For a Happier and More Confident Dog

Has your dog developed behaviors that negatively affect your daily life? Perhaps you feel that your dog is not doing well, but you’re unsure why? It could be due to fear, insecurity, excessive energy, reactivity, or difficulty relaxing. Whether the issue is big or small, general or specific to certain situations, there are no “problem dogs” in my world. Instead, I see dogs and their families facing challenges. A behavior assessment can be crucial in creating a harmonious life for both you and your dog.

When a dog exhibits problematic behaviors, it often requires multiple adjustments to their living situation to resolve the issue. Every dog is unique, which is why we conduct a thorough holistic evaluation of both the dog’s living conditions and the relationship with you as the owner. At our practice, we work with a holistic perspective, focusing not just on the symptoms but also on identifying the underlying causes. You, as the dog’s owner, are an essential part of the solution.

Behavioral issues in dogs can be both frustrating and stressful for owners. Barking, chewing, leash pulling, aggression, fear, or separation anxiety are just a few behaviors that can disrupt daily life. It’s important to remember that dogs don’t behave poorly just to be disobedient – often, behavioral issues stem from stress, insecurity, or a lack of understanding of what is expected of them. By understanding the root causes of problematic behaviors and using positive training, you can help your dog become more balanced and harmonious.

What is a Problem Behavior?
A problem behavior is one that becomes disruptive or unwanted by the owner or others. It can range from excessive barking, chewing on furniture, leash pulling, chasing bikes, to fear of loud noises or aggressive behavior toward other dogs or people. These behaviors can arise for various reasons, and it’s important to identify what is behind them to address the issue effectively.

Problem behaviors are not always the same as “bad behavior” – they are often natural canine behaviors that have become exaggerated or misdirected due to stress, frustration, or lack of training and stimulation.

Common Causes of Problem Behaviors There are several factors that can lead dogs to develop problem behaviors:

1. Lack of Mental and Physical Stimulation – Dogs need both physical activity and mental challenges to stay healthy. Dogs that don’t get enough exercise or mental stimulation can easily become bored and frustrated, leading to destructive behaviors such as excessive barking, chewing, or hyperactivity. A restless dog may find its own ways to entertain itself, often resulting in unwanted behaviors.

2. Fear and Insecurity – Fear and insecurity can cause issues such as aggression, reactivity, or avoidance of certain situations. A dog that is afraid of strangers, loud noises, or other dogs may react strongly and unpredictably. These reactions are often the dog’s way of creating distance from what scares them.

3. Poor Socialization – Socialization is crucial for helping dogs feel secure in different environments and situations. Dogs that were not properly socialized as puppies may struggle with interactions with other dogs, new people, or unfamiliar places, leading to issues such as barking, fear, or reactive behavior.

4. Separation Anxiety – Dogs suffering from separation anxiety have difficulty being alone and may exhibit destructive behavior such as chewing on furniture, constant barking, or attempts to escape. These dogs experience intense stress when left alone, which can be difficult for both the dog and the owner to manage.

5. Unclear Communication and Inconsistent Training – A dog that doesn’t understand what’s expected of them can easily develop unwanted behaviors. If the signals are unclear or the owner is inconsistent in training, the dog may become confused and behave in ways that the owner perceives as "bad." Clear and consistent communication is crucial to helping the dog understand what behavior is correct.
   
   

Understanding the Cause Behind the Behavior When a dog shows signs of fear or aggression, there is often an underlying cause, such as stress, pain, or other factors affecting the dog’s well-being. By identifying and eliminating these causes, combined with proper training, we can help the dog feel better and function optimally in daily life.

My Methodology – LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive)
I use the LIMA method, which aims to make the least impact on the dog’s life and avoid negative consequences. We always start by ensuring that the dog’s basic needs are met, followed by analyzing the environment and living conditions. Once a solid foundation is established, we focus on changing the behavior, which often occurs naturally when the dog is in a better environment.

The Importance of a Holistic Approach A holistic view of the dog’s well-being is crucial for achieving long-term results. If we only treat the symptoms, we risk worsening the problem or redirecting the behavior to other undesirable expressions. Therefore, we work closely with veterinarians and other professionals to ensure that your dog receives the best possible care and training with modern, gentle methods.

What’s Included in a Behavior Assessment, Consultation, and Training?
A behavior assessment, consultation, and training begin with a thorough review of your dog’s behavioral issues. By applying the LIMA method, we identify the causes of the problems and create a tailored training plan. The plan includes specific exercises and actions to help you manage and improve your dog’s behavior. Follow-up meetings and practical training are included to ensure that you feel confident in continuing the work with your dog independently.

