Behavior Modification

At Covenant Keepers K9, we don’t just help you and your dog through their fear, anxiety, and stress. We help teach you how to understand your K9’s emotions and body language, and work through your dog’s big emotions together. Our behavior modification programs are designed to address the root causes of your dog's behavioral issues. We focus on building trust and promoting positive behaviors, ensuring that both you and your dog feel supported throughout the process.

**Understanding Your Dog’s Big Emotions** We believe that understanding what your dog is feeling is the first step in helping them overcome their challenges. Our expert trainers will guide you in reading your dog’s body language—interpreting signals such as ear position, tail movement, posture, and facial expressions. By learning to understand these cues, you can respond more effectively to your dog’s needs, creating a stronger bond and a more harmonious relationship.

**Comprehensive Training Techniques** Our behavior modification programs include a variety of proven techniques, tailored to your dog’s specific needs. Whether your dog struggles with fear of loud noises, separation anxiety, or other stress-related behaviors, we provide customized solutions to help them feel more secure and confident.

**Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning** We employ desensitization and counter-conditioning methods to help your dog gradually become more comfortable with their triggers. By exposing your dog to their triggers in a controlled and positive manner, we help them build resilience and reduce their anxiety over time.

**Empowering Owners** At Covenant Keepers K9, we believe that successful behavior modification involves empowering you, the owner, with the knowledge and skills needed to support your dog. Our trainers will work closely with you, providing step-by-step guidance and practical tips for reinforcing positive behaviors at home. With our community social club we offer support for the human side of owning and training a reactive dog. We know and understand the challenges of owning a reactive dog. It can feel lonely, you can feel forced to stay away from others. We are to help you understand there are others who feel the same way and want to build a support system for you!

**Celebrating Progress** Behavior modification is not just about correcting undesirable behaviors; it’s also about celebrating progress and small victories. Every step forward, no matter how small, is a testament to your dog’s resilience and your commitment to their well-being. Join us at Covenant Keepers K9 and let’s work together to help your dog overcome their fears, manage their stress, and live a joyful, balanced life.

behavior mod

The techniques most commonly used in our behavior modification include classical conditioning, desensitization, counterconditioning, response substitution, and shaping. WE NEVER USE PUNISHMENT! While it is claimed that punishment is frequently used with varying degrees of success, few people use punishment correctly. "Dominance" training techniques that encourage owners to assert leadership through physical confrontations are also not used or recommended. Multiple studies have shown that training based on punishments or confrontations are more likely to lead to fear, avoidance, and increased aggression. Dogs trained with rewards have fewer behavioral problems and are less fearful.

We address emotions not just suppress them!

Behavior Modification Techniques

Most of the techniques involved in behavior modification are not hard to learn and can be successfully used as preventive techniques. They do require regular investment of time and effort, however. The following is a short review of the basic principles involved in these techniques.

Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning refers to a learning process where learning occurs by association. You condition your dog’s innate reflexes to react to subtle signals. Over time, your dog learns to associate the signal with the event. Mastering the concept of classical conditioning will help you understand how your dog understands, relates to and interprets information.

This form of learning is also known as Pavlovian or associative learning. Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist who discovered that dogs automatically salivated when presented with food. He trained his dogs to associated the ringing of a bell with the presentation of food, and eventually was able to make the dogs salivate with only the ringing of a bell.

Counter Conditioning

Counter means to change. Conditioning refers to the word train. As you guessed it, counter conditioning means to change your dog’s negative feeling or behavior toward something. This is done by training your dog to react differently (i.e. positively) when he sees, smells, hears or feels something that makes him uncomfortable.

When referring to a negative feeling, this is the feeling that comes as second nature to your dog. It’s instinctive and it’s something your dog can’t control when seeing an object, person or animal that makes him uncomfortable.

Counter conditioning is used in dog training to correct a negative reaction, such as barking at another dog, being destructive, fear growling and yelping, to a desired behavior (e.g. not barking at a dog, staying calm and sitting patiently).

