Our Training Methods - I prefer a middle of the road common sense approach.

In the past decade since I have been training dogs, I have seen methods go from one extreme to the other. In the 1980's the prevailing method was overly harsh and one-size-fits-all negative reinforcement. The punishment frequently didn't seem to fit the 'crime' which I strongly objected to.

Training with treats or toys or play as motivators was frowned on. Jerk and praise was the extent of what most trainers did back then. A 6 foot leash was standard because that's how much slack you were supposed to give the dog so you could get in a good yank.

Dog training like religion, embraces different beliefs based on different premises resulting in different training methods. If you read enough books, and attend enough seminars, you'll go crazy searching for the "right" way to train dogs! A training method is only successful for you if you fully understand it and feel comfortable with it. Good dog trainers are always changing their method! We remain open to new ideas and search for more effective techniques.

The newest fad, called 'purely positive', is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Theoretically, PP techniques mean the trainer never verbally or physically corrects the dog. The word 'no' is not used. In PP, clickers are used. A click means a treat is coming soon. We have always known that dogs learn best by instant feed back on their actions which is why PP trainers click when the dog is doing a desired behavior. (This is called marking a behavior.)

I object to using ONLY positive reinforcement because it doesn't make sense. Giving a dog a correction (physical or verbal, whichever is appropriate), simply tells him when he is wrong. It's feedback that tells him which behaviors are incorrect and not desired. How well would you learn by only being praised/rewarded when you did something right but never told when you did something wrong? Are you happy to make the same mistake over and over again? Is your boss happy about the mistakes? Letting the dog know what NOT to do at the correct time is just as important as giving positive reinforcement at the correct time.

My objections to using a clicker are many. I prefer to use my voice to mark and therefore encourage a desired behavior - and always have. (PP trainers did not invent positive reinforcement, they just added a clicker when they came on the scene). You won't always have a clicker on hand when you need it, but you will always have your own unique voice. (Clickers sound alike.) Have two people train at the same time and click away. Very confusing to a dog!

There are lots of different training methods just as there are lots of different dogs and people and differing personalities. I prefer what I consider to be an overall more effective, and intelligent approach. A common sense, middle of the road combination using both positive and negative reinforcement. I use food, praise, petting, play, and toys for positive reinforcement along with leash, collar, and/or verbal corrections for negative reinforcement. My goal is a happy, well-adjusted pet who responds with reasonable reliability. I want to get people to train their pets to be good canine citizens, not canine delinquents. I want to see good manners and control. I want people to be responsible pet owners who keep and take good care of their dogs for life. I want dogs to have long and happy lives full of love.

Our dog training method is based on respect and trust, not bribing with food. Focus on the psychology of the relationship. When you have the right kind of relationship with your dog there are virtually no behavior problems and the dog obeys without a leash.

YOU SEE RESULTS IMMEDIATELY.

What we do is practical, makes sense, and is effective.

We teach techniques and make the dog owner the dog trainer. We teach clients proper posture, timing, body language, voice tonation, inflection and attitude. We make sure the dog does everything for the client. It doesn't matter if we can train your dog.  What matters is your dog responding for you.

Some so call trainers, Amateur and hobbyist dog trainers are nice people who love dogs and care about them. When you need results and are paying good money, do not be misled. You want someone who can get your dog to obey your voice quickly without yelling, violence or bribing with food. Who wants a dog who doesn't listen unless you have treats?

Obedience is you asking your dog to do something and he does it because you say so, and not because the dog is going to get food or be punished.The cruelest method is the one where the dog never gets trained and the dog no longer respects the owners and is biting people as a direct result of owners trying to train their dog with food. Then the dog has to be euthanized.

If you want your dog to behave around kids on razor scooters, for example, you need to train your dog first, then introduce distractions. A good trainer is prepared to work with any dog breed, of any age and of any temperament.

Be doubtful of trainers who specialize in puppies or typically "easy" dogs. Conversely, be doubtful of trainers who purport that their success with big dogs such as Golden Retrievers equates into being an expert with all dogs.