“I adopted Teddy when he was about a year old. Soon after I adopted him, I noticed that he would become very reactive around strangers (barking, growling, lunging, etc.). We went through some basic obedience training, but over time his reactivity began to intensify and he started becoming very aggressive with other dogs (and he had played great with all other dogs when I first got him). The trainers at Very Important Paws recommended I contact a veterinary behaviorist and I found Dr. Radosta online.
Dr. Radosta diagnosed Teddy as having fear-based reactivity and recommended a number of training exercises to help me have better control over Teddy and also help counter condition Teddy to be less fearful around certain stimuli. Although the training really helped me control Teddy better, he was still becoming highly aroused to the same stimuli so Dr. Radosta recommended we try a medication to help Teddy.
Between the training and medication, Teddy has improved dramatically. We can walk past people without Teddy reacting and Teddy doesn’t bark and growl at people in the elevator in our building anymore. We have had 2 appointments with Dr. Radosta and participated in one of her 6-week reactive dog classes and I am very pleased with the progress Teddy has made.”