This is a focused class for dogs who struggle to go on walks due to their reaction towards other dogs or humans. This intense course is for serious handlers who are committed to changing their dog’s reactions to triggers around them. If your dog barks/lunges and loses their mind around other dogs or people while on a leash, this class was designed to help you. We are going to dive deep into behavior modification and practice in real-life scenarios. Pre-reqs for this class are having worked with Heather in a behavior consultation, having taken a class with one of our instructors, or having a pre-screened 15-minute phone consultation.

This class is limited to 6 people. Each person must bring a secondary handler with them. The first class is done via Zoom (90 minutes), and the remaining 4 classes (one hour) are in person at emBARK. Upon class completion, you will have access to a group who will meet to work on these skills out in the real world. There are no refunds and no make-up classes available for this class. Be sure you are committed prior to signing up. You will also need to purchase a properly fitted body harness for this class.

As with all of our classes at emBARK, this class aligns with behavior change protocols of the veterinary behavior models accepted by all major veterinary medical organizations for behavior. This means that we will not be using any kind of aversive collars (prong/e-collars/choke chains), as research tells us that this simply suppresses behavior in the learner rather than changing internal emotions around the triggers that set your dog off. Using these types of training collars is not recommended in the veterinary behavior literature to change these behaviors. We will be using positive reinforcement procedures of classic and operant conditioning, desensitization, differential reinforcers, and redirection cues.