Answers to common questions about working with dogs showing aggression, reactivity, biting, or other challenging behaviors, including what to expect from remote behavior consultations.
Training and medication aren’t either/or, they often work best together. I’m not a veterinarian and can’t prescribe medication, but I can help you recognize when a vet or veterinary behaviorist consult may be worth exploring alongside training.
Yes, when there’s a clear plan in place. Part of the initial assessment is understanding exactly what happened and building safety measures, like management strategies, muzzle training if needed, around that specific history.
No, and you’re not alone in feeling this way. Many guardians reach out exactly at this point, when things feel unmanageable. Reaching out doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it means you’re looking for another option before making a permanent decision. Let’s talk before you decide anything.
Consultations are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, so language isn’t a barrier to getting help.
Every dog is different, especially with aggression or reactivity, but most guardians start seeing real change within the first few weeks of a structured plan. Progress isn’t always a straight line, and that’s normal.
I understand how this can be frustrating because each trainer and behavior expert have a different solution and not all solutions will work for cases of aggression or severe reactivity specifically, and some methods (like dominance-based or punishment-based training) can actually make fear-based behavior worse. I use a certified, science-based, force-free approach built around your …
Read more “I’ve already worked with a trainer and it didn’t help. Why would this be different?”
Sometimes pain or an underlying medical issue can drive aggressive or reactive behavior. If that’s a possibility for your dog, I may recommend a vet check alongside training, so we’re addressing the whole picture, not just the behavior.
Yes. A bite history doesn’t mean your dog is beyond help, it means we need a clear safety plan alongside training. I’ll walk you through exactly what that looks like during your initial assessment.
Yes. In fact, remote behavior consultations are often safer than in-person sessions for dogs with aggression or severe reactivity, since there’s no unfamiliar person entering their space to trigger a reaction. As a certified dog behavior consultant, I use video review and live guidance to work with you directly, wherever you are.