DISCLAIMER: Do not try anything you see in this video at home without the guidance of a professional behavior consultant, especially if your dog has bitten people before. �
Meet Helix, our Houston Dog of the Month! Helix was exhibiting severe reactivity towards people. His owner had previously enrolled him in various training programs but they were unsuccessful in modifying his reactive behavior.
Helix is now much more comfortable with greeting new people thanks to his personalized guest routine and behavior modification training. He no longer barks and lunges at people and is much more comfortable receiving pets and treats from new friends without being afraid.
Treating dog reactivity is what we do best at Beyond the Dog. Over the past 20+ years, we have treated thousands of reactive dogs and can personalize our unique reactivity treatment to fit the specific needs of any dog.
We have virtual training programs available worldwide and in-home training programs in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City.
Concerned about the price of our programs? Insurance typically covers behavioral training programs like ours as they are led by one of approximately 50 CAABs in the country!
Link in bio or DM us to learn more about our reactivity dog training programs!
#dogreactivity #dogtraining #rescuedog #dogtrainer #dog #beyondthedog
Pixie the 11-month-old Pomeranian, our Houston Dog of the Month, enrolled in one of our Houston in-home dog training programs to address her fearful behavior and prep her for her upcoming travel plans!
Go Pixie!
Click the link below to learn more about our in-home dog training programs!
https://calendly.com/petbehaviorteam/15min
If you see another dog or your own dog showing this behavior, the dog park is not a good place for you and it’s time to leave!
1.) If a dog enters the dog park, is greeted by other dogs, and immediately runs away with their tail tucked oftentimes vocalizing.
2.) If a dog is overly physical, constantly chasing and biting other dogs without ever reciprocating vulnerable body positions.
3.) If a dog is showing clear signs of aggression such as hackles raised, consistently stiff body language, and growling and snapping towards other dogs.
If your dog has good social skills and you want to take them to the dog park, always stay on the sidelines first and watch if any dogs are exhibiting the above behavior. If they are, wait for those dogs to leave before entering to ensure safe, positive fun!
If you tried socializing your dog but something still isn’t clicking, we are happy to help! Link in bio for professional help with dog socialization, dog reactivity, or any other dog behavioral issue! We offer both in-home (in select cities) and virtual training sessions.
Some dogs should not go to the dog park and that’s okay!
Poor candidates for the dog park include…
❌ Young puppies, specifically those in the critical socialization period of 3-12 weeks (we recommend being extra picky about the group of dogs your puppy plays with until they are at least six months of age)
❌ Unneutered males over 8-months-old
❌ Adult males who have recently been neutered
❌ Dogs that stay by your side the entire time and have no interest in playing with other dogs
❌ Dogs that just want to play fetch with their owners and have no interest in interacting with other dogs
Stay tuned for part 2!
Many pet insurance companies like Trupanion cover the cost of reactivity training programs when they are led by a CAAB or Board Certified Vet Behaviorist!
Cases like Amber’s here show that treatment can be effective for even the most severe reactivity cases. We are so proud of all of the progress Amber made with her severe people reactivity.
We have in-home training programs in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City as well as worldwide virtual training programs.
Start your dog's reactivity treatment with us today using the link below!
https://calendly.com/petbehaviorteam/15min
All puppies bite. It is simply how they explore the world when they are young.
However, it’s super important to pay attention to the context in which your puppy is biting to differentiate between normal vs. abnormal biting.
❗Does your puppy hover over a bone, toy, or food?
❗Does your puppy growl when they’re picked up or while woken up?
❗Does your puppy act aggressively in response to being restrained?
❗Does your puppy grab things and run away?
❗Does your puppy try to swallow items like mulch, trash, or bones, whole?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, your puppy might be showing early signs of resource guarding.
To prevent resource guarding from worsening, practice approaching your puppy when they have a toy or bone, give them a treat, and walk away.
Don’t play with your puppy’s food or take it away mid-meal. Instead, approach them while they’re eating, drop a tasty treat in their food bowl, and walk away.
This helps create a positive association with your puppy being approached with valuable resources. The goal is for your puppy to happily await you approaching them.
Over time, you can prevent resource guarding from worsening with age!
If you need additional help with puppy biting, we have virtual puppy training programs and would be happy to help. Link in bio to learn more!
Ava the 8-month-old Dachschund enrolled in one of our Houston Board and Train Programs to work on…
🐾 Housebreaking
🐾 Howling in the crate
🐾 Jumping
🐾 Play-biting
🐾 Barking and lunging at cats
🐾 Excessive play with the senior dog in her home
🐾 Not listening to come when called or leave it
Ava did so well during her program and is now overall much calmer around the house!
During our board and train programs, your dog will receive an unmatched level of training, attention, and care. Your dog will live directly in your trainer’s home and become a temporary member of their family unlike at traditional boarding facilities.
