Is This Service Right for My Dog?

Understanding Behavior Concerns and When to Request a Behavioral Evaluation

What is a behavior issue, and how is it different from obedience training?

Obedience training teaches your dog how to respond to cues like sit, stay, come, and walk nicely on leash. These are important life skills — but they don’t directly address emotional or behavioral challenges.

Behavior concerns involve the way your dog responds to situations, people, or other animals, often in ways that are disruptive, stressful, or potentially unsafe. These are typically driven by fear, anxiety, frustration, or past experiences, and require a different approach.

 

What kinds of issues require a Behavioral Evaluation?

You should request a Behavioral Evaluation if your dog is struggling with:

• Reactivity toward people, dogs, or other animals
• Aggressive behavior such as growling, lunging, snapping, or biting
• Resource guarding (food, toys, objects, people, spaces)
• Separation anxiety or isolation distress
• Fearful or avoidant behavior
• Trouble adjusting to new people or pets in the home
• Conflicts between household pets (dog-dog or dog-cat)
• Handling issues (grooming, vet visits, wearing equipment) beyond mild resistance
• Any other behavior that feels “bigger” than a training issue

 

What if I’m not sure if my dog’s issue is serious enough?

If you're unsure, it's okay to reach out. Many behavior challenges start small and become more difficult over time. If your dog’s behavior is causing stress, frustration, or concern in your home — or if you’ve already tried training and haven’t seen improvement — it’s worth exploring a behavioral approach.

You can also tell us a bit about your dog using our chat widget or via phone call, and we’ll help you decide which service is the best fit.

 

How long will it take to fix my dog’s behavior?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Behavior change takes time, consistency, and a lot of patience. The pace of progress depends on many factors, including the nature of the issue, your dog’s history and temperament, how consistently the plan is followed, and even the environment.

Our goal is to help you understand your dog better, reduce risk and stress, and work toward improvement at your dog’s own pace — not to promise overnight results.

 

What kind of training methods will you use?

All of our behavior plans are grounded in evidence-based methods supported by modern learning theory. That includes techniques like desensitization, counter-conditioning, antecedent arrangement, and positive reinforcement.

We do not use punishment-based tools or strategies, and we never try to suppress behavior through fear or force. Instead, we aim to help your dog feel safer, more confident, and better able to cope with challenging situations.

 

What happens after the evaluation?

Following your in-home session, we’ll create a custom Treatment Plan tailored to your dog’s needs. You’ll receive the plan within about two weeks. Once it’s ready, we’ll schedule a time (by phone, video, or in-person) to go over it together and answer your questions.

We’ll also talk about next steps, including optional coaching sessions to help you put the plan into practice.

 

What if I'm still not sure?

That's okay -- and we have a few options:

• You can visit our Safety & Success Guide to get more detailed information about the behavioral evaluation and behavior modification process.
• You can contact us with a brief description of your concerns and we'll help point you in the right direction:

  • Call: 863-531-3217

  • Email: contact@brooksdogtrainingacademy.com
  • You can also use the chat widget in the bottom corner of this website.