Training Philosophy
Is your puppy lunging and barking on walks? Does your puppy constantly barking at people passing by your house? If so, your puppy may be displaying reactive behavior. Beyond the Dog Tampa Bay specializes in treating puppy reactivity before it develops into more problematic behaviors as they grow older. Our training protocol combines operant and classical conditioning and continuously updates our behavior modification techniques using scientific research.
With over 20 years of experience across six cities, we have comprehensive expertise in addressing reactive behavior in puppies. Our private puppy training effectively addresses reactivity behaviors, allowing us to work in the same environments where the behavior occurs. Whether you live in an apartment in Westchase or a townhouse in Beachpark, we can customize our training program to fit your dog’s daily life. Our team is dedicated to improving your and your puppy’s quality of life in Tampa Bay, fostering a lifelong love of learning.
Training Programs
Our training goal is to treat your puppy’s reactivity with a personalized training plan that combines positive reinforcement and classical conditioning. We will teach your puppy high-level obedience training as well as address their reactivity by focusing on the following:
Unfortunately, if left untreated, puppy reactivity worsens with age. However, it can be reduced or eliminated through behavior modification. Behavior modification changes a dog’s behavior over time by using rewards, environmental cues, principles of classical conditioning, and positive reinforcement to encourage good actions and associate them with positive outcomes. Research by our resident Certified Applied Animal Behavior, Dr. Echterling-Savage, shows that behavior modification can reduce or eliminate aggression across various environments, even when implemented by owners. According to Dr. Echterling-Savage, “As a pet parent, puppy aggression can feel alarming and overwhelming. However, early intervention is key, and with proper treatment, the behavior can be eliminated.”
Our 22-Hour Puppy Reactivity Program includes one-hour sessions addressing your puppy’s reactivity behaviors, obedience commands, and manners.
To best understand and treat your puppy’s reactivity behaviors, we ask that you complete our “Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior” before training begins. Our team, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Echterling-Savage and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant Sean Savage, will evaluate this assessment to design a training program that addresses your puppy’s problematic behaviors.
Sean Savage will conduct private sessions at your home or in the Tampa Bay neighborhood. Whether it’s learning socialization skills at Hyde Park or teaching “place” at your home, our training program will use different environments to provide the highest level of training. While most sessions are one-on-one, the final session of each week is a dedicated lesson for you. During this lesson, you will be taught how to reinforce the commands and strategies your puppy has learned. Once the training is completed, follow-up sessions will be arranged to support continuous improvement with reactive behavior.
Many insurance providers, including Trupanion, offer coverage for reactivity behavioral training when it is led by a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist or a Board-Certified Behaviorist. Be sure to check with your insurance provider too learn if they cover Reactivity behavioral training in puppies.
This training program will address mild reactivity while also teaching relevant obedience commands, including:
We use behavior modification techniques to reduce or eliminate reactivity in puppies. If your puppy shows reactive behaviors, that include barks at guests in your home, hides under furniture, or reacts to other dogs on a leash, our unique training methods can help. We use a combination of classical conditioning and positive reinforcement to help your puppy be confident even when in a stressful environment. This includes building positive associations with your puppy around their triggers and teaching them to be calm and responsive to obedience commands. As our Co-Founder Sean Savage explains, “It is critical to address puppy reactivity and barking before a puppy reaches adulthood. For puppies showing fear-based behavior and low levels of reactivity, a little can go a long way, and training can make a positive, lifelong impact.
Our 16-Hour Reactive Puppy Training Program is designed to span 4 weeks, with four one-hour sessions each week. Before training begins, you must submit your “Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior.” This assessment provides us with important information about your dog’s history, behavior, and training goals. Based on this information, our Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, and our Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Sean Savage, will create a customized training plan tailored to your puppy’s unique needs. Once the training program is established, Sean Savage will conduct private sessions with your puppy to address its reactive behavior. Depending on the specific behaviors being addressed, these training sessions will take place both at your home and in your local neighborhood. The final session of each week is dedicated to a lesson for you to teach you how to reinforce the learned behaviors and obedience skills.
Many insurance companies, including Trupanion, cover the cost of behavior modification training for reactive puppies when led by a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist or a Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist. We recommend that you check with your insurance company to see if they will cover Reactivity Behavioral Training.
Through two hours of private virtual consultations, Dr. Echterling-Savage will meet with you to address your puppy’s reactivity behaviors. This program includes virtual sessions, a personalized training plan and ongoing guidance for long term results.
As one of the few Board Certified Behavior Analysts specializing in Applied Animal Behavior and among only about 50 CAABs nationwide, Dr. Echterling-Savage brings extensive knowledge to each session. Her comprehensive background includes a doctorate in the field, published research on canine behavior modification, and 25 years of hands-on training. Dr. Echterling-Savage will deliver expert guidance to help your puppy make lasting improvements with their reactive behaviors.
Our Reactive Puppy Behavior Modification Package offers two hours of private virtual consultations with Dr. Echterling-Savage, our Co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB). During your virtual consultations, Dr. Echterling-Savage will assess your puppy’s reactive behavior and create a personalized training plan to manage it effectively. Following the initial consultation, she will offer ongoing support, presenting various scenarios that reinforce positive behavior modification for long-term success.
The Reactive Puppy Behavior Modification Package costs $750, including two hours of virtual sessions and ongoing support.