SERENITY CANINE with Lisa Mullinax CDBC
Help for Challenging Behaviors
EXPERT HELP THAT WORKS FOR YOU
For almost 25 years, I have helped dogs and their humans with challenging behaviors. From Chihuahuas to Wolfdogs, from mild fear to severe aggression,
I can help.
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My behavior plans are always tailored to you and your dog and are focused on achieving your goals. A plan that is not practical for you is worthless, which is why I take a collaborative approach to make sure that my recommendations work for you.
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I have extensive experience with remote coaching for aggression, reactivity, and other challenging behaviors.
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BEHAVIOR SERVICES
My behavior program develops custom strategies specific to you and your dog so you can work through problem situations, rather than just avoid them. Instead of being reactive to your dog's behavior, you will learn how to be proactive and set them up for success.
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This is a multi-stage process that takes you all the way to practicing in real-life situations at home, on walks, or wherever you need the most help.
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STAGE 1: ASSESSMENT
Gather the details of your dog's health, routines, training, and behavior to identify patterns and create a practical and custom plan that meets your needs.
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STAGE 2: MITIGATION
Practical strategies to manage your dog's behavior until training can take effect to make your life easier and prevent behavior from getting worse.
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STAGE 3: TRAINING
Teach you and your dog new skills that are related to the problem and the situations in which it occurs.
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STAGE 4: IMPLEMENTATION
Practice behavior plan in controlled and then real life settings until you are comfortable and confident that you can continue on your own.
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WHAT TO EXPECT
​In most cases, you will be asked to change some aspects of your dog's routine or activities. Some of these changes are temporary, while others may be long-term for safety or your dog's well-being.
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During our scheduled appointments, you will be given new exercises or strategies to practice over the next 1-2 weeks. My most successful clients train with their dog every day and take advantage of the virtual and phone support between appointments.
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Most of your training practice at home will be short sessions throughout the day or integrated into your dog's normal routine.
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PRICING
Each session is 60-90 minutes scheduled 1-2 weeks apart, with virtual or phone support scheduled in between.
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INITIAL BEHAVIOR PACKAGE
Local....................975
Behavior assessment and three local sessions, plus phone and virtual support.
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Virtual..................750
Behavior assessment and three virtual sessions, plus phone support.
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Depending on your dog's behavior and current level of training, most clients should plan for 3-6 additional lessons after the initial behavior package to reach the implementation stage.
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ADDITIONAL SESSIONS
Local....................250 or 3 for 650
Virtual..................150 or 3 for 400
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​​​​​​​SINGLE BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT
1.5-2 hour consultation for those considering rehoming or behavioral euthanasia. Includes a full assessment of your dog's behavior, an overview of future behavior support needs, and management strategies you can implement immediately.
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Local.........425
Virtual.......350
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How soon can we get started?I can generally get most clients started within 1-2 weeks.
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Do you help me practice around triggers?YES! This is the implementation stage of the program. Once we've taught your dog the skills essential for managing their behavior, we practice around dogs, people, or other triggers in gradually more challenging situations. For virtual clients, we will either do this live, with me watching and coaching from your laptop or phone, or you will take video of your work and we will review it together and plan next steps.
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Will my dog be cured after the training?Fear, reactivity, and aggression are all normal, natural behaviors. How your dog reacts to perceived threats now is how they will always react when they are overwhelmed. We can't change that reaction, but we can change their tolerance for these situations and teach them new skills they can use instead of the problem behavior. Behavior is influenced by many things that we can't change with training, including their health. If your dog has a health issue that is causing pain or discomfort, there may be limitations to the progress we can make until that is resolved or managed.
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What's the most difficult case you've worked with?I work with a lot of challenging and dangerous behaviors. But the most difficult cases are those that involve factors outside my control, including the dog's health, the dog's environment, or lifestyle/family challenges. In these cases, I take those factors into account when designing a behavior plan and, when appropriate, collaborate with the dog's veterinary team to provide the most comprehensive behavior support possible.
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Can I have other people be a part of the training?Yes! I'm happy to include family, friends, or even sitters/walkers in the process. Ask me more during our phone consultation!
