Case Studies

Sofrito was having a very hard time settling into life in an urban environment. Noises such as bus breaks, fireworks, motorcycles and revving engines terrified her outside and she had a hard time settling in her apartment if she heard noises from the street. To help Sofrito build a strong, positive relationship with her mom, Natasha, and to use that relationship to help grow Sofrito’s confidence in other areas of her life.

Jacky displayed significant fear-based behaviors in a variety of situations, from cowering and baring his teeth if someone reached too quickly to pet him, to freezing in place and urinating in response to simple obedience cues. He also struggled with impulsivity and separation anxiety. Our goal was to help Jacky regain his confidence as he aged.

Cooper was exhibiting some behaviors that made his new family feel uncomfortable: nipping and herding the kids (ages 11 and 13 yrs), pulling strenuously on walks and being unresponsive to cues. Our goal was to help Cooper co-exist peacefully with, and be responsive to, his family, so they could enjoy their lives together.

Violet was fearful of being leashed by her dog walkers, and struggled with being examined by veterinarians. Our goal was to change Violet’s association with being leashed by other people, and ensure her needs for exercise, companionship, and mental stimulation were being met during her parent's long work days.