My Behavior Modification Training Process
Vivian Zottola, MSc, CBCC | 617.721.8025
Helping you and your pet companion every step of the way
Step 1: INTAKE (online information gathering)
The first step in my educational training program is to gather baseline information about your dog's behavior, which only you can provide through your experiences. It is essential to take the time to complete your intake form, engage in discussions, and share your insights during the intake meeting, which lasts two hours. The information you share, combined with my observations through my experienced perspective, will allow me to create a personalized training plan for you and your dog. Below, you will find the steps you can expect in this program.
- Registration: after the service agreement is completed, the intake date scheduled and a deposit made, expect to receive my proprietary Intake & Behavior Progress Data Tracking (IBPD) Worksheet to complete online.
- Intake Form: you'll receive an electronic workbook with instructions on what to complete on the intake form of the workbook. When we meet for the intake we discuss learning history, training, management experience and plot out the time line of all events your dogs birth until the day you called me for help.
- Baseline Behaviors: YOU start learning right away! We collaborate throughout the process and you are invited to learn how I evaluate and assess behaviors from the start. The goal is educating you to better prepare you in the event of a future behavior challenge. The goal is to help build the knowledge, skill sets and confidence to manage humanely. I walk you through my ANZO Behavior Modification Training framework.
- Building A Training Plan: a high level (fluid) plan begins to develop on this call as behavior baseline is documented which is later further teased out at our first in home lesson.
- Access to Course: an invitation is sent for the Click Therapy for Dogs Course to support your learning and hands on training with me. You have access for life.
- Plan Appointments: We schedule our in home and online appointments (in home lessons and online support calls) for the duration of our engagement. I direct you to some course materials to review prior to meeting for our first in home lesson to follow.
- In Home Lessons: There are four in-home lesson appointments scheduled. The first appointment lasts two hours, while the remaining three sessions are each sixty minutes long. During the first lesson, I observe behaviors, the social dynamics of dog-family relationships, home management, and husbandry. I also assess the dogs' levels of resilience and their stress signals, all while incorporating training skills in real time.
- Unlimited Support Starts: the intake is the start of our formal engagement and as such I am your on demand coach. Call, text, email anytime. Even before meeting, you may contact me any time including after hours for assistance when you need help.
Step 2: EVALUATE: in home assessment
EVALUATE: in home/in person due diligence continues. Not included in Stand-Alone course
NOTE A WORD ABOUT MEDICATION:
While learning skills and providing new management strategies helps to improve behaviors, in some cases when time is a factor, children are at risk, or the dog has experienced trauma, simply incorporating antecedent management and improved communication via new training (mechanical) skills along with lots of love and affection is NOT enough to move the needle for behavior change to occur. The decision will be yours to make. Consulting with a veterinary professional including board certified veterinary behaviorist is recommended.
My role is educational and consultative; I help guardians understand their options and learn techniques based on psychology. While training becomes part of the overall prescription for behavior change, my goal is to educate on medication use and provide my observations. You can expect to learn about a range of naturally derived therapies, including pheromone therapy, aromatherapy, and dietary changes that can help support positive changes in your dog’s behavior. Sometimes, even minor adjustments and consistent practice can make a significant difference.
For some dogs, responsibly using anti-anxiety medications in the short term can be life-saving. Ultimately, it will be up to the client and their veterinarian (or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist) to determine the best approach for the dog and their lifestyle.
Research indicates that, when necessary, the temporary use of medication combined with reward-based behavior modification training can enhance a dog's ability to learn.
- At the first in home appointment expect to meet for 2 (two) hours.
- This meeting requires my close observation of your relationship with all family members and dogs responses and degree of resiliency.
- We work on real time training skills together
- 30 Days or Right Away: I provide you with my assessment of your dogs level of distress and ability to learn. There are a few options people take including 1) implementing new training strategies by using new positive reinforcement skills to communicate and manage expectations along with incorporating safety strategies and natural calming agents (Adaptil pheromone therapy, Aromatherapy, BioFeedback Protocol) then revisiting after a 30 day period OR, 2) proactively meeting with the family veterinarian right away for their assessment to include behavior medication in conjunction with training skills.
NOTE A WORD ABOUT MEDICATION:
While learning skills and providing new management strategies helps to improve behaviors, in some cases when time is a factor, children are at risk, or the dog has experienced trauma, simply incorporating antecedent management and improved communication via new training (mechanical) skills along with lots of love and affection is NOT enough to move the needle for behavior change to occur. The decision will be yours to make. Consulting with a veterinary professional including board certified veterinary behaviorist is recommended.
My role is educational and consultative; I help guardians understand their options and learn techniques based on psychology. While training becomes part of the overall prescription for behavior change, my goal is to educate on medication use and provide my observations. You can expect to learn about a range of naturally derived therapies, including pheromone therapy, aromatherapy, and dietary changes that can help support positive changes in your dog’s behavior. Sometimes, even minor adjustments and consistent practice can make a significant difference.
For some dogs, responsibly using anti-anxiety medications in the short term can be life-saving. Ultimately, it will be up to the client and their veterinarian (or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist) to determine the best approach for the dog and their lifestyle.
