Animal Behavior Services

Directly observing an animal’s behavior in its environment, understanding ethology of the species, functional behavior assessment, analysis of behavior problems, quantifiable methodologies and psychopharmacology will provide your pet with an individualized Behavior Treatment Plan developed to address your pets behavior concerns. My goal is to provide positive treatment interventions improving the human animal bond between you and your pet.

I will systematically apply interventions and techniques based upon science based learning theories to improve socially significant behaviors and decrease inappropriate behaviors in your pet. By assessing the relationship of the function of the behavior and the environment, a more appropriate behavior can replace your pets aberrant behaviors.

I work closely with veterinarians to improve the behavioral health and wellness of animals. I will consult directly with your veterinarian to maintain a clinical approach to your pets improved behavior. Along with your vet, we will work as a team to provide psychopharmacology, if warranted, paired with behavior modification to help your pet achieve a healthy and appropriate baseline of behavior. I will provide your veterinarian with a Behavior Treatment Plan developed specifically for your pet.

I am available to serve as an expert witness in legal cases involving animals.

My approach to teaching you, your family and your pet will be a science-based approach. The techniques and interventions implemented are researched and highly effective, providing measurable results. Good instruction techniques will increase learning for you and your pet. Techniques such as classical conditioning, operant conditioning and behavior modification that focus on positive reinforcement, result in positive results.

This is a work in progress that is dear to my heart. My master’s thesis, Therapy Dogs and Academic Improvement, showed statistically significant results that therapy dogs can play a role in academic improvement. I have many hours of research and references that empirically substantiate therapy dogs and animals as an effective tool for students, patients of all types, elderly persons and veterans with PTSD. My goal is to train and license a team of therapy dogs that can be utilized in a variety of venues (e.g., schools, hospitals, nursing homes, veterans and libraries). I would love to have a location where students of all ages can visit, spending time with a therapy animal, encouraging learning, socialization, conversation and healing through the human-animal bond process. Additionally, providing hippotherapy services and therapy animals for people of all ages and special needs. I have personally been a therapy dog handler and team leader for many years and experienced miraculous transformation of patients and students when presented with a therapy animal intervention. I have worked with veterans with PTSD and seen the power of a companion animal, encouraging a transition to a more normal life.

Teaching verbal commands and cues will signal your pet to respond in a certain way or complete a task (e.g., heel, sit, lay, stay). Obedience training is helpful in behavior modification but it will not solve behavior problems. I provide basic obedience training and these basics are often used in your pets individual Behavior Treatment Plans.

Ethology is the study of the natural behavior of the species of animal. By understanding the ethology of the species and breed of the animal, realistic goals and expectations are clearly defined.