Desensitization

Desensitization means very gradually exposing your dog to the thing that triggers their discomfort. The process usually involves counter-conditioning — the pairing of positive reinforcement with the trigger stimulus. The idea is to eliminate the unwanted behavior by creating a new, positive association around the trigger.

Reactive Dog Group Classes

Our reactive dog group classes are designed to help your dog build confidence and improve behavior around other people and dogs. Each session is 1 hour long and is offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Class Structure:
Duration: 1 hour per session -
Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday evenings
Group Size: A Small group of only 4 to ensure personalized attention. Semi Privates are 2 dogs only.

Techniques Used:
Positive Reinforcement: Reward-based methods to encourage desirable behaviors. -
Desensitization: Gradual exposure to triggers in a controlled environment. -
Counter-Conditioning: Changing your dog's emotional response to stimuli. -
Obedience Training: Teaching basic commands and improving focus.
Parkour: Teaching your dog to work through their FAS in a controlled situation.
Pattern Games: Focus and engagement games!

Goals:
Confidence Building: Helping your dog feel more secure and less reactive around other dogs and people.
Socialization: Encouraging positive interactions in a safe, controlled setting. -
Behavior Management: Providing tools and strategies for owners to manage and reduce reactivity. - Owner Education: Teaching you how to understand and effectively respond to your dog's behavior. There are online courses, Library, resources and a community chat forum.

Requirements:
Initial Assessment: A pre-class evaluation to understand your dog’s specific needs. Our initial behavior consult is $150.
Membership: All behavior modification clients will be required to enroll in a minimum 5 month membership.
Understanding Your Dog's Big Emotions: All owners will be required to complete our online course before beginning in person classes.
Vaccinations: Up-to-date vaccination records required.
Equipment: A well-fitted harness and a standard leash (no retractable leashes), Clicker, Treats and Treat Pouch.

Join us to help your dog become more confident and better behaved in social situations. Our experienced trainers are here to support you and your dog every step of the way.

Reactive Dog Training: Board & Train Program

Our Reactive Dog Training Board & Train program is designed to help your dog build confidence and improve behavior around other people and dogs. This immersive training experience allows your dog to receive consistent, professional training while staying with us.

Program Structure:
Duration: 30 day minimum, depending on your dog’s needs a longer stay may be needed.
Daily Routine: Structured training sessions, socialization exercises, and supervised playtime. - Living Arrangements: Comfortable, safe accommodations for your dog.

Techniques Used:
Positive Reinforcement: Reward-based methods to encourage desirable behaviors. -
Desensitization: Gradual exposure to triggers in a controlled environment. -
Counter-Conditioning: Changing your dog's emotional response to stimuli. -
Obedience Training: Teaching basic commands and improving focus.
Parkour: Teaching your dog to work through their FAS in a controlled situation.
Pattern Games: Focus and engagement games!

Goals:
Confidence Building: Helping your dog feel more secure and less reactive around other dogs and people. -
Socialization: Encouraging positive interactions in a safe, controlled setting. -
Behavior Management: Providing tools and strategies for long-term success. -
Owner Education: Teaching you how to maintain and build upon the progress made during training. There are online courses, Library, resources and a community chat forum.

Requirements:
Initial Assessment: A pre-program evaluation to understand your dog’s specific needs. The initial behavior consultation is $150
Vaccinations: Up-to-date vaccination records required.
Membership: All local behavior modification clients receive their 1st month membership included with the program and will be required to enroll in a minimum 2-month membership to work on further training.
Understanding Your Dog's Big Emotions: All owners will be required to complete our online course before your dog's stay.
Post-Training Lessons & Support: Follow-up sessions to ensure a smooth transition and continued success at home. All local behavior modification clients receive their 1st month membership included with the program.

Join us to help your dog become more confident and better behaved in social situations. Our experienced trainers will provide personalized care and professional training to support your dog's growth every step of the way!