Frequently asked questions
What can I expect to happen throughout the training program?
Fun, toys, food… Whatever the dog wants suddenly appears. I believe in only force-free, positive reinforcement training. When he does the right thing, expect to hear and see a party! This type of training allows the dog to build up a positive association with not only training, but also you! Making his training happy and stress-free. Along with this, I will always be upfront about my observations, expectations, and what is and isn’t working. We’ll discuss progress on a regular basis so you understand what results can be expected and how your dog is progressing.
What happens during the training program when the dog responds incorrectly or inappropriately?
I passionately believe that "bad" behavior should be ignored or redirected. If we teach our dog alternative behaviors, then we can ask him to perform one of those instead of what we perceive to be inappropriate behavior. This helps the dog learn what to do while helping us teach him he can still succeed without punishment. For example, when our dog jumps up on us we can either get angry with him or we can ask him to sit (which we will have previously taught him) and then reward him with our attention or a treat. It will not take long for the dog to realize that it is better to sit than to jump. This puts the training back on us to teach our dogs the things we DO want them to do so that we can feel good about the dog and his behavior, rather than just get angry because he is not doing the right thing.
How will you punish the dog or advise me to punish the dog if he gets something wrong or exhibits a Behavior I do not like:
Very simply, we ensure we are teaching the dog age-appropriate skills and always make sure we are not expecting too much too soon. I am looking to see that we are motivating the dog correctly. If the dog has been trained and the skill is appropriate for his age, but he still gets it wrong, we very briefly remove something he wants – such as treats, toys or attention - and then try again. If it seems we are moving too fast, we will back up and retrain a building block, or groundwork behavior. This will help us get to where we need to be quickly, safely and most of all with positive intent. There is never a form of punishment involved, we simply ignore unwanted responses and redirect behaviors and move on. We again, will circle back to previously successful steps before moving on.
How do you ensure that my dog is not inadvertently being punished?
In a force-free training environment it would be reflected in the dog’s demeanor and performance if he were being inadvertently punished. A professional force-free trainer is well-versed in species-specific communication and will immediately be aware of any signs that an animal is uncomfortable. A professional trainer will regroup and reassess what they are doing to create the most empowering learning environment.
Which professional dog training associations are you a member of?
As a professional force-free dog trainer, I align with only organizations that advocