Pack Cohesion Therapy Program

Specifically designed to address Undesirable Behaviors between or among dogs living in a Multiple Dog Household

Pack Cohesion Therapy Program

The Pack Cohesion Therapy Program is designed for households with two or more dogs experiencing conflict, tension, reactivity, or aggression within the home. These situations often develop from competition, unclear social roles, or co-escalation patterns, and can affect both safety and stability for dogs and their families.

You won't find another Program like this ANYWHERE !!

This program is a core area of our practice. Our work focuses on improving communication and cooperation between dogs living together by addressing the behavioral patterns that underlie conflict, rather than only managing visible symptoms.

We offer two program levels based on the severity of the behaviors involved. Each program includes individualized behavior rehabilitation and structured team-based training designed to support long-term stability.

Program Structure

Dogs enrolled in this program participate in our In-Patient Behavioral Rehabilitation and Training Program. During this time, they receive:

Individualized behavioral therapy
Structured social interaction with carefully matched dogs
Training using our Pack Dynamic Method

The purpose of the program is to help the dogs develop predictable, cooperative interaction patterns. For households experiencing conflict between resident dogs or co-aggression toward people or other dogs, this approach works to re-establish safety, clarity, and stability.

Upon completion, families typically experience more consistent communication between their dogs and a more peaceful home environment. The program provides a structured path toward sustained improvement where standard training approaches may not be sufficient.

Pack Cohesion Program Highlights

The Pack Cohesion Therapy Program is offered at two levels. The appropriate level is determined following a behavioral evaluation of the dogs involved, the nature of the conflict, and the stability of interactions within the home.

Offering 2 Distinct Program Service Levels

PCT1: Pack Cohesion Therapy Program – Level 1

Level 1 is recommended when one dog is clearly the source of the conflict.

- Indicators for Level 1:
  - One dog consistently initiates or escalates altercations.
  - The other dog does not initiate conflict and is typically the recipient of the aggression.
  - Behavioral imbalance is observed primarily in one dog.
  Structure:
  - Dog 1 completes 35 days of Canine Behavior Training.
  - Dog 2 participates in 14 days of Pack Cohesion Training alongside Dog 1.Dog 2 does not require independent behavioral rehabilitation, but participates in structured teamwork training with Dog 1.

PCT2: Pack Cohesion Therapy Program – Level 2

Level 2 is recommended when both dogs play an active role in the conflict.

Indicators for Level 2:
- Both dogs show behavioral instability, aggression, or reactivity.
- Conflict has escalated to the point where separation is needed in the home.
- Both dogs would benefit from individual behavioral rehabilitation.
Structure:
- Dog 1 completes 35 days of Canine Behavior Training.
- Dog 2 then completes 35 days of Canine Behavior Training.
- Both dogs then train together for up to 21 days in structured Pack Cohesion work.
  Indicators for Level 2:
  - Both dogs show behavioral instability, aggression, or reactivity.
  - Conflict has escalated to the point where separation is needed in the home.
  - Both dogs would benefit from individual behavioral rehabilitation.
  Structure:
  - Dog 1 completes 35 days of Canine Behavior Training.
  - Dog 2 then completes 35 days of Canine Behavior Training.
  - Both dogs then train together for up to 21 days in structured Pack Cohesion work.

*Cases involving ANY level of Aggression will be evaluated and accepted on a case-by-case basis and
CBS INC. reserves the right to decline acceptance of any case without the requirement
to provide reason or explanation as to why the case was declined.

Program Scheduling Parameters

PCT Level 1: One Primary Aggressor

Board and Train Phase

Dog 1 begins a 35-day Canine Behavior Training program.
At approximately Day 21, Dog 2 joins Dog 1 to begin Pack Cohesion Training.
During this phase, the focus is on developing predictable, cooperative interaction patterns so that the dogs learn to function as teammates rather than competitors.

Re-Home Session

At the end of the Board and Train phase, both dogs return home for a Re-Home Session.
This session is conducted in your home and lasts up to 3 hours.
All direct family members must attend to ensure consistent handling and communication once the dogs are back in the home environment.

Follow-Up Support

Follow-Up Sleepover: Both dogs return for a minimum 3-day stay.
This allows us to observe their progress, identify any emerging challenges, and reinforce forward momentum.
Follow-Up Session: Conducted either in the home or at an appropriate agreed-upon location.
This session generally lasts up to 2 hours and is used to review progress, address questions, and reinforce stability.

PCT Level 1 provides structured behavioral rehabilitation for the dog driving the conflict, while simultaneously supporting safe team-based interaction patterns between dogs living in the same home.

PCT Level 2: Both Dogs Contribute to the Conflict

Board and Train Phase

Dog 1 begins with 35 days of Canine Behavior Training (CBT2).
At the end of this training period, Re-Home Session #1 takes place in your home (up to 3 hours). This session focuses on establishing structure, communication, and routine for Dog 1 before reintroducing Dog 2.
Dog 2 then begins 35 days of Canine Behavior Training (CBT2).
Between Day 21 and Day 35 of Dog 2’s training, Dog 1 rejoins Dog 2 for Pack Cohesion training.
Both dogs complete the remaining training time working together under structured team-based interaction.

Re-Home Session #2

After the joint training phase, both dogs return home together for the second Re-Home Session.
This session is conducted in your home and lasts up to 3 hours.
All direct family members must attend to ensure consistent expectations and home environment structure.

Follow-Up Support

Follow-Up Sleepovers (up to 2): Both dogs return for a minimum 3-day stay to monitor progress, reinforce learning, and support ongoing stability.
Follow-Up Sessions (up to 2): Conducted either at your home or another appropriate location. These sessions are used to reinforce structure, address questions, and support continued forward progress.

PCT Level 2 uses a staged rehabilitation process to stabilize each dog individually before rebuilding their relationship as a cooperative team. This approach is recommended when both dogs play an active role in conflict and require focused behavioral support.

What is "Pack Cohesion"?

Pack Cohesion refers to the cooperative bond that develops when two or more dogs live together in a stable and predictable relationship. It is a behavioral state in which dogs interact without unnecessary conflict or competition and are able to function as a coordinated group.

A useful comparison is two experienced coworkers who perform their tasks efficiently together. They understand each other’s patterns and can communicate with minimal cues. In dogs, this same dynamic is expressed through posture, movement, spatial awareness, and other forms of non-verbal communication.

Pack Cohesion is supported by:

Clear social roles
Consistent boundaries
Calm, structured interaction
Reliable and predictable communication signals

When Pack Cohesion is present, dogs move together smoothly, respect each other’s space, and respond appropriately within the group. When it breaks down, the result can be tension, competition, or aggression.

The Pack Cohesion Therapy Program is designed to restore this cooperative dynamic. By rebuilding stability and communication between dogs, the program supports a safer, calmer, and more predictable home environment for both the dogs and the people living with them.

Training Program Rates

All PCT Rates are assessed by Service Area (owner home location)
- All Training Rates for each specific Training Program, can be found on each
  Program webpage, under that tab that reads “Exact Rates by Service Area”

Research Report

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Findings related to aggression between two or more dogs living in the same household

Research indicates that nearly one-third of dog-owning households in North America include multiple dogs. While many of these households are stable, some experience conflict between the resident dogs. When aggression occurs between dogs living in the same home, it raises concerns for safety, long-term stability, and overall well-being for both the dogs and the people in the household. This situation is referred to as intra-household conspecific aggression.

A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association examined the characteristics of dog pairs involved in these cases. Researchers Kathryn Wrubel, Nicholas Dodman, and colleagues evaluated thirty-eight pairs of housemate dogs seen at the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University of Veterinary Medicine in Grafton, Massachusetts. Through structured interviews and detailed questionnaires, the research team documented behavioral patterns, household dynamics, and contributing factors associated with these conflicts.

The findings from this study help inform the assessment and treatment approach used in the Pack Cohesion Therapy Program and provide insight into the behavioral patterns commonly seen in multi-dog households experiencing conflict.

Here are some statistics that many dog owners might find surprising, but those of us who have been working with these types of Aggression cases know these facts all too well.

