Training Philosophy
What Is Reactivity and How We Treat This Behavior
Reactivity can be defined as a dog responding to the presence of a person, another dog, or a stimulus such as a passing vehicle by barking, pulling, or lunging. This behavior can escalate quickly and get worse if not addressed early. Fortunately, reactivity can be effectively treated through behavior modification training. We provide luxury dog training services, serving Miami and South Florida, including Coral Gables, Pinecrest, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, Sunny Isles Beach, Palm Beach, and Jupiter.
For over 20 years, we have effectively addressed reactivity in dogs through scientific training methods. We use classical conditioning and positive reinforcement to create lasting behavior change. This approach has been proved through scientific research to treat dog aggression.
All of our programs are personalized to meet the unique needs of your dog and their behavioral history. After analyzing the Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior and meeting with you over virtual consultations, Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage will develop a step-by-step treatment plan to treat your dog’s problem behaviors and accomplish all of your training goals.
Benefits of Resource Guarding Dog Training
Once we have assessed your dog’s behavioral history, your training goals, and your dog’s unique needs, we will develop a personalized program to effectively address the problem behavior.
Our science-based training methods include the use of classical and operant conditioning. Training focuses on providing lifestyle restoration by teaching your dog addressing reactivity, socialization skills, high-level obedience commands and good manners. Training will take place both at the home and throughout the Tampa Bay area, which allows us to teach your dog in the best environments for their specific needs, as well as generalize skills. This will allow you to both go out and explore, be comfortable with how you puppy will react to guests at your home, and prevent reactivity behaviors from worsening as your dog gets older.
Our training environments can include, shopping areas, hiking trails and your home. Our training addresses reactive behaviors including leash reactivity through training your puppy at parks, reducing reactivity to strangers through training in public settings, and addressing barking at strangers through windows when training at home.
Through behavior modification training, your puppy will feel much more comfortable going to veterinary and grooming appointments. Allowing you to know that your puppy will be calm and on their best behavior when meeting others, and with a newfound love for training and going out on adventures with you.
Training Programs
This program offers virtual consultations with Dr. Echterling-Savage to manage your dog’s reactivity behaviors. It includes a personalized training plan, ongoing support, and coaching to ensure lasting results.
As one of the few certified Behavior Analysts specializing in Applied Animal Behavior and among only about 50 CAABs nationwide, Dr. Echterling-Savage brings a wealth of knowledge to each session. Her broad background encompasses a doctorate in the field, published research on canine behavior modification, and 25 years of hands-on training. Dr. Echterling-Savage will offer professional direction to help your dog achieve long-term progress with their reactive behavior.
Dr. Echterling-Savage will connect with you virtually to evaluate your dog’s reactive behavior, developing a training plan that addresses your dog’s unique challenges. After your initial meeting, Dr. Echterling-Savage will continue to offer guidance and troubleshoot any reactive behaviors, ensuring ongoing progress in your dog’s training. This program runs for four weeks for mild cases and six weeks for moderate or severe cases.
This personalized board and train retreat focuses on addressing dog reactivity behaviors that can include growling, barking, biting, or lunging towards:
Depending on the distance from Tampa Bay, travel may be complimentary or require a small additional cost.
Research shows that dogs learn better when trained across a variety of environments with different distractions, as this helps them generalize their skills. Our personalized training programs are taught in the home and in public areas, including parks, hiking trails, and farmers’ markets.
Training methods we use to treat reactivity include operant conditioning, which uses consequences and reinforcement to shape behavior, and classical counterconditioning, which uses positive associations to reduce reactive responses and manage triggers.
Our personalized training programs use scientifically proven training methods to address reactive behaviors in dogs. This includes a study titled “Effects of Caregiver-Implemented Aggression Reduction Procedure on Problem Behavior of Dogs” that was published by our co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage.
During our Florida Board and Train Retreat, your dog will be trained by leading experts in the field, while staying at their home in Tampa Bay, Florida.
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 hands-on experience teaching high-level obedience commands and addressing problem behaviors in dogs, including severe reactivity behaviors—Dr. Echterling-Savage also mentors and trains Beyond the Dog’s trainers.
Sean Savage is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Certified Professional DogTrainer – Knowledge Assessed (CDPT-KA). He has over 20 years of experience addressing behavioral challenges, teaching high-level obedience commands, and encouraging good manners.
Shelby Shipp is a dog trainer who supports our board and train programs. Before joining Beyond the Dog, Shelby worked as a veterinary assistant while completing her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. She has experience training dogs in obedience and manners, and addressing complex problem behaviors.
Our trainers work together to ensure your dog achieves exceptional results through personalized programs that use scientifically proven and effective training methods. While staying at their home in Tampa Bay, your dog will be part of the family, enjoying training sessions, playtime, and downtime.
Shelby Shipp is a dog trainer who supports our board and train programs. Before joining Beyond the Dog, Shelby worked as a veterinary assistant while completing her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. She has experience training dogs in obedience and manners, and addressing complex problem behaviors.
Before beginning this training program, you will submit your completed “Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior” so that we can better understand your dog’s behavioral history and how to most effectively address problem behaviors and teach high-level obedience commands. Dr. Echterling-Savage will then meet with you over a virtual consultation to discuss your training goals, any concerns that you have, and to complete a personalized training plan for your dog.
Sean Savage or a trusted trainer will then come to your home to pick up and transport your dog to their home in Tampa Bay, Florida. While traveling to Tampa Bay, your dog’s comfort and safety are our priority, with your dog either staying in the cabin a trainer during flights, or besides our trainer in the car.
Your dog will then stay at Dr. Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage’s home for four weeks, while living as part of the family with dedicated training and leisure time. Training will occur both at home and throughout Tampa Bay, including parks, trails, shopping areas, farmer’s markets, and dog-friendly beaches to practice obedience commands, address reactivity behaviors, and to develop socialization skills.
Throughout the four-week retreat, you will have regular correspondence via phone, email, progress reports, and videos. At the end of the program, Dr. Echterling-Savage or Sean Savage will bring your dog back home, where your dog will have 4.5 hours of return and follow-up lessons. These lessons will teach you how to manage your dog’s newly learned skills, reinforce desired behaviors, and ensure long-term success in treating your dog’s reactivity.