Canine Behavior Training

1. Behavior Training
Canine behavior training involves teaching life skills, such as preventing aggression problems, and how to properly interact with others and the environment without undue stress. At some point in time all of us dog owners need to administer some dog behavior training. This is sometimes called "behavior modificaton" and it basically means solving your dog's behavior problems. .6 hour program - Price - $800.00

From SM on 7/20/2010: Jamie, of Seize the Leash, has been assisting me with socializing my greyhounds to other breeds. They (and I) are doing so much better since we’ve been working with her. I have also attended Jamie’s dog behavioral classes [NOTE: as the photographer - not a student - and seen incredible improvements from a number of fear-aggressive dogs. I would recommend her to anyone.

2. Busy Bee Training

This is an intensive and highly customized training plan to relieve your frustration with your dog's behavior and restore the balance to your relationship - while you are at work, school or the spa, going on vacation, going out of town for business or just don't have the time to train your dog. I will go to your home and teach your dog self control, impulse control, not to bark, lunge at guests, dig or use the house for elimination purposes. This is a four week program with a private lesson either at the end of each week or at the end of the program so we can teach you the skills your dog has learned and how you can maintain them. Price $900 Sign up here

3. AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program
Puppies can be mischievous, defiant and destructive. They need positive parenting and guidance. They need to be secure in their new family and know the humans are capable of dealing with life and the environment. If they do not feel/see this they will not be happy and secure and my develop phobias, obsessions or other behavior issues. This program is designed to help you fit your new puppy into your existing home without hassles. The program takes approximately 6 hours spread over 3 weeks $600.

We also have a semi-private puppy basics class and socialization play date held every Tuesday morning at 9am and Thursday evening at 6pm at our facility. This class is on a drop in basis where every week something new is learned.

4. Canine Life and Social Skills Program

C.L.A.S.S. is an educational program designed to promote training focusing on the use of positive reinforcement and to strengthen relationships between humans and their canine companions. The mission of C.L.A.S.S. is to promote positive relationships through positive training methods. This approach both develops and safeguards harmonious relationships by maintaining trust and mutual respect.

Developed by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), the C.L.A.S.S. program is designed to benefit pet owners and their canine companions, dog trainers and others who work with dogs, animal shelters, and the community overall. In a series of real-life activities through which an owner accompanies his dog, C.L.A.S.S. Evaluators will assess a dog/owner team’s core training skills, with options to test advanced training skills. There are three C.L.A.S.S. levels: the Bachelor’s (B.A.), Master’s (M.A.), and Doctorate (Ph.D.). Successfully completing each C.L.A.S.S. level is like earning an academic degree in real-life skills with your dog.

6. Group Behavior Training
Assisting dog owners and care takers in how to communicate with the dogs in their care, how to prevent or cure inappropriate behavior, proper socialization and hands on solutions for the reactive dog.This group course is for dogs that are uncomfortable or unable to be around other dogs - dogs that are easily distracted and have difficulty concentrating - dogs that are reactive or easily aroused - dogs that are anxious or stressed and shut down -dogs that are unable to control their impulses when excited. Price $200.00 for 6 weeks

From TS on 7/17/2010: I thank you for the hands on approach and training me to teach my dog and saving her from the fate of so many pits in Tucson. Danke Schon - Thank you :)

Fill out our Training Services form and get started today!!

Reactive Dog Rehabilitation covers:

Building a Relationship With Your Dog - Behavior Basics
This class will cover improving your dog's ability to focus on you and respond to your commands in a class situation or with other distractions, including being around other dogs. We will engage your dog's natural curiosity, show you have to handle any fear of new objects, people or other dogs and make it safe for your dog to interact with the world around it.

Canine Communication, Energy and Emotion
This class will cover the basics of how to communicate with your dog andhow to get your dog to communicate with you. This class will give you the tools to change your dogs emotions and build his/her confidence in herself and in you. We will introduce play training, a method of teaching your dog everything it needs to know to live in a human world. This class will also cover leash handling techniques, what to do on a walk in response to all those things that can happen and what to do to reduce any adverse reaction for a carefree enjoyable walk. This will also be the basics class for adolescent dogs with little to no issues.

Training For Life
This class defines what a dog is, why a dog does what it does, what is natural for a dog and what isn't. It will cover all those issues that occur at home (barking, biting, chewing, potty problems, crate training and more). We will show you how to set boundaries, enforce the rules without being an ogre or having to learn 100 commands. This class will give you the tools needed to handle any issues that come up in the future. A great class for puppies learning their basics.

Creating a Thinking Dog
Sometimes doing the right thing is a little scary at first. Doing the right thing is a reward in itself. Being together still and calm with people or other dogs teaches cohesiveness and about being a small part of something big. Many dog behavior problems are associated with excessive emotional responses by the dog to things in the environment. Dogs are born preprogrammed to exist in a dog world. This class teach a dog how to think, emote and react appropriately in the human world.

