The Process

Pet behavior modification is a systematic process. Unlike "obedience" or simple training, the goal of behavior modification is understand the underlying reasons for a pet's behavior in order to effectively change it.

Whether I am working with a cat or a dog, the foundation of the process is the same. However, every pet is an individual, as is every person. Together, we create a plan that will work for you and your pet in the environment in which you live. I take the following approach:

Identify & Understand

The initial consultation is an opportunity to learn more about you, your pet, and the environment so that we can efficiently and effective address the behavior concerns. We will:

Gather information: We will discuss your pet in depth, (background, health, routine), your expectations and lifestyle, and your pet's environment.
Assess needs: I will help you identify and understand your pet's physical and mental needs and determine your capabilities and boundaries as they relate to behavior modification.
Set goals: Based on the above, we set realistic and achievable goals.
Develop a plan: I will create a customized behavior modification plan that addresses your pet's needs, your lifestyle, and the identified behavioral concerns. This is a starting point, and we will adjust as we see what works and what doesn't.

Physical Well-being & Management

If your pet is exhibiting concerning behavior due to pain or other medical issues, it is critical to address those issues first. We also need to break the pattern of the concerning behavior, if possible. This is where we start.

Address physical concerns or medication interventions with your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist. Simply alleviating pain or addressing disease can greatly reduce or eliminate problematic behaviors. We also want your pet to feel well enough to be able to learn. I am happy to collaborate with you and the veterinarian throughout this part of the process.

Implement management measures simultaneously to keep you, your pet, and others (humans and other animals) safe. Management also helps us reduce the frequency with which your pet engages in the concerning behavior.

Environmental & Mental Well-being

Enrichment gives your pet the opportunity to express species-normal behaviors, which, in turn, decreases their baseline stress level. It can also help build confidence. There’s a range of activities and environmental variables important to species-normal behavior; what’s enriching for one animal may not be enriching for another animal of the same species.

Discover what your pet needs and enjoys most - both mentally and physically.
Create an enrichment plan that incorporates different types of enrichment to meet your pet’s needs.
Incorporate the plan into your pet's routine. We’ll try to make sure that it feels manageable (and hopefully fun) for you, too.

Training

Sometimes, after addressing medical and physical needs, managing the environment and our own behavior, and/or adding enrichment, we don’t need step to do much training, believe it or not!

Typically, however, there is at least a little training in a behavior modification plan. This part of the plan is based on:

Humane training methods, We will use positive reinforcement, classical conditioning (learning by association) and other non-aversive, non-coercive methods to help your pet learn new, desirable behaviors.
Addressing the root cause of the behavior as much as possible rather than simply suppressing unwanted behaviors.
Coaching you to know how to respond and help your pet succeed.