Dog Behavioral Consultations
with Liz Palika

Liz Palika offers personalized behavioral consultations at Kindred Spirits Dog Training and Canine Education Center at 3343 East Vista Way in Vista, CA.

During the consultation, Liz takes a detailed case history; asking questions about your dog, his actions (good and bad), his health, and your relationship with your dog. The consultation usually lasts for two hours.

At the conclusion of the consultation, Liz will make some recommendations for changes and these may include:

• Training (At home, private training sessions, or group classes)
• Environmental changes
• Owner/family relationship changes with the dog
• Nutritional Assessment
• Exercise and play
• Homeopathy, pheromone or other natural remedies

Occasionally, Liz may recommend that owners contact their veterinarian to verify that a behavior problem may or may not be caused by a health problem. Medications can also cause behavior changes.

Within a day or two of your consultation, Liz will email you a detailed written list of recommendations.

Important Information:

Scheduling: Liz is available by appointment only. She is available weekdays and on a limited basis on Saturdays. Evenings Liz is teaching group classes and Sunday is her only day off.

To schedule an appointment, email Liz directly at lizpalika@gmailcom or call the Kindred Spirits training line at 760-630-4824 and leave a message for Liz. She is usually able to return the call the same day.

Consultations are $150. That includes:

• The consultation (2 hours; sometimes slightly longer)
• A plan of action discussed at the consultation
• Recommendations for specific training tools or products and where to find and purchase them; as well as a demonstration in the use of the products
• A detailed recommendation emailed with two days
• Unlimited emails from you with questions and concerns
• Unlimited phone calls from you with concerns (emails are preferred as they can be answered at any time)
• A discounted second visit $90 (usually one hour) if you feel the need or if Liz feels one is necessary.

Payment is due at the beginning of the consultation. Consultations may be paid for by cash, check, Mastercard or Visa. We do not bill after the appointment.

If you need directions to the Kindred Spirits location, email Liz at lizpalika@gmail.com, or call 760-630-4824 ahead of time. Don’t wait until the last minute as we may be involved with another client when you try to contact us.

Please arrive on time as the scheduled time is yours.

Cancellation: If you must cancel, please do so at least 24 hours ahead of time. If you do not cancel and do not show up, you will be billed for that time as we will have been unable to make another appointment for that time slot.

Your dog: If your dog has some health challenges, is on medications, or has some physical disabilities, please bring a copy of his medical information with you to your appointment.

If you were referred to us by your veterinarian, please bring his/her name and contact information.

Bring with you any training tools or aids that you have been using or have used in the past.

If your dog is aggressive in any way, please bring him to the appointment wearing a muzzle.

Behavioral Consultations: Special Programs

Many behavior consultations cover a wide range of canine problem behaviors and owner concerns. However, to meet dog and dog owner needs, a few special programs have been formulated. The most popular is our Puppy Package.

Puppy Package

This consultation is designed to get you and your puppy started right and to prevent problems from occurring in the future. The package includes:

• A meeting with Liz to address your concerns with the puppy right now.
• A discussion on housetraining and crate training.
• Helping you stop puppy biting.
• Information on socialization, problem prevention, nutrition, and much more.
• A discount coupon for enrollment in Kindred Spirits’ Puppy Training Class which incorporates the
• AKC’s STAR Puppy Program.
• The Puppy Package is for puppies up to four months of age. It is $150 for a 2 hour session.

Dealing with Separation Anxiety

This consultation is for dogs suffering from separation anxiety. This is a very difficult problem but there are definitely ways to work with the dog and hopefully lessen the impact of the problem.

The package includes:

• A definition of the problem, where it comes from, and some of the causes.
• Taking a look at your home life, daily routines, when the problem happens, and what’s going on right now.
• A discussion of leave takings and home comings and how to lessen their impact.
• An introduction to the DAP pheromone collar and several homeopathic remedies known to be effective.
• Recommendations for changes.
• A nutritional assessment.
• A discount coupon for a basic obedience class with Kindred Spirits.
• A discussion and/or recommendations as to whether medications might be effective.
• The Separation Anxiety consultation is a 2 hour consultation and is $150.

Dog Home Alone

You have to work, that’s a fact of life, but you also want to share your life with a dog. How can you make this work? This consultation takes a look at your life, your routine, your dog and his needs, and makes recommendations:

• For your dog when he’s home alone, including ways to distract him.
• How to come home and leave him each day without building stress.
• Exercise, playtimes, games, and other ways to make the most of your time together.
• A nutritional assessment.
• Adding training to your routine, both obedience and trick training.
• This consultation includes discount coupon for a Kindred Spirits group training class.
• The Dog Home Alone consultation is $150 for a 2 hour consultation.