Working with Dogs & Smaller Pets
Threshold mapping, desensitization, and dual-barrier protocols for multi-species households.
This is the course for households navigating the real challenge: a dog with prey drive living alongside birds, rodents, reptiles, or other small animals. You'll learn a structured, science-based approach to threshold management, desensitization, and impulse control — plus get asynchronous video feedback from Paola on your specific household dynamics.
What you'll learn
- Understanding and mapping your dog's threshold around small pets
- Desensitization and counter-conditioning step-by-step
- Dual-barrier protocols and why they matter
- Canine impulse control foundations
- Handler mechanics — leash tension, body position, and timing
- How to read your dog's arousal level accurately
- Building reliable off-switch behaviors
- Async video review from Paola on your household's specific dynamics
Course modules
Predatory Motor Patterns & Prey Drive
What prey drive actually is, how it differs from aggression, and why understanding the motor pattern sequence is essential for safe management.
Threshold Mapping
How to identify your dog's threshold around small pets, how to map it accurately, and why working below threshold is the foundation of everything else.
Desensitization & Counter-Conditioning
A step-by-step protocol for gradually reducing your dog's reactivity to small pets — with clear criteria for when to progress and when to go back.
Dual-Barrier Protocols
Why one barrier is never enough, how to set up dual-barrier systems, and the management protocols that keep small pets safe during the training process.
Impulse Control & Off-Switch Behaviors
Building the foundation behaviors that give your dog the ability to disengage — and how to make those behaviors reliable under real-world conditions.
Handler Mechanics
Your leash tension, body position, timing, and emotional state all affect your dog's arousal. This module covers the handler side of the equation.
Async Video Review with Paola
Submit a video of your household in action and receive personalized feedback from Paola on your dog's specific responses, your handler mechanics, and your next steps.
Who is this for?
Anyone with a dog who lives alongside birds, rodents, reptiles, or other small animals — especially if you've felt unsure about how to manage interactions safely or have seen concerning behavior from your dog.
Frequently asked questions
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Threshold mapping, desensitization, and dual-barrier protocols for multi-species households.
Working with Dogs & Smaller Pets
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