Behavior Consultation Home Page
Dealing with behavioral issues by analyzing and understanding the underlying causes of the problems
How do I know if I should schedule a Behavior Consultation?
A behavior consultation is appropriate when your dog is exhibiting issues that may be outside the scope of basic obedience training. This includes issues such as destructive behavior, aggression, fighting, fear, self-mutilation, compulsive disorders, and over-exuberance.
How many appointments should I schedule?
One. At the conclusion of your appointment, you will receive a comprehensive plan tailored specifically to you and your dog. Elissa will review the plan with you to ensure that you understand how to work with your dog when she is not present. Some individuals schedule a follow-up behavior consultation several months later to refine the plan based on progress or to address additional issues.
What is a Behavior Consultation?
Modifying a behavior requires modifying the context in which the behavior occurs, i.e. the environment, the reinforcement, your verbal behavior, etc. Changing or modifying your dog’s behavior only occurs when you adjust these important variables and requires you to be consistent with those changes.
As an Animal Behaviorist, Elissa addresses behavioral issues by conducting a behavior analysis. Therefore, a behavior consultation appointment starts with Elissa asking a lot of questions. When did the behavior start, what does it look like, how often does it happen, etc. This information helps Elissa identify the relevant factors that have set the stage for the behavior.
Once Elissa identifies the relevant factors she uses her knowledge in animal behavior, learning, and species-specific communication to tailor a plan specific to you and your dog. This plan helps you make the required adjustments in your interactions with your dog. Elissa teaches you how to implement the plan and offers support through email as you work through the plan.