Training Philosophy
What Is Reactive Behavior in Puppies and How Do We Treat It?
Reactivity can be defined as when a puppy responds to the presence of another dog, person, or stimulus, such as a car, by lunging, barking, or pulling towards them. Reactivity behaviors are often observable through body posture and behavioral history and can worsen as a puppy gets older. You may have noticed that your puppy barks at people on leash or barks incessantly at people approaching the front door. Fortunately, this behavior can be successfully addressed through behavior modification training.
We use science-based training methods to address reactive behaviors in puppies. Training methods that we utilize include classical counterconditioning, which pairs a stressful situation with positive experiences, and operant conditioning, which reinforces positive behaviors through rewards such as treats and praise.
Benefits of Puppy Reactivity Training
Reactivity training will teach your dog to be confident, relaxed, and well-behaved, even in challenging settings or distractions.
Our team is led by co-founders Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, and Sean Savage, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. They use science-based training methods that support behavioral wellness. With over 50 years of combined training experience, they have treated many dogs with mild to severe fearful behaviors.
Each training program is customized to your puppy’s needs and your training goals. Training will occur in the settings where they occur. This may include training at parks or shops to address leash reactivity, or training at home for puppies that bark incessantly at people or animals they can see through the front windows.
If you would like to learn more about puppy reactivity behaviors, we recommend checking out our blog on dog reactivity, where our Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, discusses what reactivity is, its causes, development, early signs, environmental impacts, and how training can effectively treat reactivity behaviors.
Training Programs
In our Puppy Reactivity Behavior Modification Package, we offer one-on-one virtual sessions with Dr. Echterling-Savage, our Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB). Dr. Echterling-Savage is one of only a few Board Certified Behavior Analysts specializing in Applied Animal Behavior, with only around 50 CAABs in the country. With decades of expertise, including published research on canine behavior, Dr. Echterling-Savage is a leading expert in her field, making her consultations an invaluable opportunity for those seeking transformative change.
Dr. Echterling-Savage will connect with you virtually to evaluate your puppy’s behavior, designing a training program that addresses your puppy’s unique needs. After your initial meeting, Dr. Echterling-Savage will continue to offer guidance and troubleshoot reactivity scenarios, ensuring ongoing progress in your puppy’s training. This program runs for four weeks for mild cases and six weeks for moderate or severe cases.
The Puppy Reactivity Program will treat reactivity behaviors, including barking, lunging, or biting towards:
Program Includes:
Depending on the distance from Tampa Bay, travel may be complimentary or require a small additional cost.
It is best to treat reactivity behaviors early, as they often get worse as a puppy gets older. To most effectively address this behavior, we train your puppy across multiple settings and distractions, so their new skills can be generalized to different environments. This is achieved through science-based training methods, including operant conditioning, which uses reinforcement and consequences to teach desired behaviors. We will never use consequences that could cause harm, such as e-collars, as they can lead to further behavioral problems. We also use classical counterconditioning, which reduces reactive responses by pairing positive associations with triggers.
Your puppy will train with our co-founders Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage while staying at their home in Tampa Bay.
Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a Ph.D. in Behavioral Psychology, specializing in animal behavior. She has over 20 years of experience teaching dogs obedience commands, manners, and treating mild to severe behavioral challenges. Dr. Echterling-Savage mentors and trains Beyond the Dog’s trainers.
Sean Savage is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). He has more than 20 years of experience teaching puppies obedience commands and manners, and treating a wide range of problem behaviors.
Dr. Echterling-Savage will meet with you for a virtual consultation to discuss your training goals and your dog’s reactivity behaviors. We will also ask that you complete our “Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior” to help us better understand your dog’s behavioral history. Dr. Echterling-Savage will use this information to implement a personalized training plan that addresses the underlying causes of your puppy’s reactivity so that it can be best treated through in-home and public training sessions.
Dr. Echterling-Savage or Sean Savage will pick up your dog from your home and transport them to their home in Tampa Bay, Florida. While your puppy stays with Dr. Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage, your puppy will be a part of the family, with training sessions throughout the day, along with time dedicated to playing and exploring Tampa Bay. Training will occur at home and throughout Tampa Bay, including trails, shops, parks, farmers’ markets, and dog-friendly beaches, where they will practice obedience commands, socialization skills, and address reactivity behaviors.
During the four-week wellness retreat, you will be updated on your puppy’s progress through photos, videos, correspondence, and progress reports. At the end of the program, Dr. Echterling-Savage or Sean Savage will bring your dog back home, where you and your dog will have 4.5 hours of return and follow-up lessons across multiple sessions. These lessons will teach you how to manage your dog’s newly learned behaviors and skills, reinforcing positive behaviors and ensuring success in their training.