At Synapse Canine Learning Center, many of our pet dog programs begin with a comprehensive and thorough evaluation. We use the evaluation to learn more about your dog training goals and to establish the best path forward for you and your dog on your training journey.
The evaluation is one of the most crucial stages of our training process. It allows us to meet your dog and gain an understanding of some of the context and history surrounding their behavior. This is particularly important in severe behavioral cases. Our approach to evaluations has benefited many dog owners – even before they choose to embark on a training program with us. Many families are able to implement the recommendations we make after an evaluation, therefore significantly improving their ability to manage problematic behaviors in the short-term. Our training program together can then build on the ‘quick wins’ identified in the evaluation phase.
This article summarizes the main points of our evaluation, and answers some of the questions we frequently receive about them. You can also watch the video below which explains the evaluation process.
The purpose of the evaluation
During an evaluation, our main aim is to understand your dog training goals and how we can help you achieve them. It could be that you have a new puppy, and you’re looking for a puppy-specific program that teaches them their fundamental cues; or perhaps you have a dog with a significant behavioral challenge, and you’re looking to manage or resolve that issue.
One very useful aspect of our evaluation is that it gives us the opportunity to observe your dog’s body language. This contributes to a successful diagnosis of any problematic behaviors. Our experience also enables us to help you understand why your dog may be behaving in a certain way – which is often vital for making sustainable, long-lasting progress.
What happens before an evaluation
Our evaluation process actually starts prior to the actual evaluation. This is very important in behavioral cases where we need a greater understanding of the context regarding your dog’s behavior. For example, we may ask for any visual evidence (photos, videos, etc.) in advance of the evaluation, as the dog may not display these exact behaviors at the evaluation itself. This helps to give a broader understanding of your dog’s behavior.
Prior to your evaluation – typically a couple of days beforehand – you will receive an email from us that outlines the format of the appointment, along with any specific tips to enable you to prepare for the evaluation.
Location and duration of our evaluations
There are three options for the location of your evaluation:
- In-person, at your home
- In-person, at our facility
- Virtual, over video conference
In preparation for the evaluation, we will discuss the best location for it to take place. This decision will be determined by the precise nature of any behavioral concerns. For example, if the behavioral context only occurs in your home, the evaluation may be most effective taking place there. For more serious behavioral concerns (ex: extreme fear or anxiety, or human-directed aggression), it may be preferable to hold a virtual consultation.
Our evaluations typically run between 60 and 120 minutes. This timeframe enables us to thoroughly evaluate your dog and get a fuller understanding of their behavior.
What happens during the evaluation
We approach our evaluations from a clinical perspective. While the specifics of each evaluation will vary depending on the dog, the typical topics we cover in our evaluations include:
- Your overall dog training goals, and what success looks like for you and your dog
- Any current behavioral concerns
- Environmental history
- Behavioral history
- Training history
- Social history
- Health records and current medication (if any)
- Motivators and influences on your dog’s behavior
We will also take the time to observe your dog’s behavior and body language. It is important to caveat these observations by stating that the introduction of a new person into your dog’s environment, or the introduction of a new location to your dog, can have an influence on your dog’s behavior.
For behavioral consults, we will then be able to discuss management strategies with you. These help to minimize risk, typically by providing ideas for different exercises or games, or by making modifications to your dog’s environment to prevent the behavior from being practiced. If we feel it will be beneficial, we will also provide you with psychometric tests for your dog that you can complete after the evaluation. The results of these tests can help to provide us with a more comprehensive understanding of your dog’s temperament characteristics.
After the evaluation
Within 1-3 days of the evaluation taking place, you will receive an email that details some of the recommended protocols and practices to be implemented. This enables you to make immediate changes that can have a positive effect on your dog’s life.
A full consultation report is provided within two weeks of the evaluation. This consultation report will detail the full diagnosis of your dog’s behavior, and the driving factors behind it; the results of any psychometric tests, and how this information can be interpreted and applied to your dog; training exercises and protocols; and a list of resources, including books, articles and podcasts.
As no two dogs are the same, each consultation report is individually prepared, and the resources and recommendations are tailored to your dog and your overall training goals.
Upon receipt of the consultation report, we will then have a subsequent discussion to establish which training program is the best fit for your dog moving forward.
If you have any questions about our evaluation process, or would like to schedule an evaluation for your dog, please reach out to us at info@synapsecanine.com for more information!