Aggression Consultations

From $120/hr

Aggression is a broad umbrella term that covers a wide range of behaviours, all of which include but are not limited to some mix of biting or threat displays such as growling, snarling, lunging, defensive displays such as body blocking, withdrawing, and other body-language signals that indicate a bite may be imminent.

You may hear any of a variety phrases attached to these displays, such as reactivity, leash aggression, food aggression, resource guarding, predatory behaviour, territorial aggression or territoriality, dog-aggression or human-aggression (referring to the object of the display), sibling aggression, and more. While these express some of the various motivations for aggression, they are not value judgements, nor do they diminish the quality or character of your dog. Aggression is in fact in the repertoire of all animals, and our job with pets is to take away their motivations to aggress by making them comfortable with the events that they have to experience in their daily lives.

If your dog has bitten or threatened people or other dogs, private instruction is your best course of action.

• You will need the full attention of an instructor
• You will have questions that differ from those of participants in a regular obedience class
• Your dog may not be admitted to a group class

Addressing problems of aggression, threat behaviour and biting includes a three-part approach:

1. Changing your dog’s emotional response to the contexts in which threats or aggression are occurring
2. Providing your dog with a new behaviour in response to the context
3. Suppressing the incumbent behaviour response to the context

When treating problems of aggression, safety must be paramount. You should not put your dog in situations that have proven to elicit aggression, or situations you suspect might elicit aggression, where you are not in control of the outcome and the safety of your dog and any participants. 
 
Your first session of 90 minutes will include a “bite history” interview in which you will be asked to recount events that illustrate the issues with which you seek help, and help the instructor understand the level of obedience skills you’ve already achieved that can be used in the treatment plan. You will be provided with an overview of the treatment plan in broad strokes and the details of the first steps you’ll take.

You’ll also be provided with an online workbook as a shared file with the trainer, in which you’ll document and prioritize the behaviours and exercises, and record your trials and observations, so the trainer can follow along between sessions and make suggestions at each session. The workbook is a user-friendly self-service tool, and an extra fee of $200 applies if you wish to have the trainer build out the checklists and trial plan with you.

Subsequent sessions of 60 minutes will provide you with exercises, next steps, and coaching.

Notes summarizing your assignments and exercises will be provided.

Aggression Consultation Fees:

90-minute initial vist                                                            $175 + HST = $197.75
60-minute session                                                               $130 + HST = $149.90
4-session program*
(1x90 min and 3x60 min paid at first session)                     $500 + HST = $565.00
Optional Desensitization & Counterconditioning
Workbook Setup                                                                  $200 + HST = $226.00

Serving Etobicoke & Burlington
Surcharge per session                                                        $25 + HST = $28.25

Additional Dogs
Additional Dog (same household)
Surcharge per session                                                        $25 + HST = $28.25

Additional Dog (separate household)
Surcharge per session                                                        $50 + HST = $56.50


Remote Consultations (phone or video)
90-minute initial video consultation for aggression              $165 + HST = $186.45
60-minute aggression consultation                                      $120 + HST = $135.60
(phone or video)


Cancellations

(less than one business day's notice)                                 $50 + HST = $56.50

*Four-session programs are prepaid at the first session, and cover for any mix of in-person or online consultations. 
If the first appointment is online, payment is made by email transfer prior to the start of the appointment.

Please note: Pre-payment is non-refundable but may be applied to appointments in the future or transferred to another pet owner.

**All fees are subject to 13% HST as shown above

 

Click here to fill out an aggression consultation Waiver of Liability