Case Study

4 WEEK BOARD & TRAIN  

• Name: Oakley
• Age: 11 months
• Breed: Australian Labradoodle (Spaniel x Labradoodle) 

Household Information 

• Family Composition: Major Family - 2 Adults, 2 Teenagers • Property Type : House 

• Living Arrangements: Oakley is crated at night in the bedroom and free roams the house during the day. He is allowed on furniture and has a set feeding schedule, with free access to toys. The household does not have a doggie door, and Oakley is walked on a harness. 

• Behavioral Notes: Oakley shows no signs of reactivity or aggressive behavior. 

Current Challenges 

The family has identified several areas they would like to improve in Oakley’s behavior: 

1. Excitement and Mouthing: Oakley becomes overly excited when the children come home, resulting in nipping and biting. This excessive mouthing is a concern, especially around the teenagers. 

2. Invasion of Personal Space: Oakley is overly friendly with guests, often getting on furniture and invading personal space. He tends to jump on guests, which can be overwhelming. 

3. Pulling on Walks and Distractions: Oakley pulls on his harness during walks and is easily distracted. While he shows interest in bunnies, he does not chase or dart at other animals. 

4. Inconsistent Obedience: Oakley is less responsive to commands from the youngest teenager, who gives him the most affection, possibly signaling playfulness rather than authority. 

Training Approach and Goals
Given the family’s busy schedule, they are unable to establish the foundation themselves but are committed to reinforcing established protocols. They are fully on board with the 90 protocols, which provide a structured approach to improving Oakley’s behavior. 

1. Setting the Foundation: While the family can’t set the foundation, Oakley will initially be trained using the 90 protocols by a professional. This involves establishing clear boundaries, teaching impulse control, and instilling respect for personal space, all within a structured framework. 

2. Managing Excitement and Mouthing: Oakley will learn a structured greeting routine to minimize excitement and mouthing. This includes teaching him to stay calm during homecomings and rewarding appropriate behavior. 

3. Respecting Personal Space: Through consistent reinforcement, Oakley will be taught to respect personal space, especially around guests. The “place” command and polite greeting practices will be a focus, ensuring Oakley remains calm around visitors. 

4. Improving Walk Etiquette: Training will focus on loose-leash walking techniques to reduce pulling and improve focus. Reinforcing these behaviors will help Oakley remain attentive and reduce distraction from bunnies and other outdoor stimuli. 

5. Strengthening Obedience: Professional training will establish Oakley’s responsiveness to all family members, focusing on building authority with the youngest teenager. Consistent reinforcement by the family will maintain Oakley’s improved responsiveness. 

4 WEEK BOARD & TRAIN

Case Study: Ernie 

Dog Profile 

• Name: Ernie
• Age: 4 years
• Breed: Dachshund 

Household Information 

CASE STUDY 

Ernie 

• Family Composition: Palomino Family 1 Adult Owner, 1 Adult Roommate
• Property Type: Condo
• Living Arrangements: Ernie is taken outside for potty breaks and is walked on a harness. Owner works from home. 

He has free roam of the condo during the day and is crated at night in the bedroom. Ernie is fed on a set schedule, though he often waits to eat until his owner is home. 

Current Challenges
The family has identified several behavioral challenges they would like to address to improve Ernie’s quality of life: 

1. Separation Anxiety: Ernie becomes distressed when left alone, particularly in new settings. He barks and cries when separated from his owner, indicating he struggles to cope with being alone. 

2. Leash Pulling and Reactivity: Ernie pulls on the leash during walks, making him difficult to manage. He is easily distracted and reactive, particularly in response to outside stimuli. 

3. Car Reactivity: Ernie barks excessively in the car, reacting to nearly everything he sees. He has difficulty relaxing during rides and becomes overstimulated by the sights and sounds. 

4. Inability to Relax in Public Spaces: Ernie has not yet been able to enjoy dog-friendly environments, like patios, due to his anxiety and reactivity. He struggles to stay calm and focus on his owner when in public settings. 

Training Goal 

To help Ernie become a more relaxed and confident companion, the goals for his training include: 

• Improve Separation Independence: Foster Ernie’s ability to remain calm when alone, especially in unfamiliar environments, to reduce his distress and excessive vocalization. 

• Enhance Leash Manners: Teach Ernie to walk on a loose leash, minimizing his pulling and reactivity, which will make outings more enjoyable and manageable. 

• Reduce Car Reactivity: Help Ernie stay calm and relaxed during car rides, reducing his barking and overstimulation for a more peaceful experience. 

• Increase Comfort in Public Spaces: Enable Ernie to enjoy visits to dog-friendly places like patios and other public settings, where he can remain calm and relaxed amidst new sights and sounds. 

