Reactive Dog Training & Behavior Modification On Long Island For Barking, Lunging & Leash Reactivity
ft. Liv
Personalized Training That Helps Reactive Dogs Build Confidence, Focus & Calm Behavior
Professional Dog Training & Behavior Solutions In Nassau County and Huntington Long Island
Whether your dog is reactive by barking, growling, lunging or attempting to bite while on a walk, in your home or behind a fence, De Marinis Dog Training & Behavior can help you and your dog through individualized in-home training and behavior modification.
Every dog is different. That's why every training and behavior plan is customized to your dog's behavior, personality, learning style, and your goals. Our approach focuses on helping owners understand their dogs while creating lasting behavior change through practical, hands-on training using a variety of training methods and strategies.
All sessions take place in the comfort of your home or at a location of your choice in Nassau County and Huntington where your dog will display the reactive behaviors you are looking to resolve.
Former reactive dog Wes enjoying a dip while hiking
What Is Reactive Behavior?
Reactive behavior represents an emotional response to a stimulus (i.e., the sight, sound and/or smell of something) that triggers an abnormal level of intensity (i.e., an over reaction). A common example would be a dog who barks excessively when seeing someone (the “trigger”) walking across the street. Reactive behaviors vary from dog to dog and often include barking, lunging, snarling, snapping, stiffening, hyper-vigilance, alertness, fearfulness and/or avoidance. When dogs become reactive, the overstimulation may cause loss of their conscious control. When this happens, overreactive, frustrated and/or aroused dogs can exhibit aggressive behaviors.
Our Process and How It Works
Initial Consultation (1.5 - 2 Hours): Everyone starts here. During the consultation we will:
Learn about your dog’s behavior(s)
Discuss your goals
Discuss your behavior and training options
Create a plan and come up with strategies
Implementation of strategies and training skills generally starts during the initial consultation.
Follow-up Sessions (45 min - 1 hour): During the follow-up sessions we will generally start where we left off from our prior session by continuing to build on any skills or strategies that were covered and/or we will introduce additional skills and strategies to continue moving forward with your goals.
*Rates are listed on the rates page.
Location of Reactivity Sessions
Consultations and follow-up sessions can take place at your home, in your neighborhood, a public space or at a location where you will be able to work around the triggers that cause your dog to react. For more details about consultations and follow-up lessons at a specific location and/or studio appointments, please inquire.
Behavior Modification For Reactive Behavior Can Help With:
Barking
Lunging
Fear or anxiety-based behavior
Reactive behavior specific to being on a leash or behind a barrier
Frustration buildup
Impulse control issues
Aggressive behavior when on leash or behind a barrier
Lack of understanding training skills when triggered / reactive
Teaching and practicing of new training skills to help you and your dog
And Much More!
Arlo and Anthony
Our Approach & Philosophy
Laurie, Olaf and Anthony In A Reactivity Lesson
We approach each dog as an individual, helping them to be the best version of themselves while teaching you how to be the best owner for your dog.
As individuals, each dog learns, works and is motivated in different ways, which is why we do not believe in one training method or approach.
Our training techniques and behavior modification strategies incorporate a variety of methods and styles, with a focus on reward-based techniques and play, as we believe training and learning should be enjoyable, motivating, and cultivate a relationship. This is done by using food, toys and play, praise and attention, and/or exploration as rewards.
Lessons are customized based on your goals and who your individual dog is. Our goal is to help you and your dog succeed. Together, we will determine what the best training methods, strategies and tools for your dog and you will be so that you can achieve your goals and live your best lives together.
If you would like see what our training looks like, take a look at some of the videos throughout the website and on our social media channels.
Anthony and Zammy after a training session
Through our one-on-one lessons, you will learn how to:
Train your dog.
Understand who your dog is and why they do the things they do.
Address your dog’s sometimes inconvenient behavior(s).
Fulfill your dog’s needs both physically and mentally.
Guide and set your dog up for success, both in and out of the home.
Create clear and consistent rules and boundaries.
NOTE: We do NOT offer quick-fix approaches.
Want to see what our reactivity sessions look like?
Take a look at the clips down below!
Online Virtual Behavior Sessions Are Available
Whether you are local or not, Online Virtual Behavior Sessions are available. If you do not have a qualified behavior professional near you, you can get help no matter where you live!
