Behavior Services
At One Smart Dog, we offer a full range of behavior services tailored to your dog’s needs. Our experienced behavior consultants focus on building a lasting, positive relationship between you and your dog. Private sessions are available for all dogs—puppies, seniors, newly adopted rescues adjusting to their homes, or long-time companions needing skill refinement for a more harmonious life.
We categorize behavior services as either simple or complex. Simple behaviors include life skills such as loose-leash walking, polite greetings, food stealing, house training, and dog-dog introductions. Complex behaviors involve challenges like dog-dog aggression, human-directed aggression, resource guarding, and separation anxiety.
Arrange a Behavior Consult
The first step is to complete our intake form. Our behavior team will review your submission and contact you within 48 hours.
Based on your form, we may recommend:
- A Class: Many simple behavior issues can be addressed in a class setting, which is often the most cost-effective option. If your dog needs basic life skills, such as better leash manners, our Trek & Train program may be a great fit. If you prefer private lessons, we’re happy to arrange that.
- A Veterinary Visit: Medical issues can sometimes appear as behavioral concerns. For example, a dog in pain may growl when touched. Addressing any underlying medical conditions is crucial before starting behavior modification. If you’re unsure whether your dog’s behavior has a medical cause, we recommend consulting your veterinarian first.
- An Assessment: The first step in a behavior plan is a thorough evaluation, either in-home or at our facility. If your dog has already seen a veterinarian and private training is preferred or necessary, our team will reach out to schedule an assessment.
What to Expect
Your assessment can be at your home or our facility.
While we do our best to accommodate your preference, our consultant may recommend a different location based on your dog’s needs. For example, if your dog greets strangers calmly outside but jumps on guests at home, the behavior may be environment-specific. Your consultant will help identify these patterns and develop a custom plan to set your dog up for success.
The number of sessions needed varies, and we cannot determine an exact number in advance.
Our behavior services are tailored to you and your dog. Some issues may be addressed in one or two sessions, giving you the skills and confidence to continue on your own. However, many behaviors require multiple sessions over weeks or months. Learning new skills takes time, and our goal is not just to help you manage situations but to ensure your dog develops lasting, healthy habits—so they can make the right choices even when you’re not there to guide them.
Your behavior consultant is here to support you every step of the way.
They will provide hands-on guidance, along with written materials to assist you. Progress and success depend largely on consistency and commitment to the new habits you and your dog are building. If you’re struggling to implement the plan or have questions, don’t hesitate to ask—we’re committed to your success!
For complex issues involving dog aggression, we start by providing management strategies to ensure safety before training begins.
If your dog has a history of aggression or if you’re unsure how to handle a situation safely, please inform our team in advance. We may recommend muzzle training, leash training, or environmental adjustments like fencing to create a safe, comfortable space where everyone can focus on progress.
What to Bring
For your first in-person session we ask that you bring a number of bite-sized delicious treats for your dog. We want them to see training as fun and exciting. Training should feel like going to a pizza party with your best friends – we want you and your dog to love it! Just like when hosting a pizza party it’s always best to have extra on hand than to risk running out of food, so when you’re preparing for your session grab extra, your dog will love you for it!
If your dog is on a special or restricted diet for medical reasons please inform your consultant on your intake form, and please include a few details about when they were diagnosed or when they last saw a veterinarian. As many medical issues can present as behavioral we want to ensure that we are following your veterinarian’s instructions and meeting your dog’s medical needs first.
Please ensure your dog is on a leash no longer than 6ft long and that the leash is attached to a flat buckle collar or harness. If your dog is a bite risk, difficult to handle on a flat collar or harness, or you feel there are safety concerns please include that in your behavior intake form. At that time your consultant may recommend a muzzle, using gates or fencing, or other ways to set up the environment so that everyone, including your dog, can feel comfortable and safe for their first meeting.
A treat pouch and clicker! When training we primarily use marker-based training, this is essentially a method to communicate with the dog when they’ve done something right. We “mark” the correct behavior and then offer a treat or something really fun to help build positive associations. This is what is commonly referred to as positive reinforcement training. If you do not have a clicker and would like to use one let us know, we have them available at the One Smart Dog store. If you’re uncomfortable with a clicker or unable to use one for any reason that’s no problem, your trainer can help you find a suitable alternative marker.
Have additional questions? Please see our FAQ or contact our help desk, we’re here to help!