Holistic Approach to Building Pawsitive Relationships
People have chosen to share our lives with dogs and invited them into our world. As I see it, we have a moral obligation
and owe them the very best we have to offer, which means being knowledgeable and making the best choices for them.
It is important to have a relationship-based training philosophy, weighing everything against how it will affect our
relationship with our dog(s) - positive or negative. Look into their eyes and ask, "How is this working for you?" Positive reinforcement techniques reward the behaviors you want rather than punish the behaviors you don't want. Behavior
that is rewarded is more likely to reoccur because dogs do what works for them. Let's make the time and effort to
actually teach our dogs, not just stop unwanted behaviors using punishment, intimidation, or force. We want our dogs
to enjoy training and become more confident, well-adjusted pets. Make the right choice and honor your dog(s)
through kind, gentle, force-free methods.
and owe them the very best we have to offer, which means being knowledgeable and making the best choices for them.
It is important to have a relationship-based training philosophy, weighing everything against how it will affect our
relationship with our dog(s) - positive or negative. Look into their eyes and ask, "How is this working for you?" Positive reinforcement techniques reward the behaviors you want rather than punish the behaviors you don't want. Behavior
that is rewarded is more likely to reoccur because dogs do what works for them. Let's make the time and effort to
actually teach our dogs, not just stop unwanted behaviors using punishment, intimidation, or force. We want our dogs
to enjoy training and become more confident, well-adjusted pets. Make the right choice and honor your dog(s)
through kind, gentle, force-free methods.
Communication / LeadershipTraining should be an enjoyable experience for both you and your dog. The more you understand how your dog thinks and learns, the more effectively you can communicate.
Like children, dogs need guidance and boundaries. Good leadership will earn your dog's trust and respect and help them to feel secure. Be kind, be fair, be consistent, be a strong, benevolent leader. Your dog will love you for it. Unwanted BehaviorsMany behavior problems exhibited by dogs originate because of unhealthy lifestyles - failure to accommodate the dog's needs - mismanagement, and poor training. Gentle, force-free training methods lay the foundation for a dog's capacity to learn, their healthy socialization, and will help prevent behavior problems. Clear, consistent communication means successful training and good behavior, with no need for coercion or physical corrections.
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Basic Obedience / Behavior ModificationObedience training is a way to have a happy, successful relationship with your dog. My goal is to help improve the lives of both people and their dogs, and obedience training
is a great place to deepen the bond with your pet and establish yourself as the leader. Without a clear leader, your dog may take on that role himself, causing behavioral issues such as reactivity, separation anxiety, and fear. Leadership is a fundamental prerequisite of most behavior modification programs. Timid and Reactive DogsAnxiety and fear are the most common underlying causes of behavior problems in dogs - leash aggression, reactivity around strangers or other dogs, shy around visitors, terrified of thunder or fireworks, etc. Dogs do feel emotions, and arousal, anxiety, and fear are very real to them. Trying to understand the dog's point of view and having empathy is a great place to start. Giving clear and consistent signals, being sensitive, and allowing our dogs to define their safety zone is crucial to their wellbeing.
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