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How does this work?

For consultations regarding your current pet's behavior:

Step 1:    Contact me to discuss your concerns about your pet's behavior. We can chat over the phone for up to 15 minutes, or you can send a detailed email.

Step 2:    Based on our chat or your email, I'll recommend a consultation and treatment OR a brief consultation.

Step 3:    The paperwork and formalities: Complete the service agreement and pre-visit questionnaire, schedule your appointment, and pay the deposit (Venmo, CashApp, or Square Invoice).

Step 4:    The consultation appointment (detailed descriptions of what to expect for each appointment type are available below).

Step 5:    Follow up as needed. Individual follow up needs will vary, so recommendations for follow up will be included in your treatment plan or consultation summary. Of course, life happens and things change, so if you ever need further guidance outside of the recommended follow up, you can always schedule follow up appointments as needed.

For consultations regarding future pets, schedule a Pet Selection Consultation, pay the deposit (Venmo, CashApp, or Square Invoice).and complete the Pet Selection Questionnaire.

Behavior Consultation and Treatment Plan

Consultation and treatment plan appointments are where we start when addressing a behavior concern you have for your pet that requires some kind of intervention to treat. Some examples of behavior concerns you might want to work on include:

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  • Fear, anxiety, and/or stress in a variety of contexts or in response to a variety of scenarios

  • Conflict between pets, or between pets and human family members

  • Unwanted/inappropriate elimination, scratching, biting, or playing in cats

  • Aggression and reactivity

  • Resource guarding

  • Family/pet relationships and dynamics

  • Preparing for and navigating big changes (such as moving, travel, changes to the daily routine that might come with a new job, a new baby or other family/friend moving in, etc.)

 

The consultation is a 60 minute virtual or in-person appointment during which we will talk through your concerns, set goals and expectations, and work together to devise a behavior treatment plan that you feel comfortable and confident implementing with support. Behavior treatment plans are provided in writing to you and your pet's veterinarian and any other pet care professionals you might work with (ex: trainers, groomers, veterinary behaviorists). Plans incorporate management and behavior modification techniques, and often include handouts and other educational resources, recommendations for products, and referrals to other professionals for assistance with all aspects of the plan. Follow up post-consultation is essential to address any concerns or issues with treatment progress and integrity so that positive change is made efficiently. Continuous support is provided through weekly review of your behavior and training journal, and two 15 minute follow up appointments are included in this package. If more in depth follow up is needed, additional follow up consultations may be scheduled as needed (additional fees apply). If you have behavior concerns for more than one pet, additional time and fees will apply.

Fee:  $300

Travel Fee:  $15 per 10 minutes, round-trip

Additional Pet:  $100 (45 minutes)

Brief Behavior Consultaton

Brief Behavior Consultation

Brief consultations are for pet parents looking for answers to behavior-related questions, advice, guidance, or general education about best practices when it comes to co-existing with a pet. Brief consultations do not include a treatment plan or follow up.​ The consultation is a 45 minute virtual or in-person appointment during which we will talk through your concerns or questions, and a summary of the discussion and any advice, guidance, and educational material will be provided in writing to you and your pet's veterinarian and any other pet care professionals you might work with (ex: trainers, groomers, veterinary behaviorists). If follow up is needed, additional follow up consultations may be scheduled as needed (additional fees apply). If you have behavior concerns for more than one pet, additional time and fees will apply.

**Please note: The appropriate consultation appointment type will be determined during your 15 minute call or after reviewing your email request. Not all behavior questions or concerns can be adequately addressed with a brief consultation, and similarly, not all questions or concerns need the full consultation and treatment plan.**

Fee:  $150

Travel Fee:  $15 per 10 minutes, round-trip

Additional Pet:  $100 (45 minutes)

Follow Up Behavior Consultato

Follow Up Behavior Consultation

After an initial consultation and two included follow ups, unlimited follow up consultations may be scheduled to continue working on implementation of the current behavior plan, or to discuss new concerns for the same pet. Any new concerns for a different pet must be addressed in an initial consultation. Follow up consultations last 45 minutes and are usually performed virtually.

Fee:  $100

Travel Fee:  $15 per 10 minutes, round-trip

Pet Selection Consultation

Pet Selection Consultation

Are you thinking about adding a new pet to your family? I can help you decide what kind of pet--species, breed, age, etc.--and help plan the transition into new pet guardianship. Whether you've never had a cat before, or you've cared for dogs your whole life, or you're interested in taking on a new adventure and learning to care for a small mammal, reptile, or bird, every situation and individual is unique, and I am here to support you and your family. We'll talk about all the important things to consider when choosing a pet and weigh all of your options so that you're prepared and confident in taking on this privilege and responsibility. When you schedule a consultation, you'll be sent a pre-visit questionnaire to complete prior to the appointment and pay your deposit. Consultations last 30 minutes and are performed virtually.

Fee:  $50

FF Vet Victory Visits

Fear Free Veterinary Victory Visits

Is your dog or cat anxious or scared at the vet? Do you have a puppy or kitten and want to get them started on the right paw by acclimating them to the sights, smells, sounds, and handling performed at the animal hospital?

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Victory Visits are short, 15 minute training sessions designed to help your pet learn to have a positive association with veterinary care. Since your pet will need veterinary care throughout their life, it's ideal to make them feel as comfortable and safe as possible. This not only benefits your pet's mental health, but also their physical health. Pets who are stressed at the vet show physiological changes such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, and it's normal to feel reluctant to bring your pet in for care if you know they experience fear, anxiety, or stress associated with vet visits.

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Victory Visits are scheduled once per week for 6 consecutive weeks. The first visit serves as an assessment where we will set goals and expectations based on your pet's response to stimuli such as handling/restraint and auscultation with a stethoscope. The remaining 5 visits will be tailored to yours and your pet's needs, focusing on developing your skills and improving your pet's emotional response to veterinary care.

Contact for scheduling options. This service is in development.

PSRP

Puppy Start Right Preschool

Do you have a new puppy or plan to soon? Get started on the right paw!

What is Puppy Start Right Preschool?

  • Puppy socialization, exploration, and training class

  • Developed by Ken and Debbie Martin, a veterinary behaviorist and VTS (Behavior) husband-wife team, and presented by Karen Pryor Academy

  • Designed to facilitate the training process – Pet parent trains the puppy, not the instructor!

    • Helps to build a strong human-animal bond between puppy and pet parent

Why is Puppy Start Right Preschool important?

  • Socialization period helps to define a puppy’s behavior for the rest of his life

    • Finite period of time from 7-16 weeks

    • More open to new experiences, people during this time

    • More novelty and exposure leads to more well-balanced puppy

    • Improper or inadequate socialization and experiences can lead to behavior issues later in life

      • Lack of experience is just as detrimental as bad experience

      • Socialization is about exposure AND positive experiences

  • Behavior-related issues are the most common reason for relinquishment of pets, especially in the first few years of life

What does Puppy Start Right Preschool cover?

  • Basic positive reinforcement training (Examples: Sit, Loose-leash walking, Leave it, Drop it, Recall/come)

  • Problem prevention and solving

    • Crate training

    • Handling and restraint

    • Muzzle training

    • Elimination training

    • Digging

    • Counter surfing and stealing objects

    • Independence

    • Play biting/mouthing

    • Food bowl

    • Collar/leash wearing and holding

    • Chewing

    • Jumping

    • Spay/neuter

  • Comfort with strangers

  • Socialization and play with puppies of other sizes and breeds

Contact for scheduling options. This service is in development.

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