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Will you train my dog for me?In some cases, I can jump start your dog's training. I can come to your home 3-4 days a week and teach your dogs new skills that will be needed in their behavior program. I can then teach you how to get those same results. However, changing fearful, reactive, and aggressive behavior is not the same as teaching a dog "obedience" skills, like sit and stay, which can be taught quickly. Teaching a new skill is easy - changing a dog's emotional reaction is a longer process that requires your direct participation and practice between appointments.
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I live outside your service area. Can I pay you extra to come to my house?Sometimes. Depending on your location, I am happy to travel a little longer (up to 45 minutes outside Kirkland) for an additional fee or we can meet at an off-site location between us. I am sometimes able to combine a weekend getaway with appointments in remote locations or one of the islands. Ask me!
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What equipment do you use?Generally, I try to limit equipment to your dog's regular collar or harness, a 6' leash, and a training pouch. If you currently use a special training collar, we will work on improving your dog's training until you are no longer dependent on equipment. Equipment can fail, so you need your dog to respond to you at any time, regardless of what they're wearing.
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I tried positive training/other positive trainers and didn't see results. Why are you different?Great question! Whether you're learning to play an instrument, a sport, or learning how to manage and change your dog's behavior, there are a lot of ways things can go wrong. Sometimes the plan is flawed and sometimes it's just the implementation of the plan. All trainers are not the same. Although there are a lot of trainers who use positive or "force free" methods, skill and knowledge vary considerably. After almost 25 years of working with dogs and their humans, I know how to find the problems and make adjustments. I love dogs, but I also care about the humans who share their lives, so I want you to be successful.
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What if my dog isn't treat motivated?There are a number of reasons a dog refuses food, including high levels of stress, discomfort, and pain. If your dog is highly-motivated by the same food at home and only refuses it when around their triggers, this isn't a problem with food-motivation, but high levels of stress. This is common and something that is addressed during the behavior program. If your dog is inconsistent in their appetite both at home and other places, there could be a health component. Dental pain, gastrointestinal distress, and even nerve or orthopedic pain can affect their appetite. If this is the case, we'll work with your veterinarian to find solutions, since these can also cause or exacerbate your dog's behavior.
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Do you do clicker training?Yes! All of my training implements the use of a reward marker. Depending on your preference, we can use a word/verbal marker or a clicker. Most clients prefer a verbal marker.
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What are your methods?All of my training and behavior modification strategies fall under the umbrella of positive reinforcement. The type of reinforcement varies by dog, but most dogs will start with food rewards. Over time, we can implement "life rewards," or things that your dog wants and enjoys, such as play.
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What will you recommend if my dog doesn't listen or does something bad?In these cases, it means there is either a problem with the plan or the execution of the plan. I will help you identify the problem and make the necessary adjustments so you can both be successful going forward. I correct the PLAN, not the dog!
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What if I don't want to use treats?I understand your reluctance. Especially if you are worried about your dog gaining weight or only "listening" when you have food. I don't want you dependent on food or any other tool to control your dog and use strategies that avoid both of these problems. You can read more in my post all about Treat Training Food rewards can be a powerful tool in training. They are inexpensive, portable, and as natural scavengers, most dogs are highly motivated by food. If you're still skeptical, set up a free phone consultation. I'm happy to answer any questions or concerns you have.
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Don't you need to meet my dog?Surprisingly, no. I regularly work with clients throughout the United States on reactivity, stranger-directed aggression, and fear. The details I gather during the assessment stage and throughout the program gives me the information I need to create a plan that works for you. We can troubleshoot problems, review video you've taken that week, do live sessions, make plans for moving forward, and work through training challenges with your dog all virtually. Many people are skeptical in the beginning, only to be surprised at how much we can accomplish virtually.
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How do virtual sessions work?Sessions are held via Google Meet (no downloads needed). We'll discuss challenges and successes and make changes and additions to our plan from the previous week. If you are struggling with any training, you can practice those in front of the camera while I watch and coach you in real time or review one of your recorded videos together.