Life Without A Leash
Training your dog to walk and act responsibly off-leash is one of the best things you can do for your relationship with your dog. More than a trick to impress your friends and neighbours, off-leash training makes your dog a better citizen, lowers the risk of your dog getting hit by a car and builds your dog’s self-esteem. In this class in addition to learning to live without a leash, you and your dog are shown how to handle a dog's prey drive and how to be comfortable around other species, even when they run.

7. Out of Control! Surviving Adolescence & Implementing Leadership -
Problems occur because exuberant young dogs are unable to use up their abundant energy; in the past, juvenile dogs were just too busy surviving to cause trouble. The dog you want does not just happen all by itself. You must build the dog of your dreams, slowly, carefully, with knowledge of dog behavior and training techniques, intelligent planning and an inexhaustible sense of humor.

A well-behaved dog is the result of what kind of owner you ARE, rather than what you DO. You should take this class if any of these words fit your dog: barky, bossy, crazy, destructive, thief, manipulative, fearful, shy, fussy eater, no self-control, mounting, selective hearing, to name just a few issues of the adolescent dog.

With the use of reinforcement and timeouts we teach you and your dog self-control for every part of the dog's life.. To learn, the dog must be able to think and to think requires self-control. What is the opposite of self-control? OUT-OF-CONTROL!!! Being out-of-control is what sends most dogs to the pound. Obedience training by itself does not teach self-control. We start with the absolute basics. We use what the dog wants and show him how to get it in appropriate ways.

You and your dog will learn canine social etiquette, how dogs use body language to avoid conflict and resolve disputes and how to dentify calming signals and signs of stress and arousal in both yoor dog and yourself..

* Human and Canine Attitudes
* 13 practical exercises designed to build leadership
* Reviewing basic obedience commands to reinforce good behavior
* How to praise and correct appropriately
* Laws of Nature from a Dog's Point of View
* Mother knows best

8. Life Without A Leash -
Pre-requisite: the Seize the Leash Group Behavior Training or any Reactive Dog Class, Scaredy Dog Class, Growl Class or Control Unleashed Class done elsewhere.

Be prepared to put basic skills learned in any reactive dog class to the test in the real world. This innovative class meets at various locations including parks, public shopping areas, hiking trails and more. Everyone will learn how to transfer the skills they’ve learned in class to real world situations and increase their dog’s reliability when faced with major distractions. Be prepared to take a field trip every week to various places like Lowe's, St Philips Plaza, Pet Smart, a local dog park, etc. Sign up here Classes are 1 hour. $200 for six-week series or $150 for a four week series- maximum 4 dogs.

* Your dog will learn to be aware of your location and follow you when you move
* Your dog will learn the rules of the road - stop, wait, cross, down.
* Understanding your dog, his prey and chase drives, and other dangerous behaviors
* Training focus and engagement
* Building trust and respect in your relationship with your dog

9. Rally Obedience Basics

Rally-O is a sport in which the dog and handler complete a course that includes 10 to 20 stations where the dog and the human perform a behavior or activity. Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the behavior that is to be performed. Signs are numbered to indicate the course the handler and dog take during the performance.

Originally devised by Charles L. "Bud" Kramer, Rally Obedience is a form of dog obedience with a twist - a total focus on fun and excitement for the dog, handler and spectator.

There is a lot of variety with each rally course. And Rally is different than Obedience in that handlers may talk to their dogs, praise them, and give them needed verbal commands.

Handlers can even use hand signals, point and in Novice and Advanced, clap and snap their fingers at anytime and as often as the handler needs. And it's not only allowed, but encouraged - making it a really fun sport!

If you have never seen RallyO, here is a video showing a beginning to intermediate course. Base price of this class is $150.00. We will have discounts for Behavior Class and Advanced Behavior Class Graduates or those who demonstrate competence in basic obedience (sit, down, heel, stay, come).

Call us at 727-686-4246 or 520-751-7772 or email us at packleader@seizetheleash.com for more information.

You can also fill out our training services agreement here.

View pictures from the Feb 6, 2010 group sessions here
View pictures from the April 10, 2010 group sessions here

10. Body postures, communication signals and social behaviors

Like humans, dogs can communicate with almost every part of their body, from their faces to their tails to their eyes. Dogs closely observe posture, tail position, movement, facial expressions, eye contact and smell. Many problems occur because of communication problems between humans and dogs.This is a 3 week, 6 hour course covering all aspects of dog to dog and dog to human communication. Live demo dogs will be used for a better understanding of the communication process as well as a DVD about canine body language to take home and study.