Training Philosophy

We Do:

  • Help you understand the root causes of “normal” but unwanted dog behaviors
  • Work with you to set up a management program to prevent unwanted behaviors until new behaviors are in place

Teach you how to:

  • Teach your dog the rules of your household (pack) = MANNERS!
  • Use positive reinforcement (usually food rewards) in training
  • Use management and training tools that are gentle on your dog
  • Teach your dog to want to pay attention to you
  • Teach your dog useful obedience skills
  • Transition from frequent to less frequent rewards when you and your dog are ready (food delay)
  • Setup your dog for success in training and living with you

We Don’t:

  • Use prong, shock or choke collars
  • Jerk on the collar to correct the dog
  • Correct the dog for not understanding the activity or skill. (If he doesn’t understand, than we haven’t taught him well enough yet)
  • Setup the dog for failure

We Believe:

  • In teaching the human end of the leash at least as much as the dog end
  • Leadership is the act of giving guidance or direction
  • A good relationship with your dog starts with teaching your dog that you can provide clear leadership
  • We help people provide leadership that dogs EASILY understand

Leadership is NOT the same as Dominance

  • Leadership implies guidance that humans often don’t provide nearly enough of
  • When we lead in a way the dog NATURALLY understands, dogs easily accept & thrive on our leadership
  • Training should be FUN for both ends of the leash!

We Teach:

  • dogs to pay attention to owners
  • our dogs to yield to the space around us unless invited in. This takes care of jumping up, rubbing, licking, pushing on us for petting, etc
  • our dogs to accept mild restraint for holding still during grooming, body inspection, bathing, leashes on and off, etc
  • a wide range of practical skills in addition to our leadership and attention activities
  • just about any skill you need to pursue in a variety of dog sports
  • flex-drills e.g. Dawn Jecs and Choose to Heel as a great foundation for precision oriented dog sports
  • the solid foundation you need for safe Agility for fun or performance.

Another way to look at it . . .

The Dance of Cooperation in the Dog and Owner Relationship

  • Cooperation is the act of working towards a common end
  • In the case of the relationship between the human and dog, it involves the dog learning to cooperate with the human family or “pack” agenda
  • The dog cooperates with us and the benefits to him are the safety of shelter, food, interaction, and entertainment, to name a few
  • Dog training is also a bit like dancing: It works best when there is a leader and a follower
  • If you’ve ever danced with a really good lead partner, you’ll have a since of what most dogs feel like when their owner is willing to step up to the plate and provide clear leadership – It’s easy for them to follow
  • On the other hand, if you’ve ever danced with someone who isn’t clear or consistent with their cues and expectations, it’s harder to know what you’re supposed to do – This can be frustrating
  • When you’re frustrated, sometimes you feel aggressive or angry, and even though your supposed to be the follower, you end up wanting and trying to take over and lead – because somebody has to
  • Sometimes when humans won’t lead, dogs try to take over because somebody has to – and the human won’t
  • Most dogs are very relieved when someone is taking the leadership roll in their lives
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