All Creatures Behavior Counseling

I volunteer for a dog rescue, working with herding breeds, who can be challenging to deal with due to their intelligence and high energy levels. Last fall, a young dog I fostered was returned by his adoptive family; after less than a month in their home, he was displaying fearful snapping behavior — but the adopters’ story about what had happened was very muddled. The board of the rescue needed the dog independently evaluated to ensure he could safely be placed in another home, while I needed help and guidance working with him to get him past his fears.
In came Dr. Sung and her team. They evaluated the dog, and were able to explain that some of the dog’s behaviors were fearful, while others were simply attention-​seeking, such as barking and jumping. They provided a detailed report and training methods to use in working with the dog in my home, to help his behavior improve. Three months of follow-​up support is provided with the cost of the evaluation appointment, so I was able ask questions during follow up calls and emails. Members of the rescue board were also able to consult with Doctor Sung by phone.
We had two followup visits with the doctor, which are done at a reduced rate, and she assessed his progress and I got a refresher class at each one. Even though the appointments were an hour long and spaced apart several months, I felt she really understood the dog as well as I did after having him in my home. He made dramatic improvements in the time we worked together, and I’m grateful for her guidance and reassurance during the entire process.