Research indicates that, when necessary, the temporary use of medication combined with reward-based behavior modification training can enhance a dog's ability to learn.
3. SKILLS (implement strategies)
Some behaviors will tease out early on in our Click Therapy engagement showing promise and others are a bit more "sticky". Deep seated emotionally charged behaviors associated with fear, anxiety (phobias) take more time to shift.
- We meet for our in home lessons and in between catch up calls over the course of 90 days.
- Therapist/BMOD coach and client meet in between lessons for 30 minute catch up to review questions while client makes changes in their household practicing and reaching out for help when needed.
- Continuous support is provided every step of the way by text, phone, facetime and catch up calls.
- Progress is monitored virtually using my proprietary Behavior Tracking Worksheet.
- Move at their own pace, reviewing online course materials to support your learning when its convenient for you.
- Pre scheduled appointments are conducted at your home so to build on foundation skills and strategies, adding more advanced skills when ready.
- Its the clients responsibility to reach out with questions and when plans are moving sideways instead of forward. Changes are made real time as needed.
4. MANAGE PROGRESS (ongoing)
Protecting the integrity of what you (and your dog) learn in my training program requires close management of your and your dogs triggers. It requires we "check in" and take note when things go sideways.
Forming habits takes time to occur because there is a an actual physiological change that happens (building neuro pathways). By practicing skills and management techniques over and over and over again, we strengthen the new improved behaviors (and their neuro pathways). Generally it takes approximately 90-120 days for behaviors to become subconscious and everyone learns at different rates. Keeping the behaviors strong requires us to use our skills always. Protecting what you and your dog learn will support long term success.
That said we can only do so much to protect all of the hard work and improvements. Some things you can do to support your continued success. Plan walks ahead of time, continue to incorporate safety protocols, use daily all of your new communicative gestures breaking down communication into little pieces when necessary. Of course, be kind, take breaks and deep breaths when we cannot avoid highly charged situations.
Remember your dog is most often behaving from a fear response (fight, flight, freeze, fawn/fidget). Living with a reactive dog is not easy (I know) and they will need you to be their grounding point. It is virtually impossible to avoid highly level stressful situations or unforeseen circumstances.. however we can shift our perspective. This we can control.
Forming habits takes time to occur because there is a an actual physiological change that happens (building neuro pathways). By practicing skills and management techniques over and over and over again, we strengthen the new improved behaviors (and their neuro pathways). Generally it takes approximately 90-120 days for behaviors to become subconscious and everyone learns at different rates. Keeping the behaviors strong requires us to use our skills always. Protecting what you and your dog learn will support long term success.
That said we can only do so much to protect all of the hard work and improvements. Some things you can do to support your continued success. Plan walks ahead of time, continue to incorporate safety protocols, use daily all of your new communicative gestures breaking down communication into little pieces when necessary. Of course, be kind, take breaks and deep breaths when we cannot avoid highly charged situations.
Remember your dog is most often behaving from a fear response (fight, flight, freeze, fawn/fidget). Living with a reactive dog is not easy (I know) and they will need you to be their grounding point. It is virtually impossible to avoid highly level stressful situations or unforeseen circumstances.. however we can shift our perspective. This we can control.
MANAGE & MONITOR (ONGOING)
- Behavior change is tracked using the proprietary Intake & Behavior Modification criteria including intensity of behaviors, frequency of behaviors and ability to recover.
- Continuous tracking and communication between behavior consultant and client using active proprietary IBPD Tracking Worksheet.
- Client continues to incorporate learned (reward centered) skills and strategies checking in as needed.
- Clients are welcome to hire my services in person or by zoom for however long they need
- Support for the life of your dog. I am always open to provide guidance for the life of your dog
Thank you for considering working with me
In the last twenty years, we have gained a greater understanding of dogs - their capacity to learn and comprehend our intentions and their unwavering and unconditional love for us. Dog training is currently an unregulated profession that needs to establish standards. Consequently, inhumane and unethical methods are often employed due to a lack of knowledge. Many claim to be dog trainers, essentially teachers of dogs and their people; however, lack knowledge in the principals of animal behavior, ethology, psychology, anatomy and learning theory. Many overlook we (dogs and humans) are similar emotionally however very different species operating using unique and different sensory perception to translate and understand the world around us and everything in it. Without a solid educational and practical foundation, unqualified trainers (and people claiming to be dog behaviorists) may inadvertently cause more harm than good. Unfortunately, while people mean well, they unknowingly (and some knowingly) intentionally use force, intimidation, and pain to change dog behavior, and doing so only serves to physically and psychologically harm dogs causing distrust in people. They teach you, the dog guardian and caretaker their techniques some of which are emotionally traumatizing. To address these issues I continue to work in this profession and have developed a comprehensive training framework called 'Click Therapy for Dogs.' My teaching approach stems from learning kind and humane strategies backed by scientific principles. My training aims to create a stronger bond between people and dogs, manage expectations, and enhance communication. The educational training programs provide tailored expert guidance, educational materials, and responsive support, allowing you to learn quickly. Choose from the level of assistance you need. If you have any questions, feel free to email or call.
