Dog Behaviorist Vancouver — Reactivity, Fear, Anxiety, Aggression Problems
Reactive Dogs, Fearful, Anxious or Aggressive Dogs
Behaviour Modification For Dogs
This service is provided to help dogs that are struggling with reactivity, fear, anxiety, or aggression problems, such as:
- Barking and lunging at other dogs (Dog Reactivity)
- Barking and lunging at strangers (People Reactivity)
- Aggression towards dogs or people (nipped or bitten or caused injury to other dogs or people)
- Resource Guarding (aggression to keep toys, bones, or stolen objects)
- Handling Sensitivity (aggression when touched, held, groomed, or restrained)
- Separation Anxiety
- Fearful and shut down in new or strange environments or around new people
Our Process
The When Hounds Fly GETS Process for Behaviour Change is our system for working with our clients to support them through their journey of employing humane approaches to change behaviour in their dogs.
First, Gather history and background to understand the antecedents contributing to the behaviours of concern. Our clients complete a comprehensive Canine Behaviour History Form, and during the first appointment, we review it together to confirm understanding of the critical contributing factors.
Second, Explain the underlying principles of learning and behaviour that reinforce the behaviours of concern, and how you’ll change these behaviours over time.
Third, Teach YOU how to teach your dog! The journey will require consistent effort over time, and if we do our job correctly, you’ll have the skills you need to see it through.
Lastly, Send you post-lesson followup materials, and adjustments to your training plans until we see you for your next lesson.
Our Values and Methods
Our organization adheres to the guidelines found in the Humane Hierarchy, which has also been adopted by many organizations such as the CCPDT.
- Ensuring the health and physical well-being of the dog – that includes physical health (diet, rest, exercise, medical illness) and emotional well-being
- Setting them up for success – Avoiding putting the dog in situations where he or she is likely to fail and do the unwanted behaviour
- Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning – Presenting less threatening versions of the triggering stimulus and pairing it with things the dog really enjoys
- Positive Reinforcement/Differential Reinforcement of Alternate Behaviour – Teaching other skills the dog can do instead of the unwanted behaviour
- Ensuring the health and physical well-being of the dog – that includes physical health (diet, rest, exercise, medical illness) and emotional well-being
- Setting them up for success – Avoiding putting the dog in situations where he or she is likely to fail and do the unwanted behaviour
- Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning – Presenting less threatening versions of the triggering stimulus and pairing it with things the dog really enjoys
- Positive Reinforcement/Differential Reinforcement of Alternate Behaviour – Teaching other skills the dog can do instead of the unwanted behaviour
Rest assured, you will not find these kinds of techniques or tools in our training plans:
- Leash corrections (jerking on the dog’s neck)
- Punishment collars (choke chain, prong collar, shock collar)
- Physical violence (scruff shakes, alpha-rolls, pinning the dog)
- Fear-inducing deterrents (throw chains in bags, water balloons, pop cans full of pennies, “pet corrector” horns, etc.)
- Leash corrections (jerking on the dog’s neck)
- Punishment collars (choke chain, prong collar, shock collar)
- Physical violence (scruff shakes, alpha-rolls, pinning the dog)
- Fear-inducing deterrents (throw chains in bags, water balloons, pop cans full of pennies, “pet corrector” horns, etc.)
A year after our private sessions with Andre, our beagle Jake sits on our front porch and watches dogs walk by without aggression — dogs that used to set him off on sight at any distance.
We continue to use food rewards on walks and have reduced fear-aggression responses to a rarity. He no longer guards the porch when the postman, delivery people or friends approach.
Can’t tell you how grateful we are for Andre’s sound advice.
– Jake, Tom and Deborah
Our Service Area
Lessons Via Zoom: Anywhere!
In-person lessons are available as follows:
Sarah is available to see clients in Downtown Vancouver, South Granville, and Kitsilano.
Katie is available to see clients in Downtown Vancouver, Fairview, Olympic Village & East Van.
For clients outside of these area, we welcome pet parents to come visit us in these neighbourhoods or by appointment at 29 West Broadway.
A Team-Based Approach for Success
We are a team!
Working with When Hounds Fly means you get many experts working behind the scenes to help you succeed.
We hold weekly case review calls where we review our current cases and brainstorm as a team for best practices to bring back to our clients.
Our most senior instructors have 10+ years experience each, allowing our whole team to leverage our collective knowledge. Why hire one trainer when you can work with a team?
Dear When Hounds Fly Team,
Indie is still working through some of her anxieties around meeting new dogs and kids, but it has seriously been a HUGE difference since we started working with you.
Everyone that knew her from before makes comments about how she’s a different dog.
It truly is amazing! Thanks!
– Vanessa and Indie
Add-On: Intensive Coaching
For behavioral breakthroughs with reactivity, leash walking, recall, and more…
(Limited availability)
To achieve breakthrough improvements, each of our instructors accepts a limited number of clients for Intensive Coaching.
By booking multiple weekly lessons for a period of four weeks:
- We directly work hands-on with your dog, so they benefit from our expert timing and training skills
- You can watch and observe as we train, to learn how we respond to your dog’s behaviour in a variety of settings
- We go to various locations such as your home, your neighbourhood, and your dog parks; in the environments that are part of you and your dog’s life
- We provide intensive coaching to help you become really skilled at training and communicating with your dog
Examples where Intensive Coaching could help:
- To help with leash reactivity to other dogs or people in your neighbourhood
- To work on engagement and recall at the dog park
- To help fast-track your new puppy’s leash walking skills and behaviour in public
- To help with resource guarding issues
- To help with body-handling issues (co-operative care)
Our clients who sign up for Intensive Coaching see rates of improvement that wouldn’t be possible if they did it alone, or only saw us once every couple of weeks!
Ask your instructor about adding on Intensive Coaching!
Lady is a rescue from Texas. When we first got her, she was afraid of everything!
I’ve helped rescue dogs in the past, but I had no idea how to work with a dog that was afraid of her own shadow.
Working with Anita has been such an incredible experience for all of us. She taught us about asking for Lady’s consent, and she was’t hung up on all the rules of what you should and shouldn’t do. As a result, Lady became much calmer in the house.
Lady continues to surprise us every day. Last week, she confidently waltzed into class, tail wagging, to greet Anita.
What we’ve learned may seem obvious to you, but we really appreciate everything.
What’s It Cost?
Phone Consultation
30 Minute Call- Talk to a Professional Trainer
- Ask Questions / Get Advice
- Book Instantly
- Book Now!
Instructor
1-3 Years Experience- Initial 1.5 Hour Lesson
- Post Lesson Writeup
- Email Support (Reasonable Use)
- 1-3 Years Experience
- (Travel Surcharge may apply for in-home lessons)
- Access to Foundation Skills Online ($59 Value)
- Followup Lessons at $135/hour
Master Instructor
5-10+ Years Experience- Initial 1.5 Hour Lesson
- Post Lesson Writeup
- Email Support (Reasonable Use)
- 5-10+ Years Experience
- Multiple Professional Certifications (CPDT-KA, KPA CTP, and others)
- (Travel Surcharge may apply for in-home lessons)
- Access to Foundation Skills Online ($59 Value)
- Followup Lessons at $180/hour
* Email Support (within reason) starting from the first appointment and ending 2 weeks after final appointment in package
Please note, availability of standard vs senior level instructor varies by location and if you have a specific request, we may need you to travel to a specific location for your lesson.
For details regarding class/training policies, please see our Policy page:
