Behavior Modification
Behavior Modification
[Reactivity – Aggression – Frustration – Hyper-Arousal – Fear/Anxiety/Stress Related Behaviors]
Group Classes
Apex Canine offers a variety of group class programs located in Hooksett N.H & Concord N.H. Our Reactive Dog Group Class & Confident Canine Group Class programs are offered at our Hooksett location. Please visit our FB page and view events to see what programs are currently available.
***If you are interested in a specific program or are looking to schedule a testing date for AKC CGC/CGCA/CGCU – AKC Trick Dog – DMWYD Trick Dog please e-mail seren@apexcaninebehavior.com
Click Here To View Group Class Offerings
Day Training Program
Day training sessions are a slight variation to a traditional B&T program where the trainer works directly with your dog one on one while your dog continues to reside at home. The trainer will travel to your location to work with them at home and/or transport your dog to and from training locations. This program is perfect for busy families and owners looking to accelerate their dog’s progression through their behavior modification plan. This program does include one on one sessions with the family to ensure skills translate to their home environment. This program is also an excellent adjunct to private sessions (Day Training & Private Session hybrid programs available).
Board & Train Program
An intensified and immersive training program to address behavior concerns. This program can be utilized as a standalone offering, as an adjunct to private behavior modification sessions, or as a boarding service to maintain skills while you are away/for dogs who may struggle in a traditional boarding environment. Our B&T program does also include one on one sessions with the family to ensure skills translate to their home environment. During the B&T program your dog will be fully immersed in a carefully curated environment that is designed to set them up for success. Apex Canine only accepts one dog at a time into our B&T program and dogs are provided their own private kennel space to allow them to appropriately rest and decompress. During their stay they will reside in our climate controlled kennel which is located on our private property (owner lives on site). Our kennel building is also remotely monitored 24/7 for air quality (temperature/humidity/CO2), additionally there are safety systems in place to monitor for any signs of kennel stress. Our kennel building features an oversized 8×8 kennel space (about twice the size of the typical boarding kennel) with durable comfort flooring, as well as supervised access to a 1/2 acre fenced in play yard. In addition to reinforcing desirable behaviors throughout their stay, they will also participate in an individualized exercise/enrichment program and receive daily training sessions. All B&T graduates receive lifetime trainer support to ensure skills can be maintained throughout their lifetime.
***Due to the limited availability for our B&T program (we only accept one dog at a time), it is recommended to book well in advance of any travel plans.
Private Behavior Modification Sessions
These sessions are designed to cover items that go beyond obedience such as fearful behavior/reactivity/aggression etc. Our initial appointment will be a longer session (90 – 120 minutes approx) in order to provide us with sufficient time to cover all of the pertinent information surrounding your behavior concerns. During our initial consult we will thoroughly review your dog’s history and identify any potential underlying factors that could be contributing to/exacerbating their behavior. Together we will unpack their behavior history and use that information to help us identify the antecedents (triggers) and behavior patterns that are present. We will discuss the function/motivation behind those behaviors and come up with an immediate plan of action focused around setting up our environment in a way that will both facilitate learning new skills, while also preventing the rehearsal of existing behavior patterns. During this session we will discuss our long term behavior goals and develop a customized program designed to fit you and your dogs specific needs. In this program you will learn the ropes of modifying behavior using proven reward based methods, learn management and prevention tools, and gain a deeper understanding of canine cognition and communication.
Due to the many variables involved in behavior modification, the number of sessions required will vary from dog to dog. The initial consultation appointment is an approximately 90 -120 minute session where we will sit down together to discuss behavior history and develop our training plan. It is important to note that each time your dog rehearses a behavior, it makes it more likely for it to occur again in the future. For this reason we do not want to “see” the behavior during our consultation. All relevant information needed to address your behavior concerns can be gained from our discussion during your consultation. If you do have any existing video already, you are welcome to submit that along with your registration paperwork. ***Videos can be submitted via iMessage, DropBox, or unlisted YouTube video.
While in-person consultations for new clients are available upon request, virtual consultations are recommended for your initial appointment. Both modalities are equally effective for this initial session. Virtual sessions also offer us the added benefit of being low stress for dogs who may be uncomfortable with a new and unknown person in their home. This will allow us the opportunity in advance of our first interaction to cover the critical information and skills needed to ensure our initial in-person meeting goes as smoothly as possible (my goal is to make sure your dog thinks seeing me = awesome things are about to happen for them). Following our consultation our first two consultation follow-up sessions will be slightly longer appointments to allow sufficient time to build and rehearse new skills & behaviors as well as answer any questions you may have. At the conclusion of our intro package we will discuss recommendations for continuing services based on your specific needs and goals.
Virtual Services
Not local to us? Not a problem, we would still love to help! For clients who do not live in our service area Apex Canine does offer fully remote services. We have had many clients successfully complete their entire behavior modification program with us remotely.This modality can also be used as an adjunct to our other programs and can be a great option for clients who are living with a chronic illness/disability.