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Many dogs develop bad habits and behaviors while they are puppies. Left uncorrected, these habits can range from annoying to downright dangerous. If you are struggling to train your dog or your dog has severe behavioral issues, consider enlisting the help of a dog behaviorist. So should you bring your dog to a dog behaviorist? Let’s take a look at exactly what a dog behaviorist does, and how the dog behavior specialists at Ancillary K9 can help your dog.
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When Should You See A Dog Behaviorist?
There is a fine balance between normal, annoying dog behavior and out of control behavior. Before considering professional help, we recommend seeking the advice of a trainer. Your trainer will be able to recommend a course of action best for both you and your dog. A few behavioral characteristics that suggest a dog may need to be trained by a dog behaviorist include: ● Aggressive barking towards friends, visitors, and neighborhood walkers. ● Biting you, your family, or strangers. ● Running off or not listening to owner commands. ● Acting aggressive whenever you give them food. ● Chewing on furniture and household items. ● Urinating or defecating inside the house after the dog is already housebroken. These are just a few of the most common dog behavior issues that a dog behaviorist may specialize in. Once you recognize some of the most common behavioral issues that need to be corrected, you can go about enlisting the help of a licensed dog behaviorist. 
What a Dog Behaviorist Does and How They Can Help
A dog behaviorist is a professional with intense training in their specialty. The best dog behaviorists know how to figure out what’s behind the dog’s aggressive behavior, anxiety, household accidents or other behavioral problems, and then uses a behavior modification and training program to break those bad habits. The result is a happier dog that’s less aggressive and easier to live with.
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Taking the First Step to a Better-Behaved Dog
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Dog behaviorists work individually with each dog to develop a solution to eliminate their behavioral issues. Typically, these professionals will first want to get to know your dog. This will allow them to gain a sense for the behavioral issues that your dog is experiencing. For many dogs, the only reason they act out is due to external influences. This could be because of a thunderstorm, another dog in the area, or a developmental problem.
A dog behaviorist may specialize in specific behavior problems, such as:
How A Dog Behaviorist Can Help Your DogNow that you know what a dog behaviorist is and what they do, let's look at how they can help you and your dog. A dog behaviorist can improve your dog's behavior, strengthening the bond between you and your dog. There are several methods that a dog behaviorist may use to break your dog's bad habits. The method that they use largely depends on your dog's behavioral issues and how severe they are. Here are the main tactics that a dog behaviorist will employ to train your dog. ●Many dog trainers will use the alpha dog method to train dogs. Trainers using this method believe that dogs need to be taught that they are not the "Alpha Dog." Such training primarily focuses on the fact that owners have control over the dog and not the other way around. ●The next method that is popular among many dog behaviorists is positive reinforcement. As its name suggests, this method of training encourages positive behavior. A dog behaviorist will typically offer dogs a reward such as a treat or praise if they obey a command. ●Finally, some behaviorists will do a consultation, gathering information about your dog to develop a unique strategy that will eliminate their behavioral issues. This method of training is not a one size fits all, and uses a variety of training methods. Now that you know how a dog behaviorist can help improve a dog’s behavior, give us a call to discuss your situation and see if what we offer is the right solution for you. Whether your dog has a smaller problem such as barking or a more serious problem like biting, dog behaviorists will be able to help both you and your dog. Give the professional dog trainers at Ancillary K9 a call today at (720) 239-2424 and take the first step to a better-behaved pet! |
