How do I start letting my dog know I’m in charge instead of him/her?
Four main times you need to send the message that you are in charge:
- When reuniting with the pack.
- When feeding the pack.
- When leading the hunt.
- When deciding to fight or flee during perceived danger.
Why do dogs have separation anxiety?
Many people use the term, Separation anxiety as a catch all to describe a dog’s action given a particular situation. There are really many types of separation anxiety and many causes for separation anxiety. Below are just a few of them to give you an idea of the different types. Since there are many types of separation anxiety, they cannot be treated the same. Often books, TV shows and the internet; give ‘expert advice’ on how to treat separation anxiety, but without identifying the type and cause for the particular case, this is highly irresponsible and rarely affective. This is also why simply placing the dog on a medication, rarely works. The choice of what medication to use, if any, needs to be targeted to the specific type and cause of the dog’s separation anxiety, usually in conjunction with a modification program, to be truly effective. When we have a client whose dog is suffering from this ailment, we conduct a detailed evaluation to determine the type and cause of the separation anxiety, then design a custom plan to reduce and resolve the problem.
Medical separation anxiety occurs when a dog has… Continue reading
What is a Behaviorist? What do they do?
A behaviorist is responsible for evaluating a dog to determine what problems are going on, why they are going on and coming up with a plan to correct the issues. In other words the behaviorist looks into the canine mind to figure out how the dog thinks and lets owners understand why the behavior is occurring and then comes up with a plan to correct it
How do I know if I need a Behaviorist or a Trainer?
When an owner states they are having problems with their dog other then commands it is helpful to have a behaviorist get involved. If your dog is well behaved except that he doesn’t sit or heel then you probably want training. If your dog is jumping, chewing items, is aggressive, or you believe has any mental or obsessive problem then you want a behaviorist. This is usually seen in destructive behavior, any form of aggression, ‘the bad dog syndrome’ and many other terms owners complain about.
How do you determine the cause of the problem?
A behaviorist observes and evaluates the dogs body language and personality as well as interviewing the owners and observing their interaction with their dog in order to… Continue reading
What certifications do you hold?
Yes we are both formally educated and are Board Certified Companion Animal Behavior Counselors, as well as dog trainers.
Daniel Forst
Daniel Forst is certified by ACABC as a Board Certified Companion Animal Behavior Counselor. He also holds a certificate from the American Foundation for Animal Rescue in the area of Dog training and Instructor skills. Daniel has been published in journals and taught classes in applied canine behavior and psychopharmacology for ACAS’s graduate and undergraduate program. He has testified as an expert witness in multiple jurisdictions.
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Shari Forst
Shari Forst is certified by ACABC as a Board Certified Companion Animal Behavior Counselor. She also holds a certificate from the American Foundation for Animal Rescue in the area of Dog training and Instructor skills. Shari has been published and taught classes in applied canine behavior for ACAS’s graduate program. Additionally, she is on staff as a behaviorist for the Warwick Valley Humane Society and has testified as an expert witness in multiple jurisdictions.
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