Training Philosophy
Does your puppy avoid physical touch from you or other family members? Or maybe they get overly agitated while being handled? Has your puppy ever snapped at you? Your puppy might be sensitive to touch, meaning they show fear-related behaviors in certain scenarios relating to physical touch. Our science-based puppy training programs are proven to reduce or eliminate all forms of puppy touch sensitivity! Common contexts for puppies to be touch-sensitive include going to the groomer, having a harness or collar put on or taken off, and getting woken up while on a bed or couch. We recommend addressing your puppy’s touch sensitivity as soon as possible so that it doesn’t progress into aggressive behavior as your puppy matures.
Has your puppy ever snapped when handled at the groomer or veterinarian? Led by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, we only utilize the latest research in dog behavior in our programs. Our Houston in-home puppy training programs are scientifically proven to significantly reduce touch sensitivity in your puppy. During training, you should already be able to see a difference in your puppy’s behavior within the first week of training! Using our proprietary treatment plan that we created after two decades of data collection, our science-based training can treat all puppy touch sensitivity. Your trainer will do various training exercises with your puppy, mock grooming veterinary exercises, and collar exercises to equip you and your puppy with all the tools you need to be successful. Your trainer will also teach your puppy relevant obedience commands that you’ll be able to use in everyday situations in which they used to be sensitive to touch.
Training Programs
Our goal is to treat your puppy’s touch-sensitive behavior along with teaching relevant obedience commands including but not limited to:
Unfortunately, fear-based behaviors like touch sensitivity in puppies do not improve with age. Instead, they worsen with maturity and in severe cases, could lead to a bite towards a family member. Environmental impact, such as how you or your family reacts to your puppy’s behavior, could be even more critical than maturity. Your trainer will teach your puppy that good things happen when they are handled through classical conditioning coupled with our proprietary treatment plan. New positive associations will be formed in the situations that previously caused fear. Research by Stellato et al. supports that counterconditioning is effective in reducing fearful behavior in dogs that previously experienced high levels of fear during veterinary examinations. According to our Co-Founder Sean Savage, “Together with loving owners, my trainers and I work to correct fear-related behaviors such as touch-sensitivity early such that they don’t strengthen with age, creating more serious adult dog behavior.”
Our 22-Hour Training Program for Touch Sensitivity encompasses 20 training sessions across 5 intensive weeks with 2 follow-up sessions spanning a total of 22 training sessions over 8 weeks! Along with 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.
The 33-Hour training program will treat your puppy’s touch-sensitive behaviors through behavior modification and teaching relevant obedience skills. This program addresses behavioral concerns, following but not limited to:
Unfortunately fear-based behaviors including touch-sensitivity can get worse as your puppy gets older, and may lead to biting. It’s crucial to address these behaviors early before they escalate.
Our training programs have been created by our co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorst, Dr. Echterling-Savage. We use classical conditioning methods to create positive associations with behaviors that previously caused fearful responses. These training methods are backed by scientific research including a study by Stellato et al. that demonstrates that counterconditioning is effective in reducing touch sensitivity for puppies who are stressed during veterinary appointments.
The 33-Hour Touch Sensitivity Puppy Training Program consists of 33 (1) hour training sessions along with a 30 minute virtual consultation with Dr. Echterling-Savage.
Before the training program begins, we ask that your submit your completed “Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior”, which provides us with detailed information on your puppy’s behavioral history. Dr. Echterling-Savage will meet with you over a virtual consultation to discuss your puppy’s behavioral concerns and training goals. This will allow for us to create a personalized training program to identify the underlying causes of the touch sensitive behavior. best target the problem behaviors and deliver optimal results for long term success.
Your trainer will work with your dog for four (1) hour private training sessions at your each week. One weekly session will be dedicated as a lesson for you. This will help you to reinforce what your puppy has learned. Follow-up sessions take place after the training program has been completed. These help to manage your puppy’s progress and to ensure long term success.
Our Touch Sensitivity Puppy Behavior Modification Package offers private 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 puppy’s touch sensitivity behavior.
Dr. Echterling-Savage will work closely with you to create a training plan designed specifically for your puppy’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 puppy’s behavior and ensure continued progress. This program runs for four weeks for mild cases and six weeks for moderate or severe cases.