for the ball. The growling is a response to how the dog feels about having the ball taken away (and also a good outward signal to humans). Having the dog sit when a person approaches the ball does not change how the dog feels about a human approaching the ball, this can cause feelings of dislike to grow. If we can change how the dog feels about humans approaching the ball, the growling does not occur. 

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