Introduction to Problem Behavior Solutions
How's Bentley owner, trainer and counselor, Alan J Turner, SATS LL1 holds national and international training and behavior certifications and is the director of all training and behavioral services.

Due to the complexities of animal and human behaviors, offering a guarantee that your dog's problem behavior(s) will be cured after one or many consultations or sessions is not realistic or ethical. About half the people report excellent results after the initial consultation. These are people with dogs whose problems are not, in our opinions, extreme examples of abnormal behaviors. If the problem behavior is related to fear or aggression, few people can learn all they need to know to succeed during an In-home Behavior Consultation, but most people can learn the skills to help their dogs after two to four sessions with our professionals.

The level of improvement depends on many variables. Some of the variables are fixed, such as genetics and the length of time the behavior has been practiced. Other factors such as the dog's environment and the amount of time and effort the family can allocate to treatment are variable.

Training or Behavioral Solutions
There are two broad categories for problem behaviors. Behaviors that can be resolved through training are in one category and behaviors that require experience and knowledge outside the field of training fall into another category.

1. If you need help with any of the following common behaviors, please visit How's Bentley Service Selector and choose from our training services.
   
   1. House training
   2. Jumping-up
   3. Play-biting
   4. Pulling on the lead
   5. Rushing through doors / gates
   6. Barking
   7. Digging
   8. Jumping on Furniture
   9. Begging
   10. Counter surfing
   11. Object stealing

2. If you need help with any of the following behaviors, please visit How's Bentley Service Selector and choose from our Problem Behavior Services.
   
   1. Aggression
   2. Fear
   3. Anxiety
   4. Destructiveness
   5. Phobias
   6. Self Mutilation
   7. Separation Distress
   8. Compulsive Behavior Disorders
   9. Inappropriate Inside Elimination
   10. Excessive Barking
   11. Attention Seeking Behaviors

First Things First - Manage the Environment
It is very important to note that all animals practice and refine all behaviors. If your dog is exhibiting unwanted behaviors, please take steps to manage the environment to prevent your dog from practicing. Some common examples of management techniques include: attaching a leash to your dog before guests come into your home to manage jumping up; crating your pup to manage house training; removing rawhides to manage food aggression or resource guarding; and placing your dog in a comfortable back room before guests arrive to manage fearful behavior. If people fail to teach their dogs, long-term management is a very tiresome solution! Learning how to effectively manage the environment is one of the first steps for solving problem behaviors and only a short-term solution!

Veterinarians and Behavior
All veterinarians study extensive amounts of information pertaining to the science of medical health for many species. Few study animal behavior as part of their curriculum. Some veterinary specialists expand their knowledge to include behavioral science but are rarely available to make house calls to observe behaviors. Our counselors work closely with the veterinary community to rule out possible medical causes for behavior changes. Our counselors come into the home, where the behaviors most often occur. We will consult with the family's veterinary professionals about all medical issues.

Medications for Behavior
Veterinarians sometimes prescribe medications to reduce unwanted behaviors and sometimes they are helpful. Although medications can be a helpful addition to a behavior modification program, pharmacological intervention without following a multi-point behavior modification plan is a recipe for failure. It is not often that our counselor will suggest medications. If our counselor feels that pharmacological intervention would be helpful, he or she will discuss the situation with your veterinarian (only veterinarians can prescribe medications). Drug intervention is almost always temporary- If the medications are helpful, the behavior will decrease and drug use is discontinued. If medications are not helpful, drug use is discontinued. If your dog is currently taking medications prescribed for behavior problems we will consult with you and your veterinarian about the necessity and effectiveness of the drugs.

How's Bentley Behavior Modification Programs
Our programs are based on more than 100 years of scientific studies by animal behavior scientists and do not make use of harsh methods. The more information you can provide before our visit, the better prepared we are to help.

Prior to and during our services, we will collect and review data about the following.

