REACTIVE DOG CLASS
Pet Behavior
Consulting
Consulting
| Enroll in training classes with Elise. Just do it, you won't be sorry. What started with a small investment and a very energetic pup ended with one of the best relationships I could have imagined. ~ the Riders |
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Let's start with a quiz...
1. Do you try to walk your dog at times when you won't see other dogs/people/etc.?
2. Do you have to put your dog away when company comes to your home because you don't
trust his behavior?
3. Has your dog made you cry with frustration/fear/anger/shame?
4. Do you wonder how in the world you ended up with a dog like this?
5. Do you often find yourself at the receiving end of advice regarding your dog's behavior...
and all of the advice is useless?
If you answered YES to any of these questions then chances are you are living with a reactive
dog. More and more often, dogs are landing in our homes with issues and aggression.
Whether is growling, biting, barking or fearful behavior - it's definitely not what most of us were
used to growing up! Long gone are the days of the mellow dog that slept by our feet. Many
of todays dogs require a significant time commitment and skillful training.
The good news is that reactive dogs tend to be eager to please, sensitive, loving, devoted
and intuitive. They often are the dogs of a lifetime, despite the sighs of frustration and tears
along the way. Maybe it's the hard work we put into them, maybe it's that they are unique and
special in a way we're not used to - but whatever it is, it is important to know how to go about
training and working with them!
The History of Reactive Dog Class
Several years ago I adopted a puppy that was incredibly fearful. After a fearful puppyhood he
was launched into a medically turbulent adolescence where, after four months, he was finally
diagnosed as needing serious surgery. After the surgery he spent his young adulthood in
painful recuperation and recovery. Needless to say, he did not view people fondly, seeing
them instead as synonyms for pain. He quickly moved from fearful behavior to aggression
and has taken me on the ride of a lifetime!
When I searched for people to guide me with his rehabilitation, I found no one close to me in
the Valley. I traveled to New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, eastern
Massachusetts and other places to work with the finest behaviorists on modifying aggression.
The hardest part, in many ways, was not having people to practice with when I would come
home. It's hard to make progress when you can't find the people or dogs to practice with!!
Despite being a trainer, having trainers as colleagues and friends, and knowing lots of people
in the business, it was still very frustrating to find practice places and people. To address this
frustration, I started a class for Reactive Dogs. The first year I ran it out of an old parking lot in
Holyoke. I was thrilled to be able to conduct the class but the space was not ideal and when
the season became too harsh to work outside, I ended the class.
I was thrilled to find a new, better location for class the following spring - the Three County
Fairgrounds in Northampton! This is the new venue for class. Spacious, green and
convenient to get to - the outdoor class space is great for working the dogs.
And so here we are today, with the only Reactive Dog class in Western Massachusetts! I am
so committed to helping owners of reactive and aggressive dogs. Having lived through it
(and, yes, I still have that fearful puppy who is now a fabulous adult dog - and we're still
making progress with his behavior) gives me the compassion and understanding for running a
great class. Being an experienced behaviorist gives me the skills to teach you how to
successfully modify your dog's behavior. It's not an easy road but it's so worthwhile when you
see the changes and the progress. It's also great to be with people who understand what you
live through every day.
Reactive Dog class is an excellent resource for modifying dog behavior, improving your
handling skills, meeting other people in the same boat, and improving your relationship with
your dog.
How It Works...
Before you can join a group class, you need to have a basic understanding of aggression,
reactivity and how to handle your dog's behavior in your home and outside in the world. For
this reason, all class participants must have had a prior consultation with me or have worked
with another behaviorist with similar methods and techniques (positive reinforcement, no
aversive methodology or techniques).
Next, you must attend an Orientation. Orientations are typically held on Sundays at 9am but
occasionally I run them other times as well. Orientation is $35 and is one hour. We go over
equipment, food, parking, weather rules, etc. You get a folder with tracking sheets, class
syllabus, and lots of other good stuff for class. You are welcome to come and observe a
class as well (I actually highly encourage it as long as I know you are coming)!
Reactive Dog Class is held most Sunday mornings in one hour sessions. People register at
the beginning of the month and pay for the number of sessions being held that month. So, for
example, in September there are 3 Sundays scheduled for class. Each class is $35 so the
fee for September is $105 whether people can make it to one or all of the classes.
Classes are limited to 4-6 handler/dog teams. Each session consists of group work where we
all work together as a class on different skills and individual sessions where we work on
specific triggers for each dog. In the beginning, we spend several weeks establishing core
behaviors and foundation behaviors.