Learn more about our board and train programs below!
https://beyondthedogtraining.com/houston/in-home-puppy-training/
Resource guarding is a complex, social behavior that is typically caused due to a multitude of factors including genetics, early environment, training history, and the behavior of other dogs in the home to name a few.
It is not caused because your dog no longer “sees you as the alpha”!
If resource guarding is left untreated, the behavior could escalate into your dog biting you or a family member.
Luckily, resource guarding can be treated with behavior modification! We treat resource guarding using a combination of classical conditioning and positive reinforcement that ultimately teaches dogs to look forward to being approached by loved ones.
Learn more about resource guarding below!
https://beyondthedogtraining.com/dog-training/why-is-my-dog-resource-guarding/
Dog-Friendly Chocolate-Covered Strawberries and Yogurt Hearts ❤️
INGREDIENTS
10-12 strawberries (stems cut off)
1/4 cup carob powder (or chips)
1/4 cup coconut oil (or olive oil)
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
INSTRUCTIONS
For the strawberries…
Rinse your strawberries and chop off the tops. Set aside 5-6. Mix carob and oil into a bowl. Coat your strawberries and freeze overnight.
For the hearts…
Dice 5-6 strawberries. Mix with Greek yogurt. Spoon into a mold leaving space on top for the carob. Drizzle carob on top of your yogurt hearts and freeze overnight.
We hope you enjoy these dog-friendly “chocolate-covered” treats!
💌 Happy Valentine’s Day! 💌
If your dog only listens to you when you have treats, it’s not because they don’t love or respect you enough.
It’s because they simply don’t understand what is expected of them.
In a healthy relationship, you don’t assume the other person isn’t listening to you due to a lack of love. The same applies to your relationship with your dog!
Meet Chico, our Houston Dog of the Month! This 11-month-old Great Pyrenees enrolled in one of our Houston dog training programs!
During Chico’s in-home and board-and-train blended program, we addressed the following:
🐾 Barking at noises and other dogs in the yard
🐾 Destroying furniture when left alone
🐾 Crate training
🐾 Digging in the yard
🐾 Barking and lunging at other dogs on leash
🐾 General loose leash training
🐾 Wait at the front door and fenceline
🐾 Scratching at doors
Click the link below to create a customized dog training program for your pup!
https://2d54usl8l2g.typeform.com/to/JMn6DojX?typeform-source=beyondthedogtraining.com
Dog reactivity can be an incredibly stressful behavior for pet parents to manage. Many owners and trainers try using shock to treat reactivity. In many cases, shock is seemingly very effective in getting your dog to immediately stop barking or lunging.
But do the ends justify the means when it comes to using shock for reactivity?
Shock often addresses the symptoms of dog reactivity (barking and lunging) but it can mask the underlying cause of the reactivity, the desire to get unfamiliar people and dogs to go away.
The use of shock can make a dog stop barking and lunging but the negative association a dog has with unfamiliar people and dogs can be heightened. After using shock, the dog will associate other people and dogs with an even more unpleasant and painful experience. Classical conditioning is always at play!
Research supports this as studies show the levels of the stress hormone cortisol remain high after the use of shock. Research also shows shock can elicit aggressive behavior!
In our opinion, the ends DO NOT justify the means when it comes to using shock on behavioral issues such as reactivity. It is simply not worth the risk of long-term side effects.
Behavior modification using principles from classical conditioning and positive reinforcement is the best and most ethical method to treat dog reactivity.
Watch the full video below!
Some people think the far left has taken over dog training and that’s why trainers have stopped using aversive methods such as shock collars and the alpha roll. They believe you must assert your dominance over your dog or they will not listen to you, period.
But is this true? Is positive-based dog training too soft?
No. Research has proven time and time again that behavior modification is the most ethical and effective way to train your dog.
Classical counterconditioning is the foundation of behavior modification. Also known as pairing, classical counterconditioning is when an association between two stimuli is developed.
The most famous example is Pavlov’s dogs, who began to salivate at Pavlov’s bell simply because the bell was paired in time with meat powder. Counterconditioning, habituation, and systematic desensitization are all classical conditioning techniques behaviorists use to treat problem behavior with dogs.
By providing high-value foods in the presence of aversive stimuli, trainers can reduce the aversiveness of those contexts. For some dog-reactive dogs, feeding high-value treats in the presence of other dogs reduces reactivity. This means of treatment is much more ethical than relying on punishment procedures or avoiding these circumstances altogether.
If you are interested in seeking professional help, it can be hard to know where to look. These days, anyone can call themselves a dog trainer without receiving any certification. Who can you trust when it comes to your beloved furry family member?
Look for an organization where you can be supported under the guidance of a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, a Certified Behavior Consultant, or a Veterinary Behaviorist.