• Family Complaints
• Family Expectations
• Veterinary Health Status
• Social Environment
• Physical Environment
• Diet and Elimination
• People & Other Pets
• Aggression History & Screen
• Training History
• Behavioral History
• Treatment History

During your consultation and subsequent sessions, we will discuss several topics that include some or all of the following.>

• Social Needs of the Animal
• Physical Needs of the Animal
• Emotional Needs of the Animal
• Daily Management
• Environmental Enrichment
• Training Suggestions
• Basics of Animal Behavior and Learning
• Nutritional Considerations
• Medical or Surgical Considerations
• Pharmacological Considerations (used very rarely)
• Treatment Exercises
• Family Counseling

Medical Health
Health affects behavior. It would be foolish to pursue behavioral treatment if medical considerations are overlooked. After reviewing the completed forms, our counselor may suggest that a veterinarian medical exam (including thyroid panel and complete blood testing) be conducted before treatment. If the problem behavior represents a substantial change in behavior that cannot be attributed to environmental changes (i.e. animal added, change in schedule, new home, new partner, attack by another dog, et cetera), a medical exam would be prudent. The exam will identify and/or rule out potential medical causes for the inappropriate behavior(s). If a veterinary examination is suggested, our counselor would prefer to discuss the tests with your family veterinarian prior to your appointment.

Arrange for Services
As with human behavior modification, early intervention increases the chances for successful treatment! Please download and complete and sign the Interview and History Form, In-Home Behavior Consultation Agreement and Aggression Screen (for aggression cases only) via this page. Deliver the two forms (or three forms if your dog exhibits aggressive behaviors) along with deposit (or deposit receipt from How's Bentley E-Store) to the address or fax number listed on the forms.

Special Cases

Compulsive Behavior Disorder Cases
Compulsive Behavior Disorders such as whirling, tail chasing, self-mutilation, licking, sucking, kneading, barking, repetitive pacing, fence running, tracking, shadow chasing, pica (eating non-food items), polydipsia (excessive drinking), and others require an extensive questionnaire to obtain relevant information. Please contact How's Bentley if your dog exhibits compulsive behaviors. Our counselor will deliver a questionnaire appropriate for your situation.

Aggression Cases

For the safety, protection and success of all involved, How's Bentley reserves the right to decline some aggression cases or to impose service requirements for some aggression cases. The minimal requirements in no way guarantee successful results, but are in place to stress the importance of realistic expectations and the necessity of follow up sessions after the initial consultation. It is rare that we would not accept a case, but in those rare instances, our decisions are based on the Code of Standards and Ethical Conduct of the Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors. Please visit www.animalbehaviorcounselors.org for more information.

Level I
If the aggressive dog has an unknown bite history or is aggressive but has not inflicted injuries, we categorize this as a Level 1 case. All of these requirements must be agreed to before treatment will be provided for a Level I case.

1. In-home Behavioral & Environmental Evaluation OR a telephone discussion resulting in a Cleared Status
2. In-home Behavior Consultation
3. Minimum of one, 90-minute Bentley Refills - (1, 90-minute Bentley Refill)

Level II
If the aggressive dog has inflicted any injuries to any companion animal or any person, we categorize this as a Level II case. All of these requirements must be agreed to before services will be provided for a Level II case.

1. In-home Behavioral & Environmental Evaluation OR a telephone discussion resulting in a Cleared Status
2. In-home Behavior Consultation
3. Minimum of two, 90-minute Bentley Refills - (1 Quick Start Behavior Upgrade)

Level III
If the aggressive dog has inflicted multiple bites during one incident, deep puncture wounds or bites with tearing motion to any companion animal or any person, we categorize this as a Level III case. All of these requirements must be agreed to before treatment will be provided for a Level III case.

1. In-home Behavioral & Environmental Evaluation resulting in a Cleared Status
2. In-home Behavior Consultation
3. Minimum of four, 90-minute Bentley Refills - (2 Quick Start Behavior Upgrades)

Please contact How's Bentley to schedule a telephone discussion to determine the extent of requirements for your individual case.

Definitions and Classifications for Aggressive Behaviors
Aggressive behaviors include growling, snarling, barking, snapping or biting. Problem aggression is directed at companion animals or people who are perceived (by the aggressive dogs) as threats. Depending on which canine behavior professional you consult, aggression may be labeled as fearful aggression, protective aggression, possessive aggression, territory aggression, maternal aggression, pain aggression, impulse aggression (formerly poorly classified as dominance aggression), frustration aggression, predatory aggression, idiopathic aggression, and others. Regardless of your dog's age, breed, or previous experiences, our experienced trainers and counselors can provide you with solutions for aggressive behaviors.

