Training Philosophy
For dog owners who have trouble integrating their dog and cat in the same household, Beyond the Dog can help! After working with thousands of dogs, we understand the most effective and efficient protocols to modify behavior. In our science-based, data-driven training program, we use a unique training protocol of function-based training to reduce and eliminate your dog’s inappropriate behavior with your cat. From cat chasing to growling to stalking, we have the training solution!
Our team is led by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, one of approximately 50 in the country. After 20+ years of working with animals with Beyond the Dog, she developed our Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior. This specialized tool will identify the function of your dog’s behavior and the severity of it. Our pre-training team then develops a personalized training plan. Our treatment involves a combination of classical conditioning and positive reinforcement, including teaching specific obedience behaviors to help manage your dog’s behavior around your cat. One of our Dallas behavior consultants will come directly to your home and treat your dog’s aggression while helping your pets live harmoniously with each other.
Training Programs
In this program, the goal is to reduce and eliminate aggressive behaviors around your cat. We will also teach your dog relevant obedience commands such as come when called, down-stay, or place to easily manage your dog’s behavior around your cat. We treat inappropriate behaviors directed towards your cat, such as:
At Beyond the Dog, we use the latest science to create behavior modification training plans that deliver high-level results. After 20+ years in the business and thousands of cases, we understand dog behavior from the function to the topographical reaction. Dogs can be reactive towards cats and other small animals due to a combination of an innate prey drive, genetics, or behavioral history. According to research by Reisner, behavior modification was found to be incredibly effective in treating canine aggression. With foundations in classical counterconditioning and positive reinforcement, Beyond the Dog’s unique function-based treatment was developed by our resident Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage. She states, “Our treatments can be lifesaving when it comes to a dog’s aggression toward a cat they live with. Unfortunately, aggression towards a cat in the home is not a behavior that can be fully managed with closed doors or separate living spaces. We help restore balance and harmony in your home and keep everyone safe in the process.”
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! It starts with our Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior. Over 20 years and across four markets, this document has been developed to assess the function and severity of your dog’s behavior. Our pre-training team uses this tool to create a personalized program for you and your dog. Over five weeks, our behavior consultant then comes to your home Monday to Wednesday to work one-on-one with your dog for one hour. Each Thursday is your lesson day, in which you will be shown how to implement treatment. After this five-week program, the training concludes with two follow-up sessions to ensure your progress is maintained. Please note that our indirect behavior assessments will confirm your dog’s behavior and goals. If your dog’s training program requires additional oversight from our Animal Behavior Experts, a small additional fee may be required.
If you are a pet parent with an insurance policy covering behavior modification, our cat-directed aggression dog behavior modification is likely covered. Most companies with behavior policies such as Trupanion cover behavioral training when under the direction of a CAAB or a Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist.
Our goal is to treat your dog’s chasing or mild aggressive behavior directed towards your cat. We treat aggressive behavior such as:
Dogs and puppies can chase cats and other small animals due to a combination of an innate prey drive, genetics, or behavioral history. Over 20+ years of modifying pet behavior, we have the treatment nailed down to a science. Research such as the study by Jessel et al. (2016) shows that reinforcement procedures are effective in reducing problem behaviors across a variety of species and behaviors. With a unique combination of functional behavior modification and classical counterconditioning, we use these techniques to make large behavioral changes in only a month. According to Dr. Echterling-Savage, “Using a functional approach to cat chasing not only creates a straightforward, efficient treatment plan, it supports building and maintaining a healthy relationship between dogs and cats.”
In the Dallas Executive Program, your trainer works with your dog for 12 hours of training across four weeks. The program starts with our Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior. This tool has been developed over 20 years and across four markets with the ability to determine the function and severity of your dog’s behavior. Along with notes from you, our pre-training team develops a personalized training plan for your dog. Our behavior consultants then work with your dog one-on-one for 1-hour sessions two days each week, saving the third day of the week for your 1-hour lesson. Please note that our indirect behavior assessments will confirm your dog’s behavior and goals. If your dog’s training program requires additional oversight from our Animal Behavior Experts, a small additional fee may be required.
If you are a pet parent with an insurance policy covering behavior modification, our cat-directed aggression dog behavior modification is likely covered. Most companies with behavior policies such as Trupanion cover behavioral training when under the direction of a CAAB or a Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist.
Interested in addressing your dog’s aggression directed toward your cat under the guidance of our resident CAAB? During our 1-hour virtual consultations, we will create a customized training plan to manage and reduce your dog’s aggression around your cat. Depending on the severity of your dog’s 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 behavior consultants under her direct supervision. Pricing for 1-hour virtual consultations with Dr. Ectherling-Savage is $375. Pricing for a 1-hour virtual consultation with one of our behavior consultants is $150.
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