Humane, Science-Based Training

There is simply no other way to do it

Dogs deserve the best humanity can give them. We are capable of so much. The research on dogs has exploded in the past decade and now more than ever, there is hard evidence that positive reinforcement-based training is the best way to create confident, happy dogs that can behave at their very best no matter what environment they are put in. Trust what decades of science has proven. We no longer have to dominate, command or force our dogs to learn. We can be their best friend.

My Approach to Dog Training

RESPECT/choice

All animals we come in contact with deserve our respect. We owe it to them to understand them better and provide them with the same level of respect we expect in return. This is especially true of our dogs, who were handpicked by us to live in our world. They rely on us for all of their needs and we control almost every aspect of their lives. We decide when and where they get to eat, relieve themselves, sleep, go outside, and even have access to the things they love to do like sniff, dig and play! Choice-based training gives the dog a voice again, allowing them to think and learn independently so they can learn to live more peacefully in your world without relying on cues or commands.

EMPATHY

Taking the time to better understand how dogs experience the world around them, how they communicate, and what makes them happy will translate into good behavior and less frustration. We experience our world primarily through our sense of sight but dogs experience their world through their noses. Imagine being taken to a gorgeous beach or stunning mountain trail but being told you cannot look around. You are only allowed to look at what’s right in front of your feet. That would be pretty frustrating and not very relaxing. When we don’t allow time for our dogs to explore the world with their noses, we are taking away their ability to investigate and enjoy the world around them.

REWARD

Reward-based training is not only more enjoyable for everyone, it’s more effective for sustained, long-term good behavior choices. Picture yourself being shown a new skill and wanting to succeed. In one scenario. you were only told when you were doing something wrong and you’d have to guess when you behaved correctly. You’d probably feel both confused and frustrated fairly often. How long do you think your motivation to learn that new skill last in that kind of situation? Now, imagine yourself in another scenario where every time you did something good or in the right direction, you were rewarded with praise, good food and expressions of love and caring. In which scenario do you think you’d learn best?