Behavioral questionnaire for DDD group or private classes

For shy, nervous, dominant, possessive, territorial, protective, or aggressive dogs:

     Getting off the home territory improves social skills faster.

Start today to make your lives better. 

Every loud or scary reaction gives an adrenaline high that can take days to subside. Scary walks or overly stimulating encounters with a stranger or other dogs can delay progress so keep them safe while you make that call to Best Paw Forward Inc. 

E-mail testimonial:

I hope you remember me and my husband and our black Lab/pit mix D.." We attended your growl class last year with him. 

We are so very proud of him! This month will be one year since we brought him to you scared, fearful and even apprehensive with some people that looked strange to him. We have a different dog now. Still the same sweet dog, but his quality of life has vastly improved. Thank you! 

I wanted to let you know that our training was put to the test yesterday. D is amazing at all commands now. However he still fears other dogs. We have had a huge improvement in this area as we have been able to easily redirect him when dogs are on the other side of our fence. Recently we moved in with family until our home is complete. The yard has PVC picket fence with chicken wire. Not our choice, but he is supervised. 

Yesterday, a dog came into the yard. D went to the fence and before I knew it he went under the chicken wire. My biggest fear was now a reality. (My partner J  said "hey" (we use this command [as suggested] vs. "no" because he has already had bad experiences with this command). After J said "Hey" he commanded D to "come."

D stopped, turned around, ran back to the yard and laid on his back until J came over to get him. Needless to say I was elated that the power of voice was able to snap D out of his focus. We praised him for coming when asked... 

We were definitely very proud of him coming back to us. The other dog was not even touched. I wanted to share this with you and thank you for giving us the tools that we need to help our little guy. 

J and J 

For more than 45 years, behavior consultant P.J. Lacette has worked with dogs with serious behavioral and social issues. Families bring dogs from all over Florida and even from other states for her Detour Doggie Delinquents personalized training and counseling. 

Occasionally she also offers a 4-week or an all-day workshop for these special dogs. Contact us to get on the waiting list for those programs, and to have input on which format (private, weekly, or 1-day programs) is offered next.

Work study or barter opportunities for families of dogs with social issues

Fast track training

Experienced trainer familiar with positive methods?

Highly motivated training support team ready to volunteer at Best Paw Forward Inc.?

Barter items or skills/time we need before your private 2-hour session if you are new to the program. Current long-term helpers talk to PJ about scheduling as soon as possible 

Advanced-student $55 per month, $20 per day drop -in; approved volunteers free with work study start before first class

Discounts for beginner levels with experienced handlers with titles on current or previous dogs in beginner levels

Beginners may also complete short work study projects, usually at our site, before their orientation classes to qualify for free training

Occasional 4-week small-group series for extended training: $395 (includes more than $45 of gentle  training equipment)

All attendees must first attend a special DDD orientation, or have already attended a Best Paw Forward private DDD class, or DDD workshop focusing on social issues, or trained previous dogs in any of our programs

Young children may not attend DDD group sessions.  Youngsters may come to private DDD sessions with a completed DDD form submitted with payment at least 1 week in advance and with permission from your instructor, and only with at least two attending adults completely responsible for the safety of attending family & friends. 

Private sessions for DDD dogs - first 2 hours $270, intensive personalized program

Free training equipment package included  if completed behavior form & payment submitted at least 1 week in advance (handcrafted leather leash & safe, gentle, easy-control training collar, $45-$50 value)

Advance submission of behavior form (online is fastest) required so we can create a personalized plan for your and your dog. You get what you most need right away! 

Extensive questions from that behavior form will be covered first during that initial training session

Subsequent private sessions available as needed for $99 per hour - no need to sign up for expensive packages (1-hour private sessions only only available after completing initial 2-hour session) 

An overwhelming majority of dogs that exhibit aggressive, shy, anxious, protective, possessive and territorial traits can be helped even when there are genetic effects.  When you are selecting a reputable breeder avoid dogs that may have shy, nervous or aggressive close doggie relatives. 

Of course our beloved rescue dogs rarely come with that information, so call us as soon as you adopt to prevent problems from surfacing.  A well-structured positive training class can prevent those issues from growing or surfacing.

Socially adept, well-raised adult dogs can manage stress in a reasonable manner (especially raised in our PuppyLove programs that pups start when 8-17 weeks old). Some dogs get to sleep on the owners' beds (our own, for instance, after the age of 2), as long as owners want that & the dogs are behaving well the rest of the day.  

A dog with social issues, in many cases: 

Did not attend a well-run positive puppy program beginning at 8-17 weeks old, often "because he was such a good puppy."  That quiet pup that has not gotten into much trouble might have been too afraid to venture into scary situations at first but could benefit greatly from A LOT of early socialization. Vaccines have improved  -- join our safe puppy programs 

Especially for puppies, avoid feeding generic or big-name low-to-medium quality dog food 

Pups should sleep in safe confinement in the the owner’s bedroom at least through adolescence (until 2 years old). Dogs that sleep away from owners (or, even worse, outside) during the formative first two years of life may become nervous and over-protective.

Feed meals for no more than 10 minutes at a time,  2 times a day, rather than leaving food out all the time and creating poor eating habits. Even better is to feed for fun training games when you are with your new dog. 

Pups must only have supervised access to the yard, and that access is limited to on-leash unless it is fully safely fenced. We have often seen serious social skills issues in dogs that have access to a doggie door or an open door.

A punishment-based upbringing creates sneaky dogs who learn how to avoid getting caught, especially if it includes painful training equipment (particularly prong or shock collars) and intimidation rather than reinforcement training.

Never praise a dog for acting protective, especially during the formative first two years of life.