About Canine Consultants Behavior & Training Center

Who runs it

Susan Kapla, PhD, described on her own site as "Dog Trainer & Board Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist." Her working line sits at the top of the home page: "Training opens a conversation with another species. From there, the possibilities are endless."

The credential, explained on the site

She spends a page on what the letters mean: "Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists have advanced graduate degrees in the science of animal behavior and have met the requirements of the Animal Behavior Society (ABS) by demonstrating a completion of six to ten years of formal academic experience leading to a Master's or Doctoral degree, hands-on experience, and adherence to ethical standards." She draws the distinction plainly: "While anybody can call themselves a 'behaviorist' or 'behavior consultant', individuals certified by the ABS have demonstrated the necessary formal academic preparation and experience that signifies them as area experts." She adds how rare it is: "As a Board-Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist with the Animal Behavior Society, I share the company of fewer than 75 in the nation."

Background

"With an emphasis on humane and effective techniques, I have been training dogs and offering individualized behavior consultations and training to owners experiencing problems with their canine companions since 1989." Her academic path: "I earned my B.S. and M.S. at Northern Michigan University and my Ph.D. from West Virginia University in 2005 where my research focused on problem behavior in companion dogs." Before this she taught: "after teaching for 13 years as an assistant professor in the Psychology Department at Northern Michigan University, I am now fully dedicated to dogs and their owners and see clients year round at my Behavior & Training Center in Rumely, Michigan." She has also "worked closely with shelters and veterinary clinics in Michigan, West Virginia, Iowa and Wisconsin," and lists past venues: "AKC Obedience, Protection Sports, Pet Facilitated Therapy, Shelter work, and Herding."

Method

Rooted in behavior analysis: "My approach to training lies in the theories and principles of environment-behavior relations as they apply to both dogs and humans. Fundamentally, dogs do what they do because of what happens to them when they do it. Humans do too." She is direct about expectations owners bring: "it is critical to understand and appreciate dogs for what they are, not for what we might want them to be or think they should be."

On aversives she takes a stated position rather than an absolute: "With the volume of knowledge and research findings available today, it is no longer necessary to rely on the use of painful or damaging experiences to modify a dog's behavior. Instead, behavior can be changed by specifically managing how the dog gets what he wants. While the application of aversive events may be necessary in some cases, the use of them is not the first nor the preferred method of effecting behavior change." Her objection is practical as well as ethical: "the application of aversives often becomes the only tool an owner ever tries. These owners miss out on the power of reinforcement and teamwork!"

What a first visit involves

She sets it out step by step. "The first step in helping to modify the problem is to assess the problem," which means "a behaviorist will ask you many questions about your dog, your family and your living situation." Then the family is assessed too: "A behavior plan that can't or won't be implemented by the family isn't worth very much." The plan is then demonstrated: "the elements of the behavior plan will be demonstrated and family members will be carefully monitored as they implement the same elements. A written description of the plan will be provided to each client and progress will be monitored closely via follow-up visits or, at times, phone calls." Veterinarians are looped in: "because behaviorists work closely with veterinarians to insure that behavioral problems are not due to underlying medical problems, a copy of the behavior assessment and program will be forwarded to your veterinarian as necessary."

Why she frames it around shelters

"When things go badly, many dogs find themselves relinquished to shelters or passed along with their problems to another family where the cycle often repeats itself. Fortunately, there are other options."

Where it is

Two addresses are published: "Mailing Address: Canine Consultants, N5167 Kuivinen Rd., Skandia, MI 49885, USA" and "PHYSICAL ADDRESS: E2007 M94, Rumely, MI."

Before you book

Ask about prices, class dates and program lengths.