You Should Not Have to Navigate This Alone
Our online dog behaviour consultation service provides evidence-based behavioural support for dogs and cats experiencing anxiety, aggression, reactivity, or other behavioural challenges.
Dr. Janet Cutler, PhD, CAAB, works with clients internationally to assess behaviour concerns and develop practical, humane treatment plans grounded in modern behavioural science.
Bringing joy to having a pet
You Didn't Plan for This
- Your dog barks, lunges, or growls at other dogs on walks.
- Someone in the household has been snapped at or bitten.
- The litter box has become a battleground.
- Your dog cannot be left alone without distress.
- Things are getting worse, and you are not sure why.
- You have tried trainers, classes, and everything online. Nothing has stuck.
The walks were supposed to be relaxing. Coming home was supposed to feel easy. Life with your dog or cat was supposed to bring more joy than worry.
When that changes, it can feel isolating. Especially when the advice you have found so far has not made a difference.
The good news is that what you are experiencing has an explanation. When you understand what is driving the behaviour, things can start to shift. That is what an online dog behaviour consultation is for: to help you see what your animal is going through, figure out what needs to change, and find your way back to enjoying life together.
Janet Cutler, PhD CAAB
The families who book consultations have usually been living with the problem for months or longer. Many have already tried classes, trainers, and online advice. By the time they reach out, they are tired, frustrated, and worried. That is a completely reasonable place to be.
Dr. Cutler is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist with a PhD in animal welfare and an MSc in applied ethology from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. She holds the CAAB, CDBC, CCBC, CPDT-KA, and Fear Free Certified designations. She has worked with hundreds of families on cases involving aggression, anxiety, fear, reactivity, resource guarding, separation distress, and multi-pet conflict.
Janet reviews primary research directly and applies it in context for each case. This is not advice based on general principles. It is applied behavioural science, interpreted for your animal and your household.
CAAB | CDBC | CCBC | CPDT-KA | Fear Free Certified
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How a Consultation Works
Three steps from booking to behaviour plan
Step 1: Book
Choose a time that works for your schedule. Before the consultation, you will receive a brief intake form covering your animal’s history, household, and the presenting concern.
It is straightforward and designed to capture what Janet needs to be prepared, not to overwhelm you.
Step 2: Consult
Your initial consultation is 60 to 90 minutes, delivered virtually. We review the behaviour history, discuss what you are seeing, watch any video you have submitted, and build a training and behaviour modification plan together.
Virtual delivery means you are not managing the stress of travelling with an anxious or reactive animal, and your descriptions and submitted video provide a thorough picture of what is happening.
Step 3: Plan
Within two business days, you receive a written behaviour plan tailored to your animal and household. The plan includes a behaviour assessment, management recommendations, and a training and behaviour modification protocol with clear next steps.
With your consent, a report is also sent to your veterinarian for inclusion in your pet’s clinical file. One week of follow-up email support is included, and follow-up consultations are available for ongoing guidance.
Pricing
Behaviour Consultation Package (Recommended)
$500.00
- Initial consultation (60-90 minutes)
- 60-minute follow-up consultation
- Written behaviour plan with training and behaviour modification protocol
- Instructions and overview emailed
- Letter to veterinarian (if applicable)
- One week of follow-up support via email
The follow-up session provides accountability, allows the plan to be adjusted based on progress, and gives you ongoing support during the period when implementation matters most.
Initial Behaviour Consultation
$350.00
- 60-90 minute consultation
- Written behaviour plan with training and behaviour modification protocol
- Instructions and overview emailed
- Letter to veterinarian (if applicable)
- One week of follow-up support via email
What Families Experience After Working with Landmark
Our Shared Goal
Improve pet behaviour problems
Behaviour concerns in dogs and cats rarely resolve on their own. The longer an animal is given the opportunity to continue practising the behaviour and experiencing the emotions associated with it, the more difficult it can become to work on training and behaviour modification. The earlier a concern is assessed, the more options are available and the faster progress tends to follow.
What Happens During an Online Dog Behaviour Consultation?
Overview of a Behaviour Consult
With Dr. Janet Cutler
behaviour history
Gathering an extensive behaviour history will help to inform the behaviour modification plan for you to work on with your pet. You'll receive a brief form to complete before the consultation as a starting point.
management
If needed, we'll develop a plan that works for your dog or cat to help improve safety in the household and outside if applicable.
meeting your pets' needs
We'll discuss things like exercise, mental stimulation, social contact, and other areas where we might be able to improve your pets' welfare.
Develop a behaviour modification plan
An individual behaviour modification and training plan that is personalized to your household and your dog or cat's needs will be developed for you to implement.
assistance
Availability for any questions for a week after the consultation, as well as a couple check-ins throughout that week to check on progress. Follow-up consultations can be booked if you would like additional help.
When to Book a Dog Behaviour Consultation
When to Book a Cat Behaviour Consultation
Not every behaviour concern needs professional support, but some situations benefit from a structured assessment. A dog behaviour consultation is worth considering when:
The behaviour is escalating in frequency or intensity. What started as occasional barking on walks has become daily lunging. A growl that happened once is now happening regularly.
Someone in the household feels unsafe. If your dog has snapped at a family member, a visitor, or another animal, that is a signal worth taking seriously.
