Finding a good behaviorist means finding the right person for you and your dog. There are universals to look for, but additionally you, your dog, and the behaviorist simply have to ‘click’. Which means that once you have found a list of behaviorists who on paper look to be able to offer the help you need, a personal interview is important.
With that in mind, here is a good article on how to assess a dog trainer - the same will apply to behaviorists. This article is Canada/US based, but the principles apply here as well.
https://www.companionanimalpsycholog...g-trainer.html
Here is a good article from Hundeherz, which is Swiss-centric. Unfortunately only in German, but you can run it through a translator if needed:
https://www.hundeherz.ch/fachbeitrag...im-hund-teil-1 https://www.hundeherz.ch/fachbeitrag...im-hund-teil-2 https://www.hundeherz.ch/fachbeitrag...im-hund-teil-3
The second and third parts address some of the issues to consider in choosing a behaviorist and behavioral therapy program.
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I would initiate contact by writing to several behaviorists, with a concise statement of your concerns about your dog’s behavior. Ask if the behaviorist has experience dealing with these issues, and ask if an in-person meeting is possible. Many behaviorists will want to see the dog in his home setting with all family members present. However, if your concerns largely center around issues that arise when out and about, the behaviorist might want to replicate those situations in the first meeting.
Be aware that you will likely need to pay for this introductory visit.
Before that first meeting, I’d have carefully read the behaviorist’s website, which usually includes background info on their philosophy and methods. (Of course, I use this background info as a sorting point. Remember - fear issues should never involve adversive techniques.) I’d also have looked at the types of courses offered, as that too gives me an insight into methods.
I’d then draw up a list of specific questions for that first meeting, asking:
How would you go about assessing my dog’s issues?
Have you worked with dogs like mine before?
What approaches did you find to be most helpful?
Where there things that you found were not helpful/effective?
How do you assess if a treatment plan is helping, or not?
To this last point, from experience I’ve learned that small steps/celebrating the little victories is key for me. The final goal of ‘happy, well behaved dog’ may be a long ways away, and it can be overwhelming when that is the only measure of success we focus on. I’d want a behaviorist who can help me set and measure incremental goals, and help me set realistic expectations.
I’ve had my share o’ whack-a-doodle mutts, and know that there is no ‘one size fits all’, even when the outward behavioral challenges are similar. Every dog is an individual, every owner/dog/household constellation might present different challenges, and so the approach needs to be tailored to you and your dog’s specific needs.. Key for me is finding someone well versed in the various schools of canine behavioral theory, who is not so rigid in one approach or another, but willing to assess and if needed change along the way, someone who has an open mind and wide range of experience/techniques.
If your first meeting with the behaviorist feels right, perhaps at first sign up for a single or limited number of sessions, simply so you can see if this approach really feel right for you and your dog, before committing to a longer, possibly expensive, course.
FYI, some trainers will allow prospective clients to observe a group training session, without your dog, which is a good opportunity to assess style of training, personal interaction, etc. Do take up this opportunity if offered.
But I wouldn’t think observation would be available for an individual behavioral therapy session, simply because it would not be fair to the dog/owner involved. The presence of an outsider is often not appropriate, depending on the issues being worked on.
Are you still in Germany? If so, the rescue I volunteer with has sought help for some of their charges from Animal Learn, led by Clarissa von Reinhardt, a respected behaviorist and trainer (author of ’Stress in Dogs’). You might consider starting there if you are anywhere near them,
https://animal-learn.de
A bit of a trek from Switzerland, though.
In other threads, several EFers have recommended Fair Train:
https://www.fairtrain.ch
Also in other threads, EFers have recommended looking for a trainer certified by PDTE, Pet Dog Trainers of Europe, a group founded by Turid Rugaas. Members follow a code of ethics and commit to ongoing education. There is a search function you can use to find a member in Switzerland:
https://www.pdte.eu/find-a-trainer
My own trainers, who were such a fantastic help and support with many of my dogs, are certified by Certodog, a Swiss group that trains trainers. Neither speaks English, so not a choice for you, but you could look through the list of Certodog members, here:
https://www.certodog.ch/infos/hundeschulen
Upthread I mentioned the NHB, the voluntary ‘doggy good citizen’ course. Trainers certified to teach the NHB would also be a good place to start looking for help, as many of the trainers will also offer additional courses or one-to-one sessions. As mentioned earlier, there is a lot of crossover between training and behavioral therapy.
https://www.nhb-bpc.dog/nhb-fachpersonen
Another place to look is with the trainers/behaviorists who have signed on to the ‘Initiativ für Gewaltfreies Training’, an advocacy group dedicated to promoting fear-free training. Here is a list, which includes the trainer’s qualifications, by PLZ:
https://www.gewaltfreies-hundetraini...hulen/schweiz/
ETA, with a recommendation from a colleague. Patricia Wantz of Amicanis, in Zürich:
https://www.amicanis.ch/staff/patricia/
With all of the above, as you look at a trainer/behaviorist’s qualifications, look up the website of the training organization. You can learn a lot about the provider’s philosophy from their training school, as well as from further education seminars and courses attended.
If the trainer who piques your interest's website does not specify that courses are given in English, write to them in English anyway, ask if training in English is possible. Folks who give group classes in German (F, I) might be willing to work one-to-one in English. Can’t hurt to ask.
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I have found that the combination of both group training and 1-1 behavioral therapy has been very beneficial for my nutcases. In 1-1 behavioral sessions we work on skills that we then put into practice in a ’safe' seetting with an understanding group of owners in the Hundeschule. Again, there is no one size fits all, and you might find that combining approaches a good way to help your pup.
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And a last word, just information to keep in the background, should the need arise:
I have spent the better part of 30 years living with mixed-up mutts. I put a great deal of value on training and behavioral therapy, and through the decades with help from excellent behaviorists and trainers have had success helping my whacky friends overcome their various issues. I truly believed that it was mostly a matter of finally finding the right training program, the right behavioral approach, the right techniques for this particular individual. With the right approach for each dog, with knowledge and dedication to the journey, I believed I could help my four footers learn to live happily in our confusing human world.
And then came Robin Goodfellow.
My tried and true approach simply was not working. He continued to spiral, despite all the resources and professional help I had at my disposal.
In desperation I took a step I had never considered with my other dogs: behavioral medication.
There are some dogs whose anxiety is crippling to the point where they cannot engage with even the best behavioral therapy alone,, whose fear is so great that they shut down as a first response, or whose brains are simply’ miswired’, who may have a neurological issue in conjunction with behavioral issues. Just like in humans. With these dogs one might need to consider behavioral meds.
In hindsight, my success with my other mutts actually blinded me to the fact that Robin needed more than behavioral therapy alone. I now see that in his case I waited too long to consider meds.
Behavioral meds are certainly not a first step, and not a panacea. They usually do not replace behavioral therapy, rather one often needs to consider meds as part of a package, used in conjunction with more traditional behavioral therapy. Just like in humans. This is what we are doing with Robin.
If you find that you need to consider this possibility, I heartily recommend Dr Maya Bräm. She has her own practice, or can be seen at the Tierspital in Zürich:
https://www.tierspital.uzh.ch/de/kle...gie/braem.html https://mayanimal.ch/index.html
Dr Bräm won’t push you into anything you are not comfortable doing, she is kind, compassionate, and very knowledgable. She has, quite literally, saved Robin’s life.
Her practice is in great demand, there may be a wait for a consultation.
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Wishing you and your pup all the very best.
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