First Meeting - Behavioral Assessment

The first meeting lasts approximately 1.5 hours and is a crucial part of understanding your dog's behavior issues. During the session, we review the submitted materials that provide an overview of your dog's behavior and the challenges you're facing. We discuss when and where the problematic behaviors occur, what triggers them, and whether previous experiences may have influenced your dog’s behavior. Understanding the root cause of the problem is essential for offering effective advice, training tips, and solutions.

Through our discussion, we identify possible causes of the behavior issues, such as stress, insecurity, or other factors. Once we have a clear understanding of the situation, I create a customized training plan tailored to your dog’s specific needs. This plan provides practical tools and methods to gradually change your dog’s behavior and create a calmer and more harmonious relationship in daily life. After the first meeting, you will receive a comprehensive assessment and a training plan with specific actions and exercises designed for long-term work.

The goal of the meeting is to deeply understand your dog’s behavior, identify the underlying causes of the issue, and create a realistic and effective training plan. By building an understanding of your dog’s needs and behavior patterns, we can help the dog feel more secure and balanced in daily life while strengthening the bond between you and your dog.

Second Meeting - Follow-up and Practical Training

The second meeting, lasting 40 minutes to an hour, focuses on follow-up and practical training. During this session, we review the training plan that was developed in our first meeting. I guide you step by step on how to perform the exercises in a way that ensures you feel confident and comfortable executing them at home. The goal is to provide you with practical tools and the understanding needed to create lasting improvements in your dog’s behavior.

It’s important during this session for you to have the opportunity to ask questions, and together we address any challenges that may have arisen during training. We also review progress since our first meeting – what has worked well, any obstacles encountered, and any changes in your dog’s behavior. This review gives us a clear picture of the progress made and what adjustments might be necessary in the training plan.

If needed, we will make adaptations and fine-tune the plan to ensure it continues to meet the evolving needs of both you and your dog. The goal is for you to feel confident continuing the training on your own and to provide you with the guidance needed for long-term improvements.

Preparation for Follow-up and Practical Training

To optimize the training process, it’s helpful to be prepared:

• Bring a variety of tasty treats.
• Have a blanket to provide your dog with a secure resting spot.
• A chew toy or bone for breaks during the session.
  
  

The goal of the follow-up meeting is to ensure you feel comfortable with the exercises and address any challenges that arise. By adjusting the training plan and monitoring progress, we set the stage for your dog’s behavior to gradually improve, helping you both achieve a more harmonious relationship.

Third Meeting - Ongoing Follow-up and Practical Training

The third meeting, or however many follow-ups are needed to get you as close as possible to your goal and ensure you feel confident in your continued training with your dog, is a key part of the process. Here, we review your dog’s progress and focus on practical training. During the meeting, we go over the training plan together, and I guide you step by step in performing the exercises. The goal is for you to feel comfortable and secure in continuing the training on your own. By practicing the exercises together, you’ll receive the support and tools necessary for successful long-term results.

A central part of ongoing follow-up is allowing you to ask questions and clarify any difficulties. We discuss what has worked well and identify any barriers or challenges that have arisen during training. We also assess how your dog’s behavior has developed since previous meetings and make any necessary adjustments to the training plan to ensure it remains effective. This gives us a clear picture of how training has affected your dog’s behavior, allowing us to celebrate progress and ensure the plan remains relevant and effective.

When needed, we adjust the training plan, which may include modifying reward strategies, adding new exercises, or altering the difficulty level based on your dog’s response to the training. The goal of ongoing follow-up and practical training is to ensure you feel fully confident continuing training at home and to give you the guidance and tools needed to improve and solidify your dog’s behavior. It also provides you with the confidence to face future challenges calmly and effectively. By making necessary adjustments to the training plan, we ensure your dog’s behavior continues to improve, and together, you achieve a harmonious and balanced relationship.

To optimize the training:

• Bring a variety of treats to adjust rewards based on your dog’s motivation.
• Have a blanket to create a secure and relaxing place for your dog during training.
• Bring a chew toy or bone to keep your dog occupied during breaks.
  
  

Conclusion of Our Work Together

The conclusion of our collaboration marks an important milestone where we review the progress made and reflect on how well the training plan has worked for both you and your dog. During our final meeting, we go through each part of the training, discussing what has gone well and any challenges that remain. Together, we evaluate whether the goals we set have been achieved and if any adjustments are needed moving forward. This session gives you the opportunity to ask any final questions, and I provide you with practical advice for continuing the work independently.

