The Training Process
Vivian Zottola, MSc, CBCC | 617.721.8025
Helping you and your pet companion every step of the way
If you're choosing to allow me to help you, the following workflow description is for Stand-alone Plus and the Full Package training programs. That said, if you prefer to work on your own and purchase the Stand-Alone training course, it can be used as a roadmap to move through learning more about your dog
Step 1: INTAKE (online information gathering)
- Registration: after the service agreement is completed and payment made, expect to receive my proprietary Intake & Behavior Progress Data Tracking (IBPD) Worksheet to complete and schedule the Intake.
- Intake: at 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 leaning right away! as I walk you through my ANZO Behavior Modification Training Assessment.
- Training Plan: a high level (fluid) plan begins to develop on this call as behavior baseline is documented and further teased out as I learn more.
- Access to Course: an invitation is sent for the Click Therapy for Dogs Course.
- Plan Appointments: We plan appointments (in home and online support calls) for the duration of our engagement.
- Unlimited Support Starts: the intake is the start of our formal engagement and as such I am your on demand coach. 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
- 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 recommendations of options including 1) implementing new training strategies (communication skills, safety strategies) and revisiting after a 30 day period OR, 2) proactively meeting with the family veterinarian right away to include behavior medication.
- NOTE: Medication determination. While learning skills and providing new management strategies helps to improve behaviors, in some cases when time is a factor or the individual has experienced trauma, antecedent management and improved communication via new mechanical skills (and love) is NOT enough to move the needle for behavior change to occur.
- When I use the term medication please know this is a conversation you will have with your veterinarian. My role is consultative helping guardians to understand their options. It is to educate and not prescribe. Expect to learn about a spectrum of naturally derived therapies including pheromone and aromatherapy along with diet that can help improve and support positive changes. Sometimes these minor changes and continued practice makes a world of difference. For others, anti anxiety medications used responsibly and short term can be life saving. It will be up to the client and their veterinarian (or board certified veterinary behaviorist) to determine what works for the dog and your lifestyle. * According to research, when necessary, the temporary use of medication along with reward based behavior modification training has been shown to help improve a dogs 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 their triggers. It requires we "check in" and take notes when things go sideways. Forming habits as we know it takes time to form as there is a physiological change occurring (building neuro pathways). By practicing over and over and over again, we strengthen our new behaviors (neuro pathways) and this takes approximately 90-120 days. Keeping them requires checking in. Protecting what you and your dog learn supports success. And, we can only do so much to protect all the work. There are 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.