Click on a heading below for more details on the study’s findings

Is Gender a Factor in Intra-Household Dog Aggression?

Research indicates that gender can play a role in aggression between dogs living in the same home. In cases of intra-household conflict, female dogs are more frequently identified as the initiating aggressor than males.
Key findings from case analyses:
- Approximately 32% of aggression incidents involve male dogs.
- Approximately 62% involve female dogs as the aggressor.
- Conflicts involving female dogs tend to result in more severe injuries and longer-duration fights.

Gender is also associated with the likelihood of progress during behavioral intervention:

Pairing Type	Conflict Reduction Rate During Training
Male–Male	72% improvement rate
Male–Female	75% improvement rate
Female–Female	57% improvement rate

While improvement rates vary, behavioral rehabilitation is still effective across all pairings. The data simply helps set expectations and guides selection of the most appropriate training approach.

Factual Characteristics Observed in Intra-Household Aggression Cases

Research into aggression between dogs living in the same home has identified several patterns that can help explain how conflicts develop and why they may escalate over time.
Key findings include:
- 70% of the time, the dog that initiates aggression is the one most recently brought into the household.
- 74% of cases involve the younger dog as the primary instigator.
- 39% of owners report that the dogs “usually get along” outside of the conflict incidents, which can make the aggression seem unpredictable or surprising.
- 50% of aggression incidents are serious enough that one or both dogs require veterinary treatment.
- In 10% of cases, an owner is injured while intervening, sometimes requiring medical attention.
- Attempts to separate dogs using verbal commands alone are successful in only 8% of incidents, indicating that physical intervention is often required and can carry risk.
These patterns highlight why structured behavior intervention is necessary. Conflicts of this nature are rarely resolved through corrections, environmental changes, or casual training alone. A systematic approach is needed to restore stability and reduce the risk of recurrence.

What Tends to Trigger Conflict Between Housemate Dogs?

Several common situations have been identified as frequent triggers for conflict in multi-dog households:
- Owner Attention (46%)
  Nearly half of documented incidents occurred when an owner directed attention, affection, or interaction toward one dog and not the other.
- Over-Excitement (31%)
  Elevated arousal, such as when an owner arrives home or during high-energy transitions, was a significant trigger in many cases.
- Resource Guarding
  - Food or Treats: Present in 46% of cases
  - Toys or Objects: Present in 26% of cases
These triggers do not cause aggression by themselves. Instead, they activate existing instability in the social relationship between the dogs. The Pack Cohesion Therapy Program works to reduce that instability, support clearer communication patterns, and establish predictable, cooperative behavior.

Risk Factors Associated with Intra-Household Aggression

Certain background factors are more commonly present in households where dogs engage in conflict. These factors do not guarantee aggression, but they may increase the likelihood of instability between dogs living together.

Key observed risk factors include:

Previous Household Changes (41%)
In 41% of cases, at least one dog involved had lived in multiple households prior to the current home.
Age at Adoption (39%)
When one dog in the pair was adopted at 12 weeks of age or older, conflict was reported in 39% of the cases.
Source of Adoption
- Dogs adopted from shelters were involved in 33% of the incidents.
- Dogs acquired from pet stores were involved in 16% of the incidents.

These findings suggest that early environment, stability of placement, and prior life experiences can influence how dogs adjust to sharing a home and social space with other dogs.

Aggression Often Extends Beyond the Home Environment

In many cases, aggression between housemate dogs is not limited to interactions within the household. The same behavioral patterns may appear in other contexts. Research indicates the following patterns among dogs involved in intra-household conflicts:
- 40% have shown aggression toward other dogs outside the home.
- 27% have shown aggression toward humans within the household.
- 27% have shown aggression toward unfamiliar people.
- 20% have shown aggression toward their owner(s).
These findings suggest that intra-household aggression is often part of a broader behavioral instability pattern. Addressing only the incidents between the housemate dogs, without resolving the underlying behavioral drivers, may not lead to long-term improvement. The Pack Cohesion Therapy Program is structured to address both the specific conflict and the foundational behavior contributing to it.

Related Behavioral Conditions Often Present

Dogs involved in intra-household aggression frequently show additional behavioral challenges beyond the conflicts with each other. These conditions can contribute to instability, stress, and difficulty in maintaining a predictable routine within the home.

Observed patterns include:

In 50% of cases, at least one dog in the pair exhibited Separation Anxiety or distress when left alone.
Approximately 30% displayed phobias, fearfulness, or generalized anxiety, affecting their ability to cope with changes in environment or routine.

These conditions do not directly cause aggression, but they can reduce emotional resilience and increase reactivity. As a result, successful rehabilitation often requires addressing both the relationship between the dogs and the individual behavioral needs of each dog.

Feed Life’s Abundance…for the Life & Health of your best friend!

Which Program Level is right for your specific case?

PCT Program - Level 1

Is Level 1 the Appropriate Option for Your Household?

Level 1 is intended for households where one dog is clearly the primary source of conflict. In these situations, two or more dogs live together, but only one dog consistently initiates or escalates altercations. The other dog, or dogs, do not instigate fights and are typically the recipients of the aggression. This pattern indicates that the behavioral imbalance is centered in one dog, and the goal of Level 1 is to address that imbalance while also rebuilding cooperative, stable interaction between the dogs living in the home.

PCT Level 1 - How does it work?

Dog 1 spends 35 days in our comprehensive Canine Behavior Training program.
At approximately the 4-week mark, Dog 2 joins Dog 1 to begin Pack Cohesion Training.
Total Board & Train duration is 35 days for Dog 1 and 14 days for Dog 2.
The final 14 days are focused on working both dogs together as teammates, rather than competitors.
Upon completion, both dogs return home for a Re-Home Session, conducted in your home and lasting up to 3 hours.
All direct family members must be present for the Re-Home Session to ensure consistent structure and communication at home.
The program includes 1 Follow-Up Session (up to 2 hours) and 1 Follow-Up Sleepover (minimum 3 days) to reinforce stability and progress.
Ongoing support is provided for the lifetime of your dogs.

PCT Program - Level 2

Is Level 2 the Appropriate Option for Your Household?

I have 2 or more dogs living together in my home. Both dogs have had altercations/fights and/or will display Aggression with/towards each other, other dogs & or humans, which over time have increased in frequency & severity to a point where we must keep the dogs separate (some, most or all of the time). It is clear that both/all dogs are equally Aggressive

PCT Level 2 - How does it work?

Dog 1 spends 35 days in our comprehensive Canine Behavior Training program.
Upon completion, Dog 1 returns home for the first Re-Home Session (up to 3 hours).
After the first Re-Home Session, Dog 2 begins 35 days of comprehensive Canine Behavior Training.
Between Day 14 and Day 21 of Dog 2’s training, Dog 1 rejoins Dog 2 to begin Pack Cohesion Training together.
Both dogs then continue training together for up to 21 days to develop stable, cooperative interaction patterns as teammates.
Total Board & Train duration for both dogs is approximately 70 days.
Program includes 1 Follow-Up Session (up to 2 hours) and 1 Follow-Up Sleepover (minimum 3 days) to support continued stability.
Ongoing support is provided for the lifetime of your dogs.

Pack Cohesion Therapy Success Stories - Client Testimonials

Greetings fellow dog owners, Brian was our savior! We introduced a rescue German Shepherd (GSD-F) with lots of issues to our home where we already had an existing (GSD-F) and an Aussie (M). From the first day, chaos broke out with multiple fights. After 2 trips to the vets for stitches and my trip to the hospital (incidental bite breaking dogs up), we contacted Brian. He came up to the house and within just a few minutes, he had all the dogs under control. He suggested that the girls be enrolled with his pack for a 6-week’ Boot Camp’ to rehab them and have them work together with his balanced Pack. The results were great! We now have 2 happy and very well behaved girls. We have to keep up on the training which Brian showed us, which is not always easy, but with work, the house is under control. I would recommend Brian to everyone!

My husband and I have two pit mixes, both rescues. Our dogs had gotten into two fights resulting in injuries. Before re-homing our newly adopted male Maverick, we reached out to Brian. Both dogs completed his inpatient program successfully leaving them both balanced and better versions of themselves. Today is day 1 of them being home. We have a lot of work ahead of us to maintain their relationship, but Brian gave us all the tools, advice and instructions we need. I’m so thankful for him and his team. My husband and I are calm and confident when dealing with both dogs. I know that their relationship will be nothing but positive going forward. We also now have someone whom we trust to board our dogs with when we travel. Thank you Canine Behavioral Services!!!!!!

Brian, This picture captures our gratitude for all that you have done for our family. And I am glad it does because there are no words to express our emotions. You have given us our family. Scout, our 7-year-old male, was dangerously dog aggressive when we brought our puppy Tesla home. Scout spent 6 weeks with you and your Pack, then another week when Tesla joined all of you. When they returned home they are now totally bonded. There is nothing but peace and love between them now. Paul and I will be forever thankful for all that you have done for our family. There is no possible way this could have happened without your expertise. Our dogs are the center of our lives and we all thank you.

We brought our two Border Collie littermate’s, Finn and Brandon, to Brian and his team after noticing an increase in aggression and lack of impulse control. In order to give both dogs the best chance of success, we opted to send them for the Inpatient Behavioral Rehab Program. Each dog went separately for 6-weeks at a time and then both dogs spent 2 weeks together in the training program as well. Brian and his team were incredibly thorough throughout the process and provided regular updates on the progress of both dogs. Upon their return to our home, the change in both dogs was immediately noticeable. They could now be in the same room and they wouldn’t fight. I HIGHLY recommend Canine Behavioral Services if you’re looking for a positive change in your dog(s). You won’t be disappointed. Brian will go above and beyond to ensure your dog(s) are afforded the opportunity to live the highest quality of life possible. THANK YOU, Brian, for providing my dogs with the foundation to coexist in the same home!

Pack Cohesion Therapy - Facebook Page Reviews

I have been using CBS for over 5 years! I originally sent one of my dogs for in-patient therapy after she began to show increasing aggression to my oldest female after I added a third dog to my pack. She came back a changed dog. Both she and I learned so much! Since then, I have sent ALL of my dogs for some type of training. One for Canine Manners Camp and most recently I sent my newest addition to the Puppy Workshop. I also frequently (5-7 times per year) send my dogs back to CBS when I travel. I trust Brian and his staff completely and know that when my dogs are there, they are not only getting well taken care of they are getting the structure they need. And best of all, they offer transport services back and forth each time. I can't possibly recommend CBS enough for all of your dog needs!

Our American Bulldog Frankie started in the In-patient program at CBS when he was about 8 months old, he was showing signs of aggression towards visitors, as well as our older dog Lexi. Frankie spent several weeks with Brian and his team and he came back to us much improved. With their guidance, we continued to work with him once he returned home. We have sent Frankie back at least once a month for socialization. He always returns to us a more balanced dog every time! Frankie is almost 4 years old now and still loves his visits to CBS. He can’t contain himself as soon as we approach the driveway.

This review is long overdue. We cannot say enough wonderful things about Brian and his pack. Molly Jane attended the in-patient rehabilitation program in June – July 2017. Prior to sending her to Canine Behavioral Services, she had escalating anxiety and dog aggression. We knew that we were reinforcing her behavior towards other dogs as well as her anxiety but were unsure how to break the cycle. Brian and his pack were a life saver. Molly J returned home a more balanced, calm, happy dog and we had a long list of our own behaviors to change. I still smile every time we go on a walk and her tail is up and wagging in excitement again! The other day another dog came bolting up to her off leash and she merely tucked her tail and walked away. I never thought I’d see the day! She even tried to play with a puppy on a hike! Each time we pull onto the street to go for a sleepover, Molly starts whining and crying in excitement. If that is not a testament to what an incredible place Brian runs, I do not know what is. Our friends and family constantly ask what kind of “voodoo” magic Brian and his team practice because of all the pleasant changes they’ve seen in Molly J. She is certainly a new, more balanced, happier dog. Brian saved our relationship with our dog.