I make sure you leave our collaboration equipped with the tools and knowledge you need to maintain the positive behavior changes we’ve worked to achieve. My goal is for you to feel confident and secure in continuing training and handling future situations on your own. It’s important to me that you feel prepared to uphold the good relationship and balance we’ve built between you and your dog.

Even after our formal collaboration has ended, I remain available for advice should new questions arise. You should feel that you always have support when needed, even in the future. By continuing to use the tools and methods we’ve worked on, you can look forward to a more harmonious and balanced life with your dog. With the right support, patience, and consistent work, it’s possible to create long-lasting positive changes.

Professional Behavior Assessment and Training for a Harmonious Relationship with Your Dog

When you book a behavior assessment, consultation, or training with me, you receive professional help in understanding and addressing your dog’s behavioral issues in a comprehensive and sustainable way. I offer structured, individualized guidance aimed at improving the well-being of both you and your dog, focusing on long-term changes. Whether the issue involves aggression, fear, separation anxiety, or other challenges, we work together to find solutions tailored to your dog’s needs and temperament.

During our sessions, I use positive, reward-based training methods that foster ethical and gentle management of your dog’s issues. By creating a secure environment and giving your dog active choices, we help them manage stress and insecurity in a safe and controlled way. The focus is always on creating a harmonious relationship between you and your dog, where both of you feel secure and equipped to succeed.

Included in the price are more than just the meetings. You will also receive:

• Written tips and advice to support you in your daily life.
• Recommendations for continued training and management of your dog’s behaviors.
• A written summary of our meeting, so you have clear strategies and tools to follow when continuing training on your own.
  
  

The goal is for you, as a dog owner, to feel confident, secure, and equipped to manage your dog’s behavior in a constructive way. By working with positive and rewarding methods, you can build a stronger bond with your dog and create a more harmonious and balanced life together.

When you book a Behavior Assessment, Consultation & Training, three guides will be emailed to you

 These guides are designed to provide you with guidance and support throughout the entire training process.

Behavior Assessment, Consultation, and Training
This guide is a comprehensive resource providing both theoretical guidance and practical tools to help you understand and address your dog’s behavior on a deeper level. The focus is on analyzing the underlying causes of your dog’s specific behavioral issues, such as stress, insecurity, or other factors affecting its daily life. By understanding why your dog behaves the way it does, you can better assist in changing its behavior.

The content is based on reward-based training and the latest research on canine behavior and training. You will receive practical tips and advice that promote positive change and help you create a safer and more harmonious relationship between you and your dog. This guide serves as a personal handbook that you can refer to between training sessions, providing a clear structure to follow and instilling a sense of security and guidance throughout the entire training process.

With the help of this guide, you can easily follow up on the advice and training strategies we have discussed during our meetings. It also serves as a reference material to continue developing your dog’s behavior over time, providing the support you need to achieve long-term success.

Recommendations and Training Advice
This guide includes personalized recommendations and training advice specifically designed for your dog and its unique needs. Here, you will find detailed actions and exercises to help you continue training and managing your dog independently, regardless of the specific behavior challenges you are working on.

The guide is based on the information and insights gathered during our meetings and provides you with a clear plan to follow, ensuring that you and your dog make steady progress. By incorporating practical step-by-step exercises and guidelines, you receive the tools necessary to strengthen your relationship and improve your dog’s behavior.

To make it easy for you to work independently, each exercise and piece of training advice is clearly structured. You will gain an understanding of what needs to be done and why, helping you feel confident and secure in the process. In this way, you will always have the tools you need to make progress and build a stronger and more harmonious relationship with your dog.

Exercise Guide
This guide includes all the exercises we go through during our sessions and serves as a practical tool to ensure that you and your dog can continue making progress even between our meetings. Each exercise is designed with clear instructions and step-by-step directions to help you understand how to perform them correctly. By practicing these exercises regularly, you create the best conditions for reinforcing the positive behaviors we are working on and achieving long-term changes in your dog's behavior.

The guide is designed to be user-friendly and serves as support in your daily training routine. You can easily refer back to the exercises and remind yourself of the details when practicing on your own. Each exercise is based on reward-based methods and tailored to your dog's needs, enabling you to gradually work towards the goals we’ve established during our sessions.

With this exercise guide, you receive a complete toolbox to foster a safe and harmonious relationship with your dog, allowing you to continue building on the progress you have made together. It helps you maintain consistency in your training and ensures that you feel confident in your role as a trainer.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to schedule a session for behavior assessment, consultation, and training.

Michael Rudkrantz
Dog Psychologist – Dog Coach