Helpful Reactivity Tips From Our Blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is reactivity?
Reactive behavior represents an emotional response to a stimulus (i.e., the sight, sound and/or smell of something) that triggers an abnormal level of intensity (i.e., an over reaction). A common example would be a dog who barks excessively when seeing someone (the “trigger”) walking across the street. Reactive behaviors vary from dog to dog and often include barking, lunging, snarling, snapping, stiffening, hyper-vigilance, alertness, fearfulness and/or avoidance. When dogs become reactive, the overstimulation may cause loss of their conscious control. When this happens, overreactive, frustrated and/or aroused dogs can exhibit aggressive behaviors.
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Behavior issues in dogs can be a result of many things. Some common reasons behavior issues occur include:
Lack of proper, early and appropriate socialization
Fear, anxiety and stress
Lack of training
Traumatic experiences
Rehearsed behaviors: when a behavior is practiced over and over
Improper training and/or misuse of tools
Genetic predisposition (poor breeding)
Medical and physical issues
Reinforcing inappropriate behaviors
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The answer to this question really depends on a variety of factors. These include:
What the behavior issue is
The severity of the problem will determine how long it can take to address a problem
How long the issue has gone on
How the issue may have been addressed prior, if at all.
How long it will take your dog to process and comprehend behavior modification protocols and training
If the owner chooses to follow through on implementation of training and behavior modification protocols
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There is a lot of debate about this question within the dog training and behavior community today. If you ask five dog training and behavior professionals, you will get five different answers. To make it more confusing, with social media, the growth of AI and some veterinarians and veterinary behaviorist organizations; all seem to have become sources claiming to be the “experts” of “knowing best”.
The truth is, every dog is different, every dog is an individual and there are many different reasons as to why a dog may have a behavior issue. This also means there are multiple ways to achieve results in many cases. In the end, the method chosen should depend on the individual dog and behavior issue. The approach should be as fair as possible and clear to the dog rather than being soley based on ideological beliefs.
Despite what you may read online or see on social media or on your favorite AI platform, behavior modification is not a one size fits all approach.
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Understand What Your Dog Is Saying
Our dogs are constantly communicating through their body language and behavior. Understanding canine body language and communication signals is important because it can help us learn about how our dogs are feeling and why they are doing the behaviors they choose to display. Taking the time to learn about canine body language and communication signals is the first step in treating any behavior issue.
Upload Video Footage
If you have any videos of the problem behaviors, it is helpful to upload them to your computer. You can also upload a couple of videos where your dog is just being him/her self, regardless if it shows any of the behavior issues. If possible, please upload videos on Youtube and make sure to select it as “Unlisted” so that it is not public. Once your appointment is scheduled, you can send Anthony an email with the links to each video. You can also upload video to Google Drive if you prefer. If none of these options work for you, just save them to your computer and Anthony can share the screen view option together during the consult. All videos will be reviewed together during the consult. If you do not have video footage of the issues, do not worry. It is NOT worth trying to provoke your dogs behavior or put yourself or your dog in harms way for video footage.
Keep a Behavior History Journal
In a notebook, you should be writing down specific incidents when the problem behavior(s) happens is key! You should also include what happens before and after the behavior(s) as this provides valuable information. Include as much detail as you can.
Client Testimonials
“Cannot recommend highly enough. One of our dogs struggles with reactivity, particularly on leash. Working with Anthony has helped us gain a better understanding of our boy’s triggers, how to manage them, and dig deeper into possible causes. Anthony’s expertise and professional training are what attracted us to him. When you work with him, you’re getting much more than a dog trainer. 12/10 recommend!”
.-Amy M.
“I was referred to Anthony by another trainer for aggression and reactivity in my rescue puppy. Since working with him my dog has made tremendous progress. I highly recommend him to anyone with a dog with behavior problems!”
Sharyn S.Maxwell N.
-Sharyn S.
“Without a doubt I would recommend Anthony and De Marinis Dog Training and & Behavior. I have worked with Anthony for our reactive dog (towards other dogs). Anthony has a very calming demeanor that makes an anxious dog owner feel at ease. And he is very easy to talk with and would allow me to video him so that I could go back and review everything we covered in our lesson. I highly recommend Anthony!”
-Allen P.