Training Philosophy
Is your dog scared to go outside? Does your dog frantically try to get back inside after being startled on walks? Is your dog terrified of loud noises? Our Austin dog training program designed for fearful dogs is here to help! Our science-based dog training programs are crafted to eliminate fear and anxiety from your dog’s daily life. We want your dog to be calm and confident on all of their adventures around Austin. It starts with the submission of our Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior, a tool created over 20 years and across four markets. Our pre-training team will determine the function and severity of your dog’s behavior and will develop a personalized training program for you. Your behavior consultant will then work with your dog at the source of the fear. By the end of your dog’s Austin dog training program, their fear will transform into confidence.
Our Austin dog training programs are designed with your dog’s well-being and best interests in mind. Our goal is for your dog to gain confidence and conquer their fears. It might seem as though your dog is scared of everything but this is rarely the case. Under the guidance of our Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, we develop a step-by-step treatment plan, directly targeting your concerns. We treat dog anxiety and dog fearful behavior with a unique system, utilizing the overall techniques of classical counterconditioning and positive reinforcement. We will also teach your dog relevant obedience such as loose leash walking and stay that will assist with treatment. Our team of Austin behavior consultants is led by our resident Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, one of approximately 50 in the country. Our in-home Austin dog training programs utilize the latest research in dog behavior and will help reduce or eliminate fearful behavior in your dog.
Training Programs
In this Austin training program, we seek to reduce or eliminate your dog’s moderate to severe fearful behavior and transform it into confidence. We reduce or eliminate fearful behavior including but not limited to:
Each one of our individualized Austin Dog Training Programs uses a function-based approach to treat fearful behavior in dogs. A function-based approach means we determine why a problem behavior is occurring and select a treatment plan that matches the function of the behavior. All treatment involves an aspect of classical counterconditioning coupled with relevant obedience behaviors and a unique system of application. When using classical conditioning to treat scared dogs, we pair food with the stimuli associated with fear. Over time, a positive association is created thereby reducing or eliminating the dog’s fearful behavior. Research supports classical counterconditioning as the most effective treatment for fear-based behavior in dogs as seen in a 2020 study by Riemer. According to our resident CAAB Dr. Echterling-Savage, “I love witnessing the change in a fearful dog’s behavior. The results of treatment amaze me each and every time.”
The All-Inclusive Program encompasses 20 training sessions across five intensive weeks with two follow-up sessions, spanning a total of 22 training sessions over eight weeks! Our team will learn more about your dog’s history and behavior through the Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior, an assessment that has been developed over 20 years and over four different markets, that you will complete pre-training. After our team crafts your dog’s training plan, your trainer will work with your dog one-on-one for three 1-hour sessions during the week. The fourth session each week is dedicated to your training! After the five-week-long training, there are two follow-up sessions to support your progress. Please note that our indirect behavior assessments will confirm the severity of your dog’s behavior and if deemed severe you may incur a small additional fee.
If you are a pet parent with an insurance policy covering behavior modification, our fearful dog behavior modification is likely covered. When behavior training is under the direction of a CAAB or a Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist, most companies with behavior policies such as Trupanion will cover behavioral training.
The Executive program is best suited to reduce or eliminate mildly fearful behavior including but not limited to:
Over 20 years and four markets, we have successfully reduced fearful behaviors in dogs. With a combination of unique techniques and training strategies, we use counterconditioning, also known as Pavlovian conditioning. Through counterconditioning, we create a positive association between your dog and the stimulus. As stated in a 2021 article by Hall et al., counterconditioning is an effective treatment method for fearful behavior in dogs. Our animal behavior expert Dr. Echterling-Savage has treated fearful behavior in hundreds of dogs. According to Dr. Echterling-Savage, “The behavior change in just a few short weeks can be incredibly powerful. It is incredibly rewarding to watch owners see confident behavior in their dog that they never thought was possible.”
Our Executive Fearful Dog Training Program for Austin dogs consists of 12 hours of training across four weeks. After our pre-training team designs your program based on your dog’s Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior, your behavior consultant will work directly with your dog for two 1-hour sessions and with you for (1) 1-hour session per week. Please note that our indirect behavior assessments will confirm the severity of your dog’s behavior and if deemed severe you may incur a small additional fee.
If you are a pet parent with an insurance policy covering behavior modification, our fearful dog behavior modification is likely covered. When behavior training is under the direction of a CAAB or a Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist, most companies with behavior policies such as Trupanion will cover behavioral training.
Want to help your dog overcome their fears but live outside of our Austin service area? Our virtual dog training consultations are here to help! Speak directly with our resident CAAB Dr. Echterling-Savage or one of our Austin behavior consultants under her direct supervision. During our 1-hour virtual consultations, we will create a personalized training plan for you to address your dog’s fearful behavior and build confidence. Depending on the severity of your dog’s fearful behavior from the Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior, we will recommend one or multiple sessions with Dr. Echterling-Savage or with one of our other Austin trainers. Pricing for 1-hour virtual consultations with Dr. Ectherling-Savage is $375. Pricing for a 1-hour virtual consultation with one of our Austin trainers is $150.
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