You have tried training and it has not helped. Group classes and general advice work for many dogs. When they do not, the issue is usually more specific than the approach can reach.
Your dog's quality of life is affected. A dog that cannot be left alone, cannot go for a walk, or cannot relax in the home is not thriving. Neither are you.
A dog behaviour consultation starts with understanding what is driving the behaviour, not just what the behaviour looks like.
Cat behaviour concerns are often tolerated longer than they should be, partly because cats are quieter about their distress. A cat behaviour consultation is worth considering when:
Litter box habits have changed. Once medical causes have been assessed, elimination outside the box is one of the most common reasons families seek support.
Cats in the household are in conflict. Hissing, chasing, blocking access to resources, or outright aggression between cats rarely resolves without structured intervention.
Your cat has become aggressive toward people. Biting, scratching, or stalking directed at family members is not normal play behaviour, especially when it escalates.
Your cat is withdrawing or overgrooming. Hiding, reduced appetite, or excessive grooming can signal anxiety, stress, or environmental problems that benefit from assessment.
A cat behaviour consultation looks at the full environment: resources, social dynamics, stress signals, and the daily routine that shapes your cat's experience.
Behaviour Concerns We Work With
Dogs
- Fear and anxiety
- Aggression toward unfamiliar or familiar dogs
- Aggression toward people, including family members
- Resource guarding
- Reactivity on leash or in the home
- Barking and vocalization
- Separation-related distress
- Compulsive or repetitive behaviours
- Behaviour in the context of pain or chronic illness
- Multi-dog household conflict
- New baby and toddler transitions
- New pet introductions
- Puppy behaviour and early intervention
- Cognitive dysfunction in senior dogs
Cats
- Fear and anxiety
- Inter-cat conflict
- Aggression toward people
- Elimination concerns, where medical causes have been assessed
- Overgrooming or psychogenic alopecia, where medical causes have been assessed
- New cat introductions
- Vocalization, including night-time yowling
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist?
A Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) is a professional with graduate-level training in animal behaviour science, certified by the Animal Behavior Society. The designation requires a doctoral degree (PhD) in a biological or behavioural science, supervised applied experience, and demonstrated research competency. Dr. Janet Cutler holds this designation and provides applied behavioural consultation for dogs and cats.
Does a virtual consultation work for behaviour?
Virtual consultations are well suited to behaviour work. For many dogs and cats, their behaviour in a clinic or unfamiliar setting does not reflect what you see day to day. Virtual delivery removes the logistical and emotional stress of travelling with an anxious or reactive animal. Your descriptions, submitted video, and the intake history provide a thorough picture of what is happening.
How much does a consultation cost?
The Behaviour Consultation Package is $500 CAD and includes an initial consultation (60-90 minutes), a 60-minute follow-up session, a written behaviour plan with training and behaviour modification protocol, a veterinary letter, and one week of email follow-up support.
This is the recommended option as the follow-up session provides accountability and allows the plan to be adjusted based on progress.
An initial consultation on its own is $350 CAD and includes the consultation, written plan, veterinary letter, and one week of email support.
Many pet insurance policies cover behaviour consultations when provided by a CAAB.
Do you offer a guarantee?
No, and any credentialed professional who does should be approached with caution.
Behaviour outcomes depend on the individual animal, the history of the concern, the household environment, and how consistently the plan is implemented.
What we do guarantee is that the assessment will be thorough, the plan will be grounded in current research, and the support will be honest.
Most well-respected certification bodies stipulate that guarantees cannot ethically be made.
Are consultations covered by pet insurance?
Many pet insurance policies cover behaviour consultations when provided by a CAAB.
Clients should confirm coverage directly with their insurance provider before booking.
Documentation to support an insurance claim can be provided upon request.
Do you work with both dogs and cats?
Yes. Behaviour consultation is available for companion dogs and cats.
Species-specific behavioural science, social structure, and environmental needs are considered in each case.
Do you prescribe medication?
No. Behavioural assessment and training and behaviour modification planning are within scope. Medical diagnosis and prescribing remain with your veterinarian.
Where pharmaceutical support may be relevant to a case, Landmark communicates directly with the attending veterinary team.
What happens after the consultation?
Within two business days, you receive a written behaviour plan. For one week following the consultation, email support is available for questions about implementation.
If you have booked the Behaviour Consultation Package, your follow-up session is scheduled to review progress, adjust the plan, and address any new questions.
Additional follow-up consultations can also be booked independently. You are not expected to figure this out alone.
Ready to Start?
Work With a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB)
If you have read this far, you already know something needs to change. An initial consultation is 90 minutes, a plan, and a clear path forward. The Behaviour Consultation Package adds a follow-up session for accountability and ongoing support during the period when implementation matters most.
What Are Online Behaviour Consultations?
Online behaviour consultations provide structured behavioural assessment and training and behaviour modification planning for dogs and cats, delivered virtually. At Landmark Behaviour, consultations are conducted by Dr. Janet Cutler, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) with graduate training in applied ethology and animal welfare at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. Each consultation includes a brief intake review, a 60-to-90-minute assessment session, and a written behaviour plan delivered within two business days. Consultations address fear, anxiety, aggression, reactivity, resource guarding, separation distress, and other behaviour concerns. Landmark serves English-speaking families internationally.