Interested? Have questions? Contact Elise at elise@petbehaviorconsulting.com
1. Do you try to walk your dog at times when you won't see other dogs/people/etc.?
2. Do you have to put your dog away when company comes to your home because you don't
trust his behavior?
3. Has your dog made you cry with frustration/fear/anger/shame?
4. Do you wonder how in the world you ended up with a dog like this?
5. Do you often find yourself at the receiving end of advice regarding your dog's behavior...
and all of the advice is useless?
If you answered YES to any of these questions then chances are you are living with a reactive
dog. More and more often, dogs are landing in our homes with issues and aggression.
Whether is growling, biting, barking or fearful behavior - it's definitely not what most of us were
used to growing up! Long gone are the days of the mellow dog that slept by our feet. Many
of todays dogs require a significant time commitment and skillful training.
The good news is that reactive dogs tend to be eager to please, sensitive, loving, devoted
and intuitive. They often are the dogs of a lifetime, despite the sighs of frustration and tears
along the way. Maybe it's the hard work we put into them, maybe it's that they are unique and
special in a way we're not used to - but whatever it is, it is important to know how to go about
training and working with them!
The History of Reactive Dog Class
Several years ago I adopted a puppy that was incredibly fearful. After a fearful puppyhood he
was launched into a medically turbulent adolescence where, after four months, he was finally
diagnosed as needing serious surgery. After the surgery he spent his young adulthood in
painful recuperation and recovery. Needless to say, he did not view people fondly, seeing
them instead as synonyms for pain. He quickly moved from fearful behavior to aggression
and has taken me on the ride of a lifetime!
When I searched for people to guide me with his rehabilitation, I found no one close to me in
the Valley. I traveled to New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, eastern
Massachusetts and other places to work with the finest behaviorists on modifying aggression.
The hardest part, in many ways, was not having people to practice with when I would come
home. It's hard to make progress when you can't find the people or dogs to practice with!!
Despite being a trainer, having trainers as colleagues and friends, and knowing lots of people
in the business, it was still very frustrating to find practice places and people. To address this
frustration, I started a class for Reactive Dogs. The first year I ran it out of an old parking lot in
Holyoke. I was thrilled to be able to conduct the class but the space was not ideal and when
the season became too harsh to work outside, I ended the class.
I was thrilled to find a new, better location for class the following spring - the Three County
Fairgrounds in Northampton! This is the new venue for class. Spacious, green and
convenient to get to - the outdoor class space is great for working the dogs.
And so here we are today, with the only Reactive Dog class in Western Massachusetts! I am
so committed to helping owners of reactive and aggressive dogs. Having lived through it
(and, yes, I still have that fearful puppy who is now a fabulous adult dog - and we're still
making progress with his behavior) gives me the compassion and understanding for running a
great class. Being an experienced behaviorist gives me the skills to teach you how to
successfully modify your dog's behavior. It's not an easy road but it's so worthwhile when you
see the changes and the progress. It's also great to be with people who understand what you
live through every day.
Reactive Dog class is an excellent resource for modifying dog behavior, improving your
handling skills, meeting other people in the same boat, and improving your relationship with
your dog.
How It Works...
Before you can join a group class, you need to have a basic understanding of aggression,
reactivity and how to handle your dog's behavior in your home and outside in the world. For
this reason, all class participants must have had a prior consultation with me or have worked
with another behaviorist with similar methods and techniques (positive reinforcement, no
aversive methodology or techniques).
Next, you must attend an Orientation. Orientations are typically held on Sundays at 9am but
occasionally I run them other times as well. Orientation is $35 and is one hour. We go over
equipment, food, parking, weather rules, etc. You get a folder with tracking sheets, class
syllabus, and lots of other good stuff for class. You are welcome to come and observe a
class as well (I actually highly encourage it as long as I know you are coming)!
Reactive Dog Class is held most Sunday mornings in one hour sessions. People register at
the beginning of the month and pay for the number of sessions being held that month. So, for
example, in September there are 3 Sundays scheduled for class. Each class is $35 so the
fee for September is $105 whether people can make it to one or all of the classes.
Classes are limited to 4-6 handler/dog teams. Each session consists of group work where we
all work together as a class on different skills and individual sessions where we work on
specific triggers for each dog. In the beginning, we spend several weeks establishing core
behaviors and foundation behaviors.
Interested? Have questions? Contact Elise at elise@petbehaviorconsulting.com