3 WEEK BOARD & TRAIN  

Case Study: Remedy

Dog Profile:

• Dog Name: Remedy

• Breed: Cockapoo

• Age: 1 year

• Family: Slack Family - 1 adult and 3 children

• Property Type: Condo

Behavioral Overview:

Remedy is a lively, free-spirited Cockapoo with a high energy level. Following the Slack family’s recent move to a condo, both Remedy and her family are adjusting to a more confined space. Previously, Remedy enjoyed the freedom of a dog door and unrestricted access to the yard and furniture. In the new space, without these options, she exhibits behaviors that disrupt daily life and adapting to the condo lifestyle.

Challenges:

• Leash Pulling: Remedy pulls strongly on the leash, especially in high-distraction settings, making walks challenging and less enjoyable.

• Overexcitement in Public: She becomes overly stimulated in public spaces, making her difficult to manage.

• Bolting: Remedy has a tendency to bolt out doors, posing safety concerns in the condo environment.

• Wild Behavior Indoors: She has not yet adjusted to condo boundaries and often becomes overstimulated indoors.

• Crate Use: Although the family purchased a crate, Remedy has yet to be introduced to it, and it remains unused.

Training Goals:

1. Leash Manners: Develop structured leash manners to help Remedy walk calmly and responsively beside her handler, even in stimulating environments.

2. Public Etiquette: Work on Remedy’s impulse control to reduce her overexcitement in public and improve her focus on her handler.

3. Door Etiquette: Establish a reliable stay command at doorways to prevent bolting, ensuring safety in her new environment.

4. Indoor Boundaries: Set clear indoor boundaries to help Remedy understand no-go zones, reduce furniture access, and encourage calmer indoor behavior.

5. Crate Training: Introduce the crate as a safe and comfortable space, making it part of her routine to include structured downtime.

Outcome Goals:

With consistent training, the Slack family can expect Remedy to gain control over her leash behavior, exhibit calmness in public spaces, and respect boundaries both indoors and at doorways. Crate training will provide Remedy with a structured downtime space, crucial for her transition to condo living. This training will help Remedy settle into a lifestyle that aligns with the family’s needs, creating a peaceful and safe home environment.

DIY BOARD & TRAIN

Dog Profile

• Name: Hatti

• Breed: Pitbull/Lab/Cattle Dog/Weimaraner mix

• Age: Approximately 2 years old

• Family Type: Single adult living in an apartment

Behavior Overview

Hatti, a rescue dog, was adopted into her current home after possibly having a litter of puppies. She is not crate-trained, has free access to furniture, and sleeps in her owner’s bed. The owner works from home and often allows Hatti off-leash in non-dog park areas. Over the summer, Hatti regularly attended dog daycare. Despite her friendly demeanor, several behavioral challenges prompted the owner to seek help.

Challenges

• Leash Reactivity: Hatti lunges at bikes, trucks, and buses during walks. She once grabbed a jogger, though no punctures occurred.

• Impulse Control: She steals food from children, showing a lack of boundaries around resources.

• Fearfulness: She displays anxiety or fearfulness in response to loud or unexpected noises.

• Recall Issues: Hatti does not reliably respond to recall when distracted, particularly in off-leash situations.

• Separation Anxiety: Mild separation anxiety has been observed, with Hatti struggling to settle when her owner is not nearby.

Training Goals

• Reduce Leash Reactivity: Desensitize Hatti to moving objects like bikes, trucks, and joggers. Teach her to focus on her handler when faced with distractions.

• Establish Impulse Control: Train commands like “leave it” and “out” to prevent food-stealing and reinforce boundaries.

• Improve Recall: Build a reliable recall through structured training, even in highly distracting environments.

• Increase Confidence: Gradually expose Hatti to loud noises and urban stimuli, pairing these exposures with positive reinforcement to reduce fear.

• Address Separation Anxiety: Introduce crate training to provide structure and security while encouraging Hatti to settle independently.

• Set Boundaries at Home: Limit furniture access to help establish household rules and reinforce appropriate behavior.

Owner Support and Program Details for Hatti

Owner Engagement

As part of the DIY Board & Train program, the owner receives:

• Weekly Calls: A 20-minute consultation with Tellie to review progress, address questions, and adjust the training plan. These calls provide accountability and personalized guidance tailored to Hatti’s progress and challenges.

• Customized Training Schedule: A detailed daily routine and weekly training drills to practice, ensuring the owner has clear instructions to work consistently with Hatti.

• Progress Tracking: Tools and templates to record milestones, note challenges, and maintain a structured plan for Hatti’s training journey.