Training Philosophy
Resource Guarding Towards People
Is your puppy showing early signs of resource guarding? Maybe your puppy has started hunkering down over items, hiding them, or even swallowing them whole? Or maybe your puppy growls at you whenever you go to grab a toy from them? Resource guarding in puppies is due to a combination of genetics, environment, and learning history. A common risk factor for resource guarding is if your puppy came from a less-than-ideal environment where resources were scarce. Punishing the guarding behavior unfortunately worsens the behavior. Our Houston behavior consultants are here to treat your puppy’s resource guarding in a safe, professional, and scientific way.
Resource Guarding Towards Other Dogs
Is your puppy starting to pick up on your older dog’s problem behavior around food? Maybe you’re worried your puppy will start showing aggressive behavior just like their older sibling? A common risk factor for puppy resource guarding involves a young puppy being raised with an older dog who resource guards. Resource guarding in puppies can be concerning because the behavior worsens with age and, as a puppy matures, the low-level guarding turns into aggression. We recommend treating any early signs of resource guarding as soon as possible! Led by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, we only utilize the latest research in puppy behavior in our data-driven programs. Our unique, proprietary treatment methods use a combination of positive reinforcement and classical conditioning including teaching specific obedience behaviors to help manage your puppy’s behavior around resources.
Training Programs
Our goal is to reduce and eliminate any resource guarding and to teach your puppy relevant obedience commands. We will address behaviors such as:
Low-level guarding can quickly escalate into severe aggression as a puppy matures. However, resource guarding is treatable with a function-based approach using behavior modification. Research by Mehrkam et al. supports that functional analysis-based treatment using behavior modification was highly effective in treating resource guarding in dogs with results that last long after treatment has been performed. We go a step further with our personalized puppy training programs! According to our resident CAAB Dr. Echterling-Savage, “Puppies resource guard to keep highly-valued items, which involves making the person approaching move away to eliminate the threat of losing the items. Being able to recognize early signs of resource guarding and seeking professional help right away is the best thing you can do to eliminate your puppy’s guarding behavior.”
The All-Inclusive Program for Puppy Resource Guarding encompasses 20 training sessions across 5 intensive weeks with 2 follow-up sessions spanning a total of 22 training sessions over 8 weeks! After you submit your training contract and Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior, our pre-training team, led by our CAAB, Dr. Echterling-Savage, uses the information provided to craft your personalized puppy training program. Then, your trainer will put your training plan into action! Your trainer will work with your puppy 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. 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 puppy resource guarding 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.
Want expert advice on how to manage and reduce your puppy’s resource guarding but don’t live in the greater Houston area? In these 1-hour virtual consultations, we will give you expert training advice and management strategies to help with your puppy’s resource guarding. Depending on the severity of your puppy’s resource guarding 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 Houston trainers is $150.
Reach Out
We’ll get back to you in two wags of a dog’s tail!
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