My Behavior Modification Training Process
Vivian Zottola, MSc, CBCC | 617.721.8025
Helping you and your pet companion every step of the way
As an anthrozoologist and canine behavior consultant with experience in applied behavior analysis and animal training I offer a different approach that includes taking into consideration various perspective and disciplines. Below, is the step by step process that you can expect working with me.
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Step 1: INTAKE (online information gathering)
Service Agreement: after a service agreement is completed, a Kickoff training date scheduled and a deposit made, a personalized proprietary workbook is generated and you are provided access. My proprietary Intake & Behavior Progress Data Tracking (IBPD) Worksheet is sent to you to complete online.
Complete Electronic Intake: A personalized proprietary workbook including the intake form is generated and sent to you to complete. The workbook also functions as a data tracking system. Once you complete the Intake form included, it will guide our discussion.
Zoom Kickoff: We meet online to kick off the training and take a deep dive discussing the intake /your dog/your learning history, training, management experience as well as plot out the time line of all events from your dogs birth until the day you called me for help. The online Intake is 2 hours. Our first meeting is online and the objective is to collect baseline behaviors so to begin shaping a training plan. I walk you through my ANZO Behavior Modification Training planning framework. While we work through this exercise, 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 as we move through our training engagement and preparing you in the event of a future behavior challenge. Helping you build knowledge, skill sets and confidence to manage your dog family member humanely. A high level (fluid) behavior training plan begins to develop on this call as behavior baseline is documented and is later further teased out at our first in home lesson.
Complete Electronic Intake: A personalized proprietary workbook including the intake form is generated and sent to you to complete. The workbook also functions as a data tracking system. Once you complete the Intake form included, it will guide our discussion.
Zoom Kickoff: We meet online to kick off the training and take a deep dive discussing the intake /your dog/your learning history, training, management experience as well as plot out the time line of all events from your dogs birth until the day you called me for help. The online Intake is 2 hours. Our first meeting is online and the objective is to collect baseline behaviors so to begin shaping a training plan. I walk you through my ANZO Behavior Modification Training planning framework. While we work through this exercise, 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 as we move through our training engagement and preparing you in the event of a future behavior challenge. Helping you build knowledge, skill sets and confidence to manage your dog family member humanely. A high level (fluid) behavior training plan begins to develop on this call as behavior baseline is documented and is later further teased out at our first in home lesson.
- Work Book Demo: My workbook is used to collaborate with you. If you like, we can share the workbook and our progress and notes with other professionals including your veterinarian, vet tech. It is also a tool to communicate, to journal, generates reports and helps us track behavior change as we progress. Successful engagements are generally those that utilize the workbook, communicating and collaborate on track behaviors. That said, you may use as much or as little of the workbook as you feel comfortable.
- Course Materials: The course materials is shared with you and I'll provide a short review of your first assignment homework (may be viewing presentations and simple training skills to practice).
- 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: We schedule in home appointments and catch up calls. There are four (4) in-home lesson appointments and four (4) catch up zoom calls included in the program. The are not transferrable. The first appointment in home appointment is a continuation of my baseline behavior evaluation along with training skills. It lasts two hours. The remaining three sessions are each sixty (60) 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: we kick off our engagement with the zoom intake and at that time I am also your "on demand coach". If you have an urgent or timely matter or question you can call or text from the hours of 8am-8pm Monday through Saturday. I'm off on Sundays. I encourage all my clients to reach out for help on anything. Call, text, email anytime during the hours and days listed.
Step 2: First In Home (in person assessment)
The evaluation continues in home/in person with the 3 month program.
You can expect to meet for 2 (two) hours. This in home meeting requires my close observation of your relationship with all family members and dogs responses and degree of resiliency.
Determinations: We review home management and safety. We work on real time training skills together and I observe all presenting behaviors providing you with my assessment of your dogs behaviors and ability to learn.
30 Days or Right Away: There are a few options people take including A) 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, B) proactively meeting with the family veterinarian right away for their assessment to include behavior medication in conjunction with new behavior training and reward based management skills.
NOTE A WORD ABOUT MEDICATION:
You can expect to meet for 2 (two) hours. This in home meeting requires my close observation of your relationship with all family members and dogs responses and degree of resiliency.
Determinations: We review home management and safety. We work on real time training skills together and I observe all presenting behaviors providing you with my assessment of your dogs behaviors and ability to learn.
30 Days or Right Away: There are a few options people take including A) 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, B) proactively meeting with the family veterinarian right away for their assessment to include behavior medication in conjunction with new behavior training and reward based management 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)
As we begin to become clear with our communication patterns, dog (and human) behaviors will begin to tease out early on in our Click Therapy engagement showing promise. There will be other more deeply rooted behaviors which are a bit more "sticky" that will take more time. Deep seated emotionally charged behaviors associated with fear, anxiety (phobias) take more time to shift and may require behavior medicine.
- 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 & MONITOR (ongoing)
Protecting the integrity of what you (and your dog) learn is integral. It requires close management of your and your dogs triggers. It requires we "check in" and take note when things go sideways.
We can only do so much to protect all of the hard work and improvements. A few suggestions to support your continued success include
Keep in mind reactive (and aggressive) dogs are most often behaving from a fear response (fight, flight, freeze, fawn/fidget) a perceived threat that's been conditioned over time. Certainly there is some dysregulation - some need that is unmet and we can do the best we can to try to resolve the problem or reduce frustration. Living with a reactive dog is not easy (I personally do know this). Most important 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). This is why you'll hear or read it take 90-120 days for new behaviors to form to unconscious habit. By practicing skills and management techniques over and over and over again, we strengthen the new improved behaviors (neuro pathways). Generally it takes approximately 90-120 days for behaviors to become subconscious however - everyone learns at different pace. Keeping the behaviors strong requires us to use our skills all of the time - as if skills were a way to communicate similar to using ASL with deaf humans. Protecting what you and your dog learn will support long term success.
We can only do so much to protect all of the hard work and improvements. A few suggestions to support your continued success include
- 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.
Keep in mind reactive (and aggressive) dogs are most often behaving from a fear response (fight, flight, freeze, fawn/fidget) a perceived threat that's been conditioned over time. Certainly there is some dysregulation - some need that is unmet and we can do the best we can to try to resolve the problem or reduce frustration. Living with a reactive dog is not easy (I personally do know this). Most important 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.
The Behavior Data Tracking Workbook
- 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.
