Going rate for a behaviorist?

[Oscar'sMom]

So Oscar is no longer welcoming non family guests in the house without being leashed. I've contacted a behaviorist that comes highly recommended but it seems pricey. It's $600 for a year with the same issues that we call for...or $700 for any issues for the rest of his life. I don't think $700 is bad but I just wish there was a cheaper option...or less length of time. I have no frame of reference for it...thoughts?

 

[sjdavenport]

Behaviorist as in a veterinary behaviorist? The one in our area charges 150 dollars an hour.

 

[Hector]

That sounds like a hell of a deal? Does the person have any videos of their work?

 

[Oscar'sMom]

It's thru bark busters...they're everywhere I think? Thoughts? The lady is Kendra someone in our area. I spoke with her for 30 minutes the other day about things...what should I ask? I know a couple of people that use her or have used her...one with a bullmastiff and super satisfied with well behaved dogs.

 

[Hector]

Those guys use e - collars. I hope they actually train the dog and not just rely on zapping the crap out of him.

 

[Oscar'sMom]

Well I talked with her and she doesn't use any aversive methods...no prong no e collars...she uses praise and does not train with treats....the first session is a couple hours and then subsequent from there

 

[Oscar'sMom]

She prefers a front clasp harness to the gentle leader that we currently use...which is fine...I just never had a harness I felt like fit well

 

[Hector]

It's thru bark busters...they're everywhere I think? Thoughts? The lady is Kendra someone in our area. I spoke with her for 30 minutes the other day about things...what should I ask? I know a couple of people that use her or have used her...one with a bullmastiff and super satisfied with well behaved dogs.

Do they use e-collars? Maybe i"m confusing them with sit means sit.

 

[Hector]

Well I talked with her and she doesn't use any aversive methods...no prong no e collars...she uses praise and does not train with treats....the first session is a couple hours and then subsequent from there

That's very interesting. Let us know how it goes and what she does.

 

[angelbears]

Good luck!

 

[Oscar'sMom]

I'm just not sure what I should be looking for. I just emailed another guy with some questions
Home

 

[Oscar'sMom]

I'm not sure why the link shows up as home but that's another company here locally

 

[TricAP]

So sorry to here Oscar is having more challenges. Glad to hear you got good referrals from someone who has actually used the person successfully.

The Bark Busters franchise trainer in our area was very inexperienced and wanted to go straight to a prong collar when Angus was a 4 month old. The rate was the same as you were we quoted.

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[karennj]

I paid $75.00/hr for the certified trainer and I thought it was a bit expensive but well worth the money. I would have a problem paying for the entire year though. That is a lot of money to fork out if you don't agree with the person. Maybe you can see if you can do the first session individually and then signup for the year?

 

[Oscar'sMom]

So sorry to here Oscar is having more challenges. Glad to hear you got good referrals from someone who has actually used the person successfully. The Bark Busters franchise trainer in our area was very inexperienced and wanted to go straight to a prong collar when Angus was a 4 month old. The rate was the same as you were we quoted. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

Did you ever have a session or they said that over the phone?

 

[Oscar'sMom]

I paid $75.00/hr for the certified trainer and I thought it was a bit expensive but well worth the money. I would have a problem paying for the entire year though. That is a lot of money to fork out if you don't agree with the person. Maybe you can see if you can do the first session individually and then signup for the year?

I am concerned about the total cost. I just don't want to hate it and then be out $700 and not use it. Is a certified trainer sufficient or is a behaviorist better? I am ignorant

 

[TricAP]

She wouldn't give me references so we didn't use her. I wanted to talk to someone who had to see if they were happy with her methods and the results.

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[karennj]

Honestly I have been very impressed with some of the certified trainers I have met. Not all certifications are the same however. They seem to be more current on the newer training methods and think more out of the box. I looked at 2 behaviorists when I was trying to figure out Bear and was not impressed with their approach or what they had to offer. I do think they absolutely have value and the fact that they can prescribe meds if needed is helpful but I found the trainer I used was much better at looking at the big picture and not just the symptom that I was seeing.

 

[Oscar'sMom]

Makes sense. I need to do some more research first!

 

[BAMCB]

My sister was very unhappy with a behaviorist. She paid $250 an hour and the lady only met the dog once. Prescribed all kinds of meds and talked over the phone(still charging $250/hr) but never really observing or working with the dog. I would check into their approaches first and definitely ask for a consult before I decide to pay a lump sum. When my first EM was getting a bit unruly I hired a private trainer to come to my home and help me. Only took 2 sessions and I loved the results!