Dealing with Beh Specialist...what to expect?

[gumby74]

We are having a local behavioral specialist come to help us deal with one of our American Eskimos. He is 6 and as time as gone on he has become more and more nervous around strangers as well as bark like he is going to kill them and has nipped "at" a couple of people who showed up unannounced. One of them is the mailman who also carries an obnoxious stick with him. Anyway, I completely agree that it is us who need to be trained and am eager to see what she has to offer in regards to advice, but a little nervous about what she is going to do. In her e-mail she sent she said that we are to take away his food until we meet with her next week and only hand feed him. This suggestion lead me to wonder what else is to follow. How do I know if her advice is the "right" advice to follow? I'm really worried that something is going to be done that make his behavior worse. I love this dog with every inch of my being and want it to work out. If it doesn't....i'm afraid we are headed for a path that I don't even want to begin thinking about.

Also, does it make sense that because I am pg, he could be getting more territorial? Any other thoughts?

[greenmagick]

Can you get references from her...talk to previous clients of hers?

I do think your dog could pick up on your hormonal changes...but still needs to learn what is appropriate. Hand feeding is very useful for many things

[Nicole915]

You can start with asking for her credentials. Where did she go to school? What vets in the area is she closely affiliated with (then CHECK with them about her)? What behavior theories does she subscribe to?

You can also help her by getting the offending behavior on tape, if at all possible.

[gumby74]

Thanks for the responses. I should probably clarify a couple of things. This specialist is someone who used to run our humane society and is the person that every vet in town has recc. We live in a smaller town and she is the only one I know of so, because of our desperation.....she may be my only choice, but i'm still nervous that in my quest to make things better I am going to make things worse. How many different theories of dog obiedience are out there? Should I expect that if she knows what she is taling about I will see changes right away?

It will be pretty obvious when she comes to the door what Ripley's issues are. I guess in the end all I can do is give it a try. I think my hesitation comes mostly from working with families who would have behavioral specialists come into their home and not know what they were talking about. It was as if they had the title and that was all that mattered. I'm worried that happens with dogs as well.

Sorry about the rambling....

[betsyj]

Well if he has had six years to practice this behavior it won't go away overnight.

I would expect her to use humane methods. If this is fear based aggression then getting harsh corrections will not help your dog learn better behaviors. Hand feeding is a good start-it helps your dog look to you for good stuff. I would also work on a "focus" or "watch me" command in the meantime.


Sometimes helping a dog learn to break off eye contact with whatever he is getting ready to aggress at can head off inappropriate behavior while you work on modifiying his response.