Behavior Solutions for Performance Dogs

Ring Stress, Worried, Sniffy, Sensitive to Environment, Reactive to Dogs/Humans, Lacks Confidence
Over-arousal, Wild, Out of Control, Diminished Performance, Errors

UNDERSTAND YOUR DOG
Dog Culture clashes with Human Culture. Dogs aren’t born understanding human language, but humans can easily learn to "Speak Dog". Dog's are always speaking to us, but are we really hearing them?  Dogs are simply another species, and it is up to us to help them live comfortably in the human world. I decode dogs, and get to the underlying issue.  Dog's can easily find so many things aversive instead of appetitive, especially in the competition world.  It is possible that some of your interactions have unintended, negative consequences from your dog's point of view.  I will help you understand your dog's emotional states on a level that you can easily wrap your brain around.

UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE
Behavior is governed by scientific laws, not magic or myth. This means we can predict what situations will drive behaviors, and how to change the behaviors through training and changing the environment.  I will help you navigate the waters of canine cognition, communication and applied learning theory.  Once you are "Blinded by Science", you'll see how easy it is to affect change in your dog's behavior.

UNDERSTAND YOUR NEEDS
I focus on meeting your goals with the dog's perspective in mind. Whether you want to improve your dog's comfort in the competition ring, safely hike the trails,  or walk your neighborhood together, I'll develop a customized plan to meet your needs. I will help you Cultivate a trusting relationship with your dog and bridge the connection gap.

CUSTOMIZED APPROACH
I develop effective behavior plans based on the science of applied behavior analysis, your needs, the dog, and the environment. I will provide you with solutions and strategies for your situation to overcome the behavior issue.  I will also measure and evaluate the progress of the training plan and make adjustments or recommendations as necessary.

POSITIVE, NOT PERMISSIVE
It’s a myth that trainers and behavior consultants that use positive reinforcement training using food or toys are permissive. Quite the contrary, I understand how to get behaviors in a way that dogs enjoy doing the behaviors we want, and remove reinforcement for those behaviors we don’t want. I institute boundaries and structure. What we gain are dogs that joyfully comply with our wishes, instead of a battle of wills.

FOCUSED ON PROGRESS
I measure whether the plan I develop is working or not. I’ll constantly assess what is working, what is not, and work to continuously improve results and to continuously make it easier to include the training and plans into your day-to-day life. 

GETTING STARTED - EVALUATION
First, you will complete a detailed Behavior Questionnaire. I will review and schedule an appointment with you and your dog at our facility or your home to thoroughly evaluate the dog. I will discover exactly what is occurring, why and how to change it. I will prescribe a detailed treatment plan that will start the process of changing behavior.  Certified Professional Dog Trainer Laura Bussing, CPDT-KA, CCFT, FP-MT has over 30 years of experience in solving canine behavior issues.

Cost: $150 Evaluation Fee, payable in advance. Submission of Behavior Questionnaire is mandatory. The severity of the behavior issue will determine how much training is needed & I will present options for training, time-tables and costs. Evaluation lasts approximately 90 minutes or more.


 
                                 Start Behavior Questionnaire                         Learn More about Laura


Other Behavior Problems for Private Consults:
  • Aggressiveness or Reactivity on Leash
  • Biting
  • Jumping
  • No Self-Control
  • Pulling on leash
  • Refuses to come
  • Doesn’t listen
  • Too scared - Shyness, Fearfulness
  • Chewing
  • Barking excessively
  • Digging
  • Separation Anxiety
  • Submissive Peeing
  • Chasing Cars or Wildlife
“I was in desperate need of help with two dogs that always got along and were suddenly getting into fights. Laura Bussing came out in a matter of hours to help. I was amazed with Laura’s calm approach and her compassion with helping my animals and myself. She spent a great deal of time in my home and taught me techniques and setting boundaries that were almost instantly effective. I would recommend Laura Bussing for assistance with tackling unwanted dog behaviors and understanding your pets better. She was nothing less than wonderful!  Thank you!” Tammy     



                                    Approaches Backed by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) are the behavior specialists of the animal world — similar to a psychiatrist in human terms. AVSAB has developed position papers on several important topics:
Dominance Position Statement - One of the most pervasive, and also most damaging, myths of dog behavior is that their misbehavior is based on dominance. This brings about often abusive and dangerous approaches to dog training in an effort to “reduce the rank” of the dog.
Punishment Position Statement - There is no need to hurt a dog physically to get them to behave. And contrary to what some may try to tell you, choke, shock and prong collars, to be effective, must be aversive enough that the dog never ever wants to feel that again. Additionally, punishment is difficult to perform correctly compared to positive reinforcement and has some serious, known potential adverse effects.



                                                    
YOUR EXPERIENCED CANINE EDUCATOR
CANINE CULTURE, LLC
Laura Bussing