Aggression - Treatment Overview
Most dogs that exhibit fearful or aggressive responses perceive threats when there are none. In order to help a dog with this problem, the dog's inaccurate perception of danger associated with actions of other dogs, strangers, children, et cetera must be modified so that the dog no longer perceives the approach, actions or presence of theses triggers as threats. This is accomplished by a very effective process of systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning or behavior modification. If the triggers for aggression or fearful behaviors cannot be determined, the prospects for recovery are poor. If the triggers can be identified (and the program is executed properly), the prognosis is good.

The exercises performed during behavior modification are based on the scientific principles of operant and classical conditioning. First we teach the people how to teach the dogs a few "words" that provide the dogs constant feedback about the appropriateness of behaviors. In addition, we teach the people how to teach the dogs a simple skill that can be used to help the dogs focus on a task that is incompatible with aggressive or fearful behaviors. Next, the people are taught how to teach the dogs to relax in non-stimulating environments. These topics are addressed during the In-Home Behavior Consultation. In addition, our counselor may give the family specific instructions about managing the behaviors and the environment, diet and nutrition, obedience training, the significance of reinforcers, exercise, and more.

Once the people have taught the dog to relax, the actual treatment for behaviors can begin. The treatment exercises are performed during Bentley Refills. The dog is carefully exposed to low levels of the triggers (stimuli) for the unwanted responses during many short cycles and the dog's non-reactive behaviors are reinforced. As the exercise progresses, each cycle is adjusted so that the dog is exposed to a slightly higher level of the stimuli than the previous cycle. The end result is a dog that is no longer aggressive or fearful in the presence of the stimuli, but is calm and relaxed in the presence of the stimuli.

Adjusting the dog's controlled exposures to stimuli is best achieved by a person who has experience reading fine distinctions between canine communicative signals, one who is familiar with operant and classical conditioning, one who can 'set-up' the environment for success and one who can adjust the levels of exposures to stimuli so the dog can succeed. Most people can learn the skills to help their individual dog and direct the exercises after two to four sessions with our professionals.

Aggression - Success Rates
The success rate for treating aggression is widely varied. We've found that in most cases where the triggers are readily identifiable, the behaviors can be reduced. It's important to note that dogs who pick and choose which people or which dogs to attack are not any more difficult to help than dogs that attack every dog or every strange person. In both examples the triggers are identifiable, but in one example some people or dogs are not always triggers. The treatments are relatively identical in both examples. In some instances we can trust the animals after successful treatment; however continued testing is always advised to make sure the animals are still with the program. In some cases, management is always required because the costs of failures are too great.

In addition to working with the dogs and the triggers, there are other components to consider. Diet, nutrition, exercise, obedience training, environmental management and enrichment, daily management and medical considerations are examples of some topics that are addressed during treatment. In addition, the dog's social, emotional and physical needs should be well balanced if the plan is to succeed.

Aggression - Limitations
People with dogs who scare them and people with dogs that are aggressive when the triggers are not identifiable (by our professionals) are not likely to see good results. In many cases identifying the triggers may be difficult for the people but not for our experienced professionals. We use tools like aggression screens coupled with our experiences to help identify triggers. In some cases where the triggers are not identifiable, genetic and/or medical defects are assumed to be the causes. In such cases, treatment is not recommended.

If people cannot, or do not, follow through with the suggestions and exercises for any reasons, the prognosis is poor. If people perform the desensitization exercises poorly, the prognosis is very poor. If the logistics of successful treatment within a particular environment are restricted, the prognosis is poor. An example would be a family with one or more very small children or multiple animals. The logistics of managing aggressive behaviors, maintaining a safe environment for all family members and the reality of having the time to set up and perform the exercises may conflict with that family's environment. Even though the people in the example may be committed to work with the dog and the dog could be helped, the reality of the situation might conflict with their good intentions.

Problem Behavior Services
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Services At A Glance
How to Make Arrangements for Services
Purchase Training Services