Hey, my name is

Brian The barkeologist

Dog behavior consultant

Brian the Barkeologist training a german shepherd

Clients

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Consulting Hours

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Lectures + Podcasts

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Dog training has evolved

Cooperative Training techniques

Beginning with obedience training often backfires: as the dog learns to outsmart the program or percieve your relationship as transactional. This can be avoided by beginning with a curriculum surrounding emotional regulation, secure relationships, trustworthy leadership, and animal welfare. Only then is it practical to begin expecting your dog to listen to you when you need them to most.

diverse scientific approaches

There are many different scientific fields from which we can glean insight into our dog's behavior, and I dedicate my free time to discovering new ways we can apply the latest research to produce cutting-edge dog training.

specialized care for dogs with anxiety

Dogs with aggression or anxiety issues require a compassionate touch, one that recognizes the unique emotional struggles that they face. By putting their welfare and safety first, we can begin to build a foundation for recovery.

5/5

On Facebook, Google, and thumbtack
out of 68 Reviewers!

"I’ve taken my two German Shepherd mixes to numerous trainers with no real results; leaving me discouraged and left my dogs back where we started. I was looking for someone who would help be proactive in getting to the root of the unwanted behaviors; not just show me how to react to the symptoms. After the first session with Brian, I had completely different dogs! He doesn’t tell you how to command them to act in a certain way, but shows you how to let them make good choices for themselves. He makes sure expectations are realistic and fair, gives analogies that are easy to understand, and really helped me communicate with body language, resulting in all of us being more relaxed and content. There’s no ego; just passion for understanding and helping dogs. I can’t recommend Brian enough!"
black and white german shepherd
Emily D.
"I really liked working with Brian during my dog Brandy's training. He is extremely knowledgeable about dogs, provided an abundance of information to help understand a dog's behavior, easy to talk to, and made the whole training experience enjoyable. I definitely see an improvement in Brandy. I would highly recommend Brian to anyone considering hiring a trainer"
boxer-mix dog
Joanne H.
"We have been working with Brian for only a few weeks but, we are already seeing great results! We have a very anxious and fearful dog along with one that is very overstimulated and has difficult calming. Brian has given us tools that have allowed them to begin the process to be in a place of more rest and peace! We are going to continue this process with him after seeing things change. Thank you Brian!"
Stacy G.

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faq

Yes, I do! There is often much that can be done for dogs with aggression, however, aggression can be complex and multi-faceted so individual results may vary. I strive for an honest and open dialogue with my clients about what paths and options they have to address and manage their dog’s behavioral issues. Think of me like a GPS guiding you through the detours and roadblocks that you may encounter while trying to address your dog’s aggression.

The initial 90 minute session is $197, and follow-ups are $150. 

I also offer a 4 pack including the introductory session and 3 follow-ups for $575 (a $647 value!)

This is going to depend on your goals and the amount of time you have to dedicate to training on your own time – but generally I recommend at least 4 sessions for any dog exhibiting aggression or anxiety…in order to cover the necessary concepts and practical exercises. More minor behavioral issues or standard obedience training may only require one or two sessions to cover the necessary concepts. If you are still unsure of what your dog’s training needs might be, please ask!

My teaching focuses more on emotional regulation, animal welfare, and the dog’s social dynamics. Behavioral issues can be complex, their causes even more so – investigation into who your dog is as an individual with their own unique genetics, environment, learning history, and quirks is essential to their training success. Typically, standard “balanced” and “positive reinforcement” based techniques may fail to address some of the deeper underlying issues that dogs are facing. 

I service an hour radius outside of Mystic Connecticut! Including areas such as Groton, Westerly, Warwick, North Attleboro, Providence, and New London. 

Yes I do! My behavior consulting services are best conducted in-home, in your dog’s natural habitat! However I can also meet existing clients at public spaces such as parks or breweries for manners training!

Current Projects

The Canine Complexity Podcast

Join Brian Fleming and Cat Harbord as they dive into the deepest mysteries and insights of chaos and complexity theory and what it means for our dogs with our world renown guests

Chaos and canines

A blog focusing on the application of Chaos Theory to animal behavior, synthesizing research and practical application

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For dog guardians

The dog training industry can be very tough to navigate. That is why I take the role as the "GPS" to your behavioral goals for your dog. Guiding you down the path to success and dodging the potholes along the way! If you're here, you might have already been through a few trainers, maybe watched some youtube videos or read some articles. There is a lot of conflicting information out there, and unfortunately there is a lot of cookie-cutter content which may not be helpful in your specific case - or worse, may even be detrimental. I can help you decipher the junk from the good stuff!

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For dog professionals

If you are looking for help navigating your professional education journey, or you are encountering complex behavioral issues that the "standard techniques" seem to be ineffective against - please reach out to me at Brianthebarkeologist@gmail.com for private mentoring opportunities. Learn how to harness the unique insights of chaos theory to help you overcome even the toughest behavioral issues your clients face.