Please book your session by clicking on the appropriate link below, after you have read about my income-based self-selected sliding scale. Learn more here.
Behavior Consulting
Transform your relationship with your dog from a hot mess of stress and anxiety to an easeful deep breath of calm & relaxation.
This is a 60 - 75-minute virtual session conducted via Zoom.
Sharon will send you assessment materials to complete when you book this session. Then she will assess and interpret these materials so that during the session you can focus on understanding your dog’s behavior and building a plan to move forward.
Are you feeling…
lonely because your dog’s behavior prevents you from inviting friends over or going on vacation?
terrified because your dog(s) is growling, snarling, fighting, or biting another animal or human?
anxious because your dog’s triggers have become your triggers?
confused about a challenging behavior case in your work?
anxious because your client isn’t making progress?
Do you want to feel…
hopeful because there are options that you didn’t even know existed?
encouraged because you have a plan to help both your family AND your dog feel safe?
confident because you understand exactly what happened and how to prevent it from happening again?
excited to try a new approach and help your client?
I’ve got you! First, we’ll gather information and assess the situation. Then, we’ll establish safety and identify solutions. Finally, we’ll create a plan so that you can:
get the rest you need (and feel sane again!)
facilitate safe interactions between your dog(s) and others
say “yes” to that trip or family gathering
relax, with your dog by your side
connect more deeply with your dog and other humans
look forward to taking walks with your dog
help your dog (and everyone around them) feel safe
Here’s how you’ll get there:
1
You’ll complete the Canine Behavior & Research Questionnaire (CBARQ) to build a thorough understanding of your dog’s fears and aggression and establish an objective way to track progress.
2
You’ll explore your dog’s sensory processing patterns using the Highly Sensitive Dog Questionnaire or Canine Sensory Profile so you can better understand how the environment contributes to your dog’s behavior.
3
You’ll learn 3 nervous system states and the Yes-No Spectrum for Behavior so you can more easily track your dog’s reactions and understand why your nervous system responds with anxiety and overwhelm.
4
You’ll learn 1 of Leslie McDevitt’s Pattern Games to give you a simple strategy for moving past triggers, diffusing big reactions at home, helping others interact with your dog, and safely navigating unexpected situations.
5
You’ll collaborate with me to establish a Safety & Recovery Plan that is practical, provides you with stability and control, and connects you to accessible resources for reaching your goals.
6
You’ll learn 1 somatic (body-based) strategy so you can process difficult emotions and shift from feeling stuck and overwhelmed to knowing exactly what to do and feeling empowered to do it.
About the Consultation
Through investing in this consultation, you will receive:
detailed interpretation of all assessments, including written tables, graphs, or summaries that you can share with your family, friends,
co-workers, client, veterinarian, animal control, or a judicial entity
in-depth and comprehensive understanding of your dog’s (or your client’s) behavior
a recording of our session
support for moving through difficult emotions surrounding this experience
a plan for establishing safety
video tutorials for skills to develop
recommendations or referrals for continued support
pdf’s of any concepts or education that we cover
worksheets for yourself or a client to build awareness or track progress
Ultimately, a shift from fear and shame to clarity and confidence, with a concrete plan and practical strategies to move forward!
FAQs
-
I use a combination of humane, fear-free, and force-free methods when addressing dog behavior, including:
ruling out pain or medical issues
adjusting the environment or the task to meet the dog’s needs
advising you on equipment, gear, and other tools to enhance your and your dog’s ability to engage in a meaningful activity
Leslie McDevitt’s Pattern Games and Control Unleashed program
-
Most of my work is conducted virtually, via Zoom. You will access our sessions via a cell phone, tablet, or computer from the comfort of your own home.
I find virtual coaching and consultations to be beneficial for a variety of reasons, including:
accessibility for humans who live in rural areas or at far distances from me
accessibility for humans experiencing chronic fatigue; post-traumatic stress; sensory processing differences; difficulties with attention and memory; or limited space inside the home
ensuring that the focus of our work is on building YOUR skills and enhancing YOUR relationship with your dog
minimizing stress on dogs who display fear and anxiety around unfamiliar humans
less stress on my sensory system, which allows for me to use the full capacity of my clinical reasoning, communication, and empathic skills
-
Yes. I will meet with you inside your home when:
you live within 30 miles of me (in the Albany, NY greater capital region)
it is not possible to effectively evaluate your dog’s behavior via virtual consultation
technological, physical, cognitive, or sensory limitations prevent you from otherwise accessing this work
In-home visits incur a travel fee. This fee is the same rate as your regular pricing tier, prorated for the amount of time it takes me to travel to your home and back. See pricing tiers here.
-
When I interact with your dog, I am gathering information on only 2 things: how your dog interacts with an unfamiliar human, and how your dog behaves when an unfamiliar human is in their home. This information may or may not be useful to understanding the issue for which you are coming to me for support.
In order to truly understand your dog’s behavior, it is necessary to gather information in a variety of ways, using a variety of methods, including:
interviewing you and your family, and reviewing your answers on a questionnaire
using standardized assessment tools and questionnaires
observing videos* of your dog’s behavior in different environments
observing your structured or unstructured interactions with your dog during virtual sessions
interviewing other humans who know your dog, including your veterinarian, dog walker, other dog health or behavior professionals you have worked with, daycare staff, and groomer
*When the behaviors in question involve aggression or anxiety, I will not review videos in which you specifically prompt your dog to behave in these ways just so I can see it. Aggression and anxious behaviors result out of stress to your dog, and there is no reason to cause stress to your dog just so I can see their response. If you have security camera footage or doorbell recording device footage, or happened to capture a behavior organically, then we can review that. But we will not purposely stress your dog to record their behavior.
-
During this consultation, we will:
review the results of the assessments you filled out ahead of time to help you understand your dog’s behavior
process difficult emotions that have arises following a stressful even with your dog (such as a bite)
problem solve to establish safety and identify all your options
discuss how to access referrals or recommended resources
establish your goals for moving forward
-
A behavior consultation session is 60 minutes. You will receive an email summary after we meet that will include a list and connections to any referrals or recommendations.
-
-
I accept payments via:
Venmo
PayPal
Apple Pay
Zelle
Cash App
credit card