Our resident CAAB, Dr. Echterling-Savage, has a fantastic research paper on the effectiveness of classical counterconditioning in treating dog aggression. You can find this paper and more research on Dr. Ectherling-Savage’s behavior blog linked in our bio!
Thank you for believing in Beyond the Dog.
Many of you contacted us after receiving a recommendation. Others found Beyond the Dog through their own research. No matter how you found us, you did your due diligence, asked the right questions, and ultimately believed in us.
Thank you for being patient with Beyond the Dog.
It takes time to design your training program, communicate your pet’s individual needs, and solidify your training dates. Your patience does not go unnoticed as we prepare to do our best work for you.
Thank you for trusting Beyond the Dog.
You allow us into your home to work with your beloved four-legged family member, even in your absence. It is an honor and a privilege to become a staple in your home. Your trust in us is felt so deeply.
Thank you for investing in Beyond the Dog.
You put time, energy, and money into your pet’s future. You create space for us in your busy schedule, and your commitment to your pet is felt in every exchange. We strive to make your investment pay dividends.
Finally, thank you for your loyalty.
You share your experience with others and your words mean more than you know. For some of you, our relationship has spanned generations of your family pets. We’ve had the privilege of working with you and your family for decades. There are no words to describe how great it feels to start again with your family. Your loyalty pushes us to offer the same great quality year after year.
As we look ahead at 2024, a massive thank you to you and your pets, the ones that inspire us to go above and beyond!
Happy New Year!
- Kristyn and Sean Savage, Co-Founders of Beyond the Dog
Did you know dog reactivity can be treated with positive reinforcement-based training?!
Jazz enrolled in one of our Houston in-home dog training programs to address her reactivity. Her owner also learned strategies to manage her high energy.
Jazz went from barking and lunging at every dog she saw from 200 feet away to loose leash walking by her owner’s side without pulling, right next to a dog park!
It was incredibly rewarding to see Jazz play with other dogs at the end of her program as her owner never dreamed that would be possible due to the severity of her reactivity. Great job, Jazz!
If your dog is engaging in reactive behavior, we can help!
Behavioral issues such as reactivity can oftentimes be covered by insurance when training is directed by a CAAB (which ours is!). Link in bio for more information on our dog training programs and feel free to message us with any questions!
Has anyone ever given you the advice that you should use an alpha roll whenever your dog disobeys you?
The alpha roll is when you use force and aggression to roll your dog onto their back and pin them to the ground. Some people say this is a good way to get your dog to listen and assert your dominance, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Depending on the temperament, age, size, and genes of your dog, using the alpha roll as a punishment could result in a bite or damage your relationship with your dog.
Furthermore, behavioral research has shown that using aversive training techniques such as the alpha roll elicits dog aggression at a higher frequency than positive reinforcement training.
Check out the study below for more information!
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159108003717
Each one of our training programs is different because every dog is unique. What works best for one dog might not work best for the next, and that’s totally ok!
We absolutely loved working with Marmaduke and he did so well responding to the vibration collar and various hand signals. Great work, Marmaduke!
We customize each one of our dog training programs to fit you and your dog’s specific needs! Learn more below.
https://beyondthedogtraining.com/houston/in-home-dog-training/
Has anyone ever told you that you need to assert your dominance over your dog and be the alpha in the relationship?
The truth is, that the traditional concept that wild wolf packs have an alpha is a myth. The idea that there was an alpha and fights for dominance within a wolf pack originated from a study in the mid-1900’s of captive wolves.
Later on, researchers realized they could not make any conclusions about the social behavior of wild wolves based on less than one hundred captive wolves.
Wolves actually have family-like structures with parents leading their children. The idea that there is one singular wolf that controls the pack and has fought with the others for their high status is a MYTH.
You do not need to use aggression to show your dog that you are the alpha as the entire concept is a myth in the first place. The best way to get your dog to listen to you is to understand how your dog learns and teach them obedience through positive reinforcement.
Follow us for part 2, coming soon!
If your puppy will be with another family member’s dog this holiday season, it’s important to monitor both their play and your puppy’s stress levels.
If your puppy is playing with another puppy, you want to make sure the play looks balanced and no puppy is pinning the other down for too long.
If your puppy is playing with an older dog, make sure the older dog is showing wiggly, friendly body language and making it clear that they also want to play.
Traveling somewhere for the holidays where you can’t bring your puppy along? We have Board and Train programs where your puppy will stay at one of our trainer’s homes for the holidays and return with advanced obedience skills! Schedule a free training consultation today to learn more!
https://calendly.com/beyondthedogconsult/15min
Your puppy’s first holiday season is an incredibly exciting time!
We want to make sure your puppy has stress-free, positive interactions with all of the new friends that they meet with the tips in this video. Stay tuned for part 2!
If you have any questions about puppy socialization, we’d love to help!
https://beyondthedogtraining.com/houston/dog-training/
