Training Philosophy
Do you have a dog that won’t leave your cat alone? Does your dog constantly chase and stalk your cat? In our in-home Houston dog training programs, your dog will learn good manners around your cat. The main goal of our science-based, data-driven training program is to eliminate or reduce any of your dog’s aggressive behavior towards your cat. Our team utilizes various proprietary training tools such as our Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior to better understand your dog’s aggression and what will work best to treat your dog. Under the guidance of our Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, our pre-training team will develop a step-by-step treatment plan to directly target any and all concerns you might have about your dog’s behavior.
Are you afraid to leave your dog alone around your cat? Are you worried about what might happen if your dog were to ever make contact with your cat? Does your dog show signs of aggression towards your cat or other pets in the home? We created a treatment plan exclusively for dogs chasing cats after 20+ years of experience in four markets treating thousands of dogs. The treatment is exclusive to Beyond the Dog and has your pets’ well-being in mind. 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 Houston 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
Our goal is to treat your dog’s mild aggressive behavior directed towards your cat. We treat aggressive behavior such as:
Our unique behavior modification training approach can reduce or eliminate all dog aggression directed toward cats. Over the past 20+ years, our team of behavior experts has collected copious amounts of data from a wide array of multi-pet households. Our science-based training protocols allow us to identify why your dog is engaging in aggressive behavior toward your cat such as cat chasing and exactly how to treat the aggression in the most efficient and effective way for your dog. After our pre-training team crafts a personalized training plan for your dog and cat, one of our behavior consultants will execute this treatment plan using behavior modification training. 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. 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.”
Our 16-Hour Training Program for cat chasing and any other form of cat aggression consists of 16 hours of training across four weeks. As well as 30 minutes of virtual consultations with Dr. Echterling-Savage. After you submit your training contract and Indirect Assessment of Feline Behavior, our pre-training team, led by Dr.Echterling-Savage, uses the information provided to craft your personalized dog training program. Then, your trainer will put your training plan into action! Your trainer will work directly with your pets for (3) 1-hour sessions and with you for (1) 1-hour session per week. Please note that our indirect behavior assessments will confirm your dog’s behavior and goals.
Our goal is to modify your dog’s aggressive behavior around your cat. We will also teach your dog relevant obedience commands such as come when called, down-stay, and place to manage your dog’s behavior around your cat. We treat dog-aggressive behavior such as:
After culminating decades of research based on treating thousands of dogs exhibiting aggression towards cats, our team has produced a science-based method to treat all forms of dog aggression. Dogs can be reactive towards cats and other small animals due to a combination of an innate prey drive, genetics, or behavioral history. We have created a proprietary treatment that uses the foundations of classical and operant conditioning to treat dog aggression directed toward cats. Unlike any other dog training company, we create personalized treatment plans under the guidance of our CAAB for effective behavior modification for every dog. According to research by Reisner, behavior modification was found to be incredibly effective in treating canine aggression. Our resident CAAB, Dr. Echterling-Savage, stated, “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.”
Our 22-Hour Training Program encompasses 20 training sessions across 5 intensive weeks with 2 follow-up sessions spanning a total of 22 training sessions over 8 weeks! As well as 30 minutes of virtual consultations with Dr. Echterling-Savage. After you submit your training contract and Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior, our pre-training team, led by Dr. Echterling-Savage, uses the information provided to craft your personalized dog training program. Then, your trainer will put your training plan into action! 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! This structure is designed to produce seamless learning and long-term behavior change. After the 5-week-long training, there are 2 follow-up sessions to support your progress. Please note that our indirect behavior assessments will confirm your dog’s behavior and goals.
Our goal is to address cat chasing and aggression behaviors toward your cat. In this program, we will also teach obedience skills relevant to managing this behavior. Aggressive behaviors that are treated include, but are not limited to:
Our training strategies have been developed by our co-founder, and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage. With over 20 years of experience treating aggressive behaviors in dogs, her training approach is designed to achieve significant improvements in a short time period. Our training uses a combination of counterconditioning and positive reinforcement to create a unique function-based approach.
Multiple factors can influence a dog’s reactivity behavior. This includes a combination of prey drive, genetics, past experiences, and behavioral history. Research that supports this includes a study by Reisner, who states that behavior modification is highly effective in addressing canine aggression.
Before training begins, we ask that you submit your completed “Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior”. Our team, led by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Echterling-Savage, will use this assessment to better understand your dog’s behavioral history. Dr. Echterling-Savage will meet with you for a virtual consultation, where she will discuss your training goals and behavioral concerns. With this information, we will create a personalized training program that addresses the underlying causes of your dog’s cat chasing and aggressive behavior.
Your trainer will train your dog in private, 1-hour sessions at your home. Training includes four sessions per week, with one session each week dedicated as a lesson for you. During this lesson you will learn how to reinforce your dog’s new skills. After the completion of the training program, follow-up sessions will take place to ensure success in your training goals and create a more harmonious household between your pets.
Our Cat Chasing and Aggression Behavior Modification Package offers one-on-one virtual sessions with Dr. Echterling-Savage, our resident Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB). As one of the few Board Certified Behavior Analysts in Applied Animal Behavior and among only 50 CAABs in the country, Dr. Echterling-Savage has decades of experience and has published papers on canine behavior. Her expertise makes these consultations an invaluable opportunity for anyone looking to address their dog’s cat chasing and aggression behavior and see transformative results.
Dr. Echterling-Savage will work closely with you to design a training plan designed for your dog’s unique needs. After your first meeting, she’ll continue to guide you, providing ongoing support and troubleshooting behavior scenarios that help you manage your dog’s behavior and ensure ongoing progress. This program runs for four weeks for mild cases and six weeks for moderate or severe cases.