What to Expect
At the initial behavior consultation, Dr. Engmann will spend time with you and your family to gather more information in order to make a diagnosis and treatment plan that is tailored to your family and your dog. She also will observe your dog to gain insight into his/her behavior problem in a safe manner.
Dr. Engmann will discuss the diagnosis and prognosis, as well as safety, management, and behavior modification. In some cases, she may recommend anti-anxiety medication in addition to the behavior modification plan. Any medical problems that may be contributing to your pet’s behavior problem also will be discussed.
You will be provided with a detailed, written summary of the consultation. A copy will be emailed or faxed to your primary care veterinarian.
Preparing for the Consultation
- We request that you complete a behavior history form 72 hours prior to your consultation. Also, please ask your veterinarian to send your pet’s full medical record in advance. This is essential so that Dr. Engmann can review ALL of your pet’s relevant information prior to your consultation.
- Let us know if you are not certain whether a particular pet and/or person should attend the consultation. Once Dr. Engmann has reviewed your completed behavioral history form, she will be able to advise you.
- You are encouraged to send photos of your home environment. Please include video recordings of interactions and behaviors that you would like Dr. Engmann to see directly. Short video recordings can be sent by sharing a Dropbox file.
NOTE: Do NOT put yourself, your pet, or other people/animals at risk to capture a picture and/or video recording of the undesirable behavior.
- We request that you complete a behavior history form 72 hours prior to your consultation. Also, please ask your veterinarian to send your pet’s full medical record in advance. This is essential so that Dr. Engmann can review ALL of your pet’s relevant information prior to your consultation.
- Let us know if you are not certain whether a particular pet and/or person should attend the consultation. Once Dr. Engmann has reviewed your completed behavioral history form, she will be able to advise you.
- You are encouraged to send photos of your home environment. Please include video recordings of interactions and behaviors that you would like Dr. Engmann to see directly. Short video recordings can be sent by sharing a Dropbox file.
NOTE: Do NOT put yourself, your pet, or other people/animals at risk to capture a picture and/or video recording of the undesirable behavior.
What to Have at the Consultation
- You and your pet
- Special equipment that you use for training and/or the behavior problem
- Favorite treats
- Favorite toy and a comfortable mat (not required)
- Any written training plans/notes from previous trainers or behaviorists
Who Should Attend
Please consider having the members of your household present who directly interact with your dog so that they can hear Dr. Engmann’s diagnosis and recommendations and ask any questions.
As the initial consultation lasts 2 hours, young children may not be able to sit through the consultation.
After the visit
Follow-up communication is critical to a successful outcome! Behavior problems tend to be very complex. In most cases progress takes time and there are no quick simple solutions. Follow up communications and consultations are strongly recommended to review your pet’s progress and ensure you are satisfied with the progress being made. The degree of progress is variable and is a combination of the individual pet, how long the problem has been occurring, and quite possibly most importantly, the commitment of the owner/family to the treatment plan.