Trainers generally focus on teaching new skills to healthy, well-socialized dogs. While trainers can help with many common issues pet parents face — like jumping, excessive barking, and leash pulling — most are not equipped to address behavior problems like aggression and fearfulness.
Behavior services focus on these issues. We start with a thorough evaluation to assess the source of the challenges you and your pup are facing. Then, we design a treatment program that works for you both. This may include medical follow-ups to discuss with your veterinarian, management strategies to minimize risks and setbacks, and behavior modification to help with your dog's recovery and growth.
For most dogs I work with, going to an unfamiliar place with other dogs around might do more harm than good. So our initial session can be done in your own home or anywhere that's best for you and your dog. Follow-up sessions may be in the home, at a park, or wherever will be most productive to address your dog's individual needs.
The full cost of treatment will depend on the type of intervention your dog needs. You should be prepared to invest in supporting your pup — both financially and with your time. Your cooperation and devotion to your dog's treatment is a key factor in their progress. The initial in-home session (about 1–1.5hrs) together with the creation of a treatement plan for your dog is $385. Any in-home follow-up sessions after that are $225 each. The number of sessions can vary based on the goals or needs, but most of my clients are well on their way within a few sessions. These prices include travel within the St Louis and St Charles counties. Other locations may include an additional travel fee based on the distance from downtown St Charles.
I am more than happy to work with your veterinarian. I'll send them a case report after our first session. I may make suggestions of medication options to discuss with your vet, but all decisions regarding medication will be entirely at you and your veterinarian's discretion. Should they request further input, I will be available to talk with them about your dog's needs and what medical interventions may be warranted.
A wide range of behavior problems are the result of learned associations. These problems can then often be addressed with behavior treatment alone. We want to teach your dog that whatever they fear — be it separation from you, loud noises, strange people, or other dogs — is not something to be afraid of.
At times, however, a problematic behavior may be either severe enough or so entrenched that medications may help the process along. In these cases, we will work with your vet to find a medication and dosage that will support the behavioral treatment.
If your dog can be aggressive to unfamiliar adult guests in the home, then we will discuss how to start safely. This would likely include starting with your dog on leash when I arrive: ideally the leash could be attached to a harness or flat collar rather than any correction-style collar or constricting equipment. Dogs with substantial human-directed aggression that may be hard to hold on leash we may also start in a well-fitting basket muzzle.
If there are concerns of aggression between dogs in the home, we'd most likely start with one dog out at first while the other was kept in another part of the home, the yard, or a crate.
In all other cases, where there is no immediate safety risk, no specific preparation is needed. If your dog barks a lot when someone comes to the door, of if they excitedly jump up to greet people, please do not try to correct or scold such behavior when I arrive. Don't worry I'm not judging your dog's behavior; I'm there to help improve it.
In all cases, though, if you already have some training treats that your dogs likes, having a supply of those ready could be useful. But I'll also bring some to get us started.
I want you to get back to enjoying life with your pup as soon as possible, so behavior cases deserve timely attention. It is always my goal to reach out to new clients within two business days of receiving the new client intake form.