Muttineer Separation Anxiety Training

Serves South Pasadena, CA

35244

Hired 128 times

1 employee

16 years in business

Not yet available

5.0

This pro accepts payments via Apple Pay, Cash, Check, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.

Next Service

Hours

Sun Closed

Mon 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tues 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thurs 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Fri 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Sat Closed

Credentials

Background Check

Jocelyn Walls
Completed on 2/23/2021

Introduction

Muttineer offers force-free solutions for your dog's Separation Anxiety. Not just management or distraction but REAL long lasting resolution. Neighbors complaining about barking? Coming home to destruction or potty accidents? Are you nervous and worried about leaving your dog home alone? Rest assured, we have a solution! Separation Anxiety is a true panic disorder in dogs and is more common than you might think with roughly 17% of all pet dogs presenting with this issue. Dogs with SA suffer greatly when left alone and unfortunately, don’t just “get over it” in time. The good news is, SA is highly treatable! The road to resolution is slow and steady but we can guide you every step of the way. And best of all, the maintenance phase for this training plan is simply living your life and leaving your dog home guilt and stress free! Learn the best, most effective techniques to teach your dog coping skills. Your trainer is a CSAT (Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer) which means they have a broad knowledge of dog behavior as well as a deep understanding of treating separation anxiety. We use desensitization methods which is a tried and true, scientific approach to treating anxiety issues. Best of all, it’s totally force and stress free! Our Separation Anxiety program is 100% virtual. This is not only convenient but is also the most effective way for treatment. Through remote tools like Zoom and webcams your trainer can view your dog during a live absence with no unusual tip-offs or environmental changes (like the trainer being present in-person). What’s included and what to expect: 1:1 work with a CSAT trainer and a totally customized training plan to suit your dog’s individual needs Initial assessment to determine your dog’s unique threshold and tolerance for alone time. This is our baseline and where we begin training (it’s also OK if this is zero) Detailed daily training missions 4x/week (16 per package). This takes the guesswork out of training and guides you and your dog towards success. Weekly reassessments to measure progress (4 per package) Data tracking to measure your dog’s progress and ensure they stay on track Coaching, support and cheerleading from your trainer. We are here with you through the challenges and milestones along the way! Jocelyn Walls, founder and behavior consultant is a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer with 15 years professional experience in animal behavior. She can help you change your anxious dog's behavior using kind, understanding methods and without using pain, corrections or force.

Q&A

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

My rates flex depending on the severity of the behavior issue. Typically, I charge $125 per session which lasts 60-90 minutes. I do offer discounts if you prefer to purchase multiple sessions at once.

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

The first time we meet I will come to your home so we can go over the issues you are experiencing with your dog and I may have an opportunity to observe the problem behaviors. We'll talk about management (altering the environment or routine) so you get immediate relief from the problem behavior. We'll also discuss a behavior modification and training plan and settle on a strategy that makes sense for your lifestyle and goals.

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

I graduated, with honors, from the SFSPCA's Academy for Dog Trainers in 2009. I also hold Certification in Applied Animal Behavior through UW. I am a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). I have spent the majority of my career as a Behavior Consultant working in shelters and rescues. I also have extensive experience one on one and in group settings working directly with clients and their dogs.

How did you get started doing this type of work?

Since I was very little I knew I was meant to work with animals. I found Behavior to be the career path of choice!

What types of customers have you worked with?

You name it! I've worked with puppies to seniors, Chihuahuas to Great Danes, dog/human directed aggression to puppy manners, tri-pods to blind dogs.... and all the stuff in between.

Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?

A dog named Dodger in the shelter I recently worked at was so human aggressive that no one could get him out of his kennel. I felt so bad for him! He was stuck in his kennel 24/7 with little quality of life. I decided I was going to become his friend. After about a week of visiting his kennel a few times a day to drop off goodies, share my lunch and desensitize him to seeing a leash he had stopped lunging and trying to bite me. But every time I opened his kennel door just enough to leash him he would snap at the leash. I rigged up a contraption, essentially creating a chute into a crate, and baited it with all the yummy food. I opened up his door and, voila!, Dodger was now in a crate! I used a dolly to roll his big, grumpy self outside so he could experience some sunshine and breeze which he hadn't seen in several weeks. He LOVED it! At the end of the day I got him back into his crate and rolled him back inside. He showed his gratitude for all my efforts by leaning into his kennel door to ask for petting! The dog that wanted to bite everyone was now asking me to touch him! What a breakthrough! Over the following days I continued to build a relationship with Dodger that was based on patience and trust... and lots of the yummies. I was able to leash him and walk him outside which felt like a monumental accomplishment, but really it was just the start. I discovered, once I trusted him enough to be off-leash with me in a yard, that he loved to play fetch. He was a total gentleman and had great fetch manners. I taught him to take a dip in the wading pool on hot days, to enjoy getting brushed, even how to wear a towel on his head so the vet could give him a vaccine. We even discovered, although unskilled and goofy, he enjoyed playing with other dogs. His quality of life went from zero to hero! Trouble was, I was still the only one who could interact with him safely. I worked diligently over the next week to introduce him to some new human friends. It was a long, multi-step process that, overtime, became shorter and abbreviated. Now Dodger has many friends, dogs and humans alike. He was doomed to his kennel and written off due to his aggression but through patience and kindness and lovely dog was uncovered. That's what my work is all about!

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

Make sure whoever you work with is credentialed and is using a humane, least invasive methods first, approach to training your pet.

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

Not only should you define and outline your dog's problem behaviors, you should also think in terms of what you would like your dog to do instead. It's much better to be goal oriented with definable steps to measure than to get hung up on what you wish your dog wasn't doing. Example Complaint: My dog steals food off the counters when we're making dinner! He's such a jerk! Solution: I would love it if we can teach my dog to lay on a mat, outside of the kitchen, when we make dinner.