STILL searching for a behaviorist

Is there any way you can call this behaviorist to interview him before you agree to work with him?  I might try that, maybe people here can help you come up with a list of things to ask so you could help determine if you thought he might work well with you are your dogs??
 
I can see why the article made you uncomfortable, and why you are hesitant.  I spent $450 on two visits from a  behaviorist who during our second, and last, session got on the floor and shook Wesley by the neck while staring him down, all for jumping on the couch, which only made Wesley growl at the behaviorist.  This was the one who came super highly recommended by our vet...  Our second behaviorist, while I feel was much better in terms of being on the same page as us on PR etc., basically told me that Wesley was "so much dog" that we should seriously consider giving him up because we probably would not ever be able to handle him (not in so many words, but that was the basic message).  I was looking for someone to observe and ask a ton of questions and then give me a play by play guide to follow, which they would then work with us on tailoring as time went on and we found out what worked and what didn't.  The good news is that we have found a trainer who, while not a certified behaviorist, is very very dog savvy and he also boards Wesley , so he is very in tune with his personality.  He comes over to work with me and Wesley, so that I can get Wesley to respond to me the way Wesley responds to him.  Having found this guy, I can tell you - keep looking until you are comfortable - it is worth it!!  Spending all that money on someone who you are not comfortable with, especially if it is a financial stretch can be very very aggravating and disheartening.  Good luck - I wish I knew of anyone in your area to help you!
 
 

schleide- I'm so glad you found someone you like.  I can only afford to pay one behaviorist or trainer at this time (would take me a month or two to save money to try again).  What you went through with your first behaviorist is exactly what I am trying to avoid! 
 
There are five or six trainers in my area I can choose from, but the guy in the above link is the only credentialed behaviorist- but he kind of gives me the willies!  You're right, it is very discouraging, but I'll keep digging and will hopefully choose someone good.
 
Thanks so much for posting.  You've "been there and done that" and have a happy ending which gives me hope! 

Yeah, keep up the search, if you have the willies, nothing good will come of it if you are not comfortable...
 
 I know how frustrated you must feel!  I, like you, wanted a certified behaviorist, but in the end went with my gut and the trainer...  Perhaps a really good trainer with a lot of experience with dog/dog aggression (one who gives a great feisty fido type class for example) or who has a lot of experience with multi-dog households and inter-dog interaction might work for you?  It might also be a little less expensive, and maybe you could go to a class or two given by each to watch them interact with the dogs and the people?  They might be more likely to let you ask a lot of questions before you bring them in and spend the money.  Just a thought... I know you are stuck between a rock and a hard place, you don't want to wait for the problem to get worse, but you also don't want to throw money away on someone who isn't going to work for you [:@]!  I will keep trying to think of something...

The gnetleman in the article is a trainer not a behaviorist from what I can tell. 
 
Let me see what I can find for you.  Where are you located...I can't remember.

Mic- you might be right.  I just looked at the card the vet gave me and it only says Certified Trainer, but the receptionist at the vet told me that he was the only one with a degree in animal behavior in the area (she may very well be wrong- I love my vet but the front desk people, well... not so much!).  He doesn't have a website so I couldn't check his credentials for sure.  I should probably call...  I'm in Syracuse, NY.

I will see what I can find...how far are you willing to drive? 
 
I would look closely at this person's credentials...there can be a BIG difference between a behaviorist and a trainer.

Here is one I came across.  I will have a few more coming shortly.  Please keep in mind I am assessing these people on there educational credentials, and do not personally know any of them.  Please interview them make your own assessment.  If you would like me to do that for you please email me.
 
Amy Wallis , PhD, CDBC , Syracuse, New York: Associate: dogs, cats
Dr. Wallis is an animal behavior consultant providing house calls to pet owners in the Syracuse, New York area. Specialties include aggression, separation anxiety, house-soiling, vocalizing, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and fears and phobias in both dogs and cats.
E-mail: [email=abirtel@yahoo.com]abirtel@yahoo.com[/email]

Here are a few more...you may not be close to any of these people, but I would email them and ask for refferals in your area.
 
Peter L. Borchelt, Ph.D.
  Animal Behavior Consultants, Inc.
  102 Canton Court 
  Brooklyn, NY 11229
  718-891-4200
  fax-718-891-0741
  [email=animbehav@aol.com]animbehav@aol.com[/email]

 
 Linda Goodloe, Ph.D.
  345 W. 70th Street  #6D
  New York, NY 10023
  212-787-9378
  [email=crittersny@att.net]crittersny@att.net[/email]

Katherine A. Houpt, VMD, Ph.D.
  College of Veterinary Medicine
  Animal Behavior Clinic
  Cornell University
  Ithaca, NY 14852-6401
  607-253-3450
  fax-607-253-3846
  [email=kah3@cornell.edu]kah3@cornell.edu[/email]
  [linkhttp://www.vet.cornell.edu/abc]http://www.vet.cornell.edu/abc[/link]

Barbara Pezzanite, Ph.D.
  Long Island Animal Behavior Consulting Services, Inc.
  P.O. Box 1602
  Lindenhurst, NY 11757
  (646) 712-2949
  info@liabc.com
  [link>http://www.liabc.com]www.liabc.com[/link]

 amela Reid, Ph.D.
  ASPCA
  424 E. 92nd St.
  New York, NY 10128
  212-876-7700; x. 4420
  fax: 212-360-6875
  [email=pamr@aspca.org]pamr@aspca.org[/email]

Stephen Zawistowski, Ph.D.
  ASPCA
  424 E. 92nd Street
  New York, NY 10128
  212-876-7700 x4401
  fax- 212-860-3435
  [email=stevez@aspca.org]stevez@aspca.org[/email]

 

I have to ask.....what is the difference between a trainer and a behaviorist? Don't they do the same thing--train dogs? 

Wow!  I have been searching the internet for two weeks now trying to find a behaviorist in my area with no luck.  I guess I haven't been looking in the right places!
 
Dr. Wallis looks very promising, at least credential wise.  I will look into her further.  Mic, thank you so much for all your help.

An Animal Behaviorist is an academically trained specialist (usually he or she has completed graduate work in psychology including learning processes, comparative psychology psycho-neurology, psycho-biology , zoology or the equivalent) and additional education and experience in dog training and canine behavior. They should posses a Masters degree or higher or should at least be enrolled in such a program.
 
A Dog Trainer typically focuses on command work (sit, down, stay), and more predictable problems such as jumping, barking, chewing etc.  Dog trainers typically have considerably less formal education in the area of canine behavior.

On that list, I would pick Pam Reid if you are dealing with bossy and aggressive.
Don't forget, you are the owner, and despite the fact that a behaviorist or trainer might recommend a certain procedure, you have the final say over what you do, or do not, feel comfortable with in dealing with your dog. 
If you are dealing with leadership issues, or even aggression, sometimes a really good trainer with lots of experience is a better bet.  They often have a sense of how well the owners will or won't comply, and how manageable the dog will be when the criteria or distraction levels are raised, as they will be in the real world. 
Education is very, very important, but just as in other realms, instinct and savvy are key as well.  Education without dog sense is not what you are looking for.  Similarly, a little knowledge can be a very dangerous thing.
There are a lot of trainers who read more dog related literature than the people who have PhD's in animal behavior - don't discount them out of hand.