Training Philosophy
Does your dog evade you when you reach for their collar? Does your dog snap when you clean their paws? Is your dog prone to flinching or stiffening when you touch them, but only at certain times? These could be signs that your dog is touch-sensitive.
Touch sensitivity tends to be seen when you try to put a leash on your dog, bother them when relaxing in a cozy spot, or are handled by a groomer or veterinarian. Touch-sensitive dogs may react aggressively by snapping, growling, or biting when touched or someone tries to touch them. Beyond the Dog specializes in addressing touch sensitivity behaviors, with over 20 years of experience across five cities. Touch sensitivity is closely linked to resource guarding; It is common for dogs that exhibit aggressive behavior due to touch sensitivity to also show aggression when resource guarding.
Our Co-founders, Dr. Echterling-Savage, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, and Sean Savage, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, will work closely with you to assess the severity of the behavior and the specific circumstances in which it occurs. We will then create a personalized training plan that meets your training goals. During our training program, we let each dog move at their own pace while achieving remarkable behavioral improvements. We will guide you through behavior scenarios to treat your dog’s touch-sensitive behavior, including mock grooming and veterinary exercises, leash handling, and more. We will also teach obedience commands that apply to daily life. After enrolling in our training program, you’ll see improvements within the first week, with the touch-sensitive behavior significantly reduced or eliminated in as few as four weeks.
Training Programs
Designed for Tampa Bay dog owners, our 22-hour Training Program focuses on addressing your dog’s touch sensitivity, including:
Our touch-sensitivity programs are developed by our Co-founders and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, in collaboration with our Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Sean Savage. Our team has over 20 years of experience managing touch sensitivity behaviors, during which we have successfully treated thousands of cases. Beyond the Dog utilizes a scientific approach that combines cooperative care, classical conditioning, and positive reinforcement. This methodology helps dogs overcome their fear of being handled by teaching them to associate handling with positive experiences. Scientific research supports our training methods, including a 2019 study by Stellato et al., which indicates that counterconditioning is particularly effective in addressing fear-based behaviors, especially during veterinary visits. Dr. Echterling-Savage emphasizes, “Contrary to popular belief, sedatives can often make veterinary visits more challenging for touch-sensitive dogs. In my experience, behavior modification with proper management is far superior to simply using sedation to address dog touch sensitivity.”
Our 22-hour Touch Sensitivity Training Program has been developed to manage your dog’s touch sensitivity and teach general obedience. Before training begins, you must submit your completed “Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior .” This assessment will provide our Co-founders and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Sean Savage with information to create a customized training plan that addresses your dog’s problematic behaviors.
Your Behavior Consultant, Sean Savage, will conduct private training sessions in your home to address your dog’s fearful behavior and teach general obedience and manners. Each training session lasts one hour, with the final session each week dedicated to a lesson for you. During this lesson, Sean will instruct you on how to reinforce your dog’s learned behaviors and commands. Follow-up sessions will occur after the program’s completion to ensure long-term success in managing your dog’s touch sensitivity.
Many insurance companies, including Trupanion, will cover behavioral training when a Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist or a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist provides it. Please confirm with your insurance provider if they will cover your dog’s touch-sensitivity training.
Dr. Echterling-Savage will meet with you through two hours of private virtual sessions to treat your dog’s touch sensitivity behaviors. This program includes virtual consultations, a personalized training plan, and ongoing support for lasting success.
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 expertise to every session. She holds a doctorate in her field, has published research on canine behavior modification, and has 25 years of hands-on training experience. This background ensures she can provide expert guidance to help your dog make long term improvements in its touch sensitivity.
Our Behavior Modification Package program provides personalized guidance from Dr. Echterling-Savage through two hours of private virtual consultations. During these virtual sessions, Dr. Echterling-Savage will evaluate your dog’s fearful behavior and design a personalized training plan that addresses your dog’s problematic behaviors. Following the initial consultation, she will provide guidance, helping you with behavior scenarios that reinforce positive behavioral modification and ensure ongoing success.
The Touch Sensitivity Training Behavior Modification Package costs $750, including two hours of virtual sessions and support.