What is Behavior Consulting & Behavior Modification?
Our customized private behavior consulting and modification programs help restore peace in your household. If you're living with an aggressive, reactive, or fearful dog, our specialized low-stress training setups can accelerate learning and boost confidence for both dogs and owners. We provide effective training exercises and direct trainer support to guide owner/dog teams throughout their training journey.
Unlike basic “obedience” training, our behavior modification programs address the root causes of behavioral concerns and target undesirable behaviors that are already present. We prioritize understanding the underlying issues, avoiding temporary solutions or punishment. Our focus is on identifying and resolving the source of the undesirable behavior. Learn more about the distinction between dog training and dog behavior consulting here.
You will work directly with Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, and canine behavior researcher, Lauren Tsao, MS, CDBC, CPDT-KA. Lauren brings 6+ years of formal college education in applied animal behavior, animal welfare, and psychology, coupled with 15+ years of hands-on training experience with various animal species. Her ability to identify behavior patterns and analyze animal body movement provides invaluable insights for addressing complex cases beyond behavioral management. As a trailblazer in the field, Lauren was the first graduate of Virginia Tech's Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare program, and the first certified as a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed in the state of Mississippi.
Our intensive animal behavior services are tailored for animals facing advanced behavioral concerns. Due to limited availability, we only accept a restricted number of private students each year. Consequently, the structure and pricing of our private programs are customized accordingly. For basic manners training, we recommend enrolling in one of our virtual classes or workshops as an alternative.
Step 1. Behavior Guidance Call
Step 1. Intial Guidance Call: $200
Step 2. Private program (optional): $600-$1200
All private students begin with a comprehensive Behavior Guidance phone call, lasting 60 to 120 minutes, priced at $200. During this call, our Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Lauren Tsao will gather detailed information about your dog's history and your experiences with them. She will address any inquiries you have regarding dog behavior, potential training, and even conduct a virtual gait analysis if you provide necessary videos.
The behavior guidance calls include:
A comprehensive assessment of your dog's current training, overall welfare, and behaviors.
An in-depth report accompanied by a behavior modification plan in PDF format. This document encompasses the behavior consultant’s findings and evidence-based recommendations. Additionally, if necessary, a detailed vet report can be included.
Your personalized plan includes training videos, valuable resources, and carefully selected product recommendations to facilitate your dog's progress.
For a thorough approach, a complimentary gait analysis can be conducted to determine if discomfort or pain is contributing to the behavior patterns. Please provide necessary videos prior to the call to redeem.
An optional review of any behavior patterns exhibited in the videos you provide can be conducted as well.
In circumstances where behavioral euthanasia is being considered, a detailed vet report can be prepared. This report provides invaluable assistance to your veterinarian in making an informed decision about your case.
Following the guidance call, you will receive a tailored quote for a suitable 1-on-1 behavior modification program should further assistance be required. The cost and duration of these programs vary due to their personalized nature. Typically, private behavior modification programs pertaining to aggression, barking/lunging on leash, or fearfulness fall in the price range of $600 to $1200, dependent on your dog's unique needs and history.
For your convenience, you have the option to choose in-person sessions at our Braxton, MS farm, virtual sessions, or a hybrid approach combining both. Once you have successfully completed the recommended program, you have the freedom to book additional private sessions, which are offered on an hourly basis, to ensure sustained progress and reinforcement.
Step 2. Your 1-on-1 Behavior Modification Program Includes:
The latest information straight from someone with a Master’s in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare who is currently doing research in the dog behavior field and has personally lived with and trained many challenging dogs herself - not just someone who loves dogs as their only qualification!
A behavior consultant helping you complete your personalized plan PDF customized to your situation and personal concerns about your dog’s behavior that was received during your Initial Guidance call.
Access to nine webinars on dog behavior and training sent to you as soon as you enroll for your program, as well as follow-up videos and resources to help you succeed at home. If you are unfamiliar with dog behavior, this will catch you up on everything you are missing! Topics range from how human anxiety impacts dogs, to dog bite law, to puppy biting.
Your very own clicker and treats provided during your in-person sessions (if meeting in-person and dog has no food restrictions.)
Private access to our private11-acre farm designed to be a low-stress environment for dogs with complex issues and our various training equipment. During your sessions, you and your dog are the only students on the property. So, when we mean private, we mean private!
Access to student discounts in our on-site store, as well as ability to order items with your discount and have them shipped to you! You also get ability to purchase our different monthly enrichment bundles, which are steeply discounted bundles of dog enrichment products put together by your dog behavior consultant.
Access to our FY student-only enrichment days at the Braxton, MS farm, as well as first dibs on sign ups for our Canine Escape Rooms (students also get a discounted rate for escape rooms!)
Email and text support and training video reviews between sessions during your program until program expiration. We mean it - you aren’t bothering us by sending us videos of your cute dog or emailing us to talk about them! If you are stuck, contact Lauren and get quick help from a professional familiar with your situation. Don’t just stay stuck until your next session.
How Do I Know This Is The Help Me and My Dog Need?
Our private behavior modification programs are for exhausted dog owners who have tried everything.
Maybe you have already used dog trainers, gone to classes, or watched TV shows and read books on dog training. We provide a different service. One focused on setting your dog up to succeed using our years of formal education in applied animal behavior and welfare, hands-on experience, and living with dogs like these ourselves on a daily basis. We understand this isn’t something you can truly resolve with basic obedience training alone.
If you feel extreme dread when you take your dog outside, avoid having guests over, and dog ownership went from your dream to your worst nightmare, our programs are made exactly for you.
If you have been kicked out of your group class for your dog’s behavior or told your dog can’t be helped, you are unfortunately just like many of our students.
But, naughty dogs are exactly our type. No matter how “bad” your dog maybe, we seek to understand the root cause and provide you and your dog with the active support system needed to succeed - free of judgement and pressure.
We have been there ourselves before we learned another way - an effective and humane way. We are with you every step of the way to hear your rants about setbacks, troubleshoot any hiccups, and help you and your dog gain your quality of life back - while actually having some fun at the same time. Consider us your dog training family that you never knew you needed!
Topics for Behavior Guidance Calls & Modification Sessions:
These are just a few topics we can cover during your behavior consulting/behavior modification programs with us:
Aggression: fear-based aggression, resource guarding, human-directed aggression, dog-directed aggression, animal-directed aggression, biting/growling.
Reactivity On and Off Leash: fear or excitement based reactivity, barking and lunging at people/animals, barking and lunging only on leash, barrier frustration at windows/doors/gates.
Manners/Management Related to Behavioral Concerns: addressing counter surfing, excessive chewing, jumping on guests, door dashing, and more.
Cooperative Care: cooperative nail trims, grooming, calmness around grooming equipment, and more.
Hyperactivity: hyperactive in the home, unable to settle down/rest, inattentive during training, pacing/”busy body”.
Separation Distress/Anxiety: barking when left alone, destroying items/walls/doors when left alone, stress-related behaviors when alone.
Phobias and Fearfulness: sound-related fears, scared/nervous around new items or environments, and other behaviors that might be interfering with your dog’s quality of life.
Behavioral Euthanasia and Rehoming: discussion about the realities of training, rehoming, and/or behavioral euthanasia for your specific case.
Multi-Species: Available for virtual sessions for other species including cats, birds, livestock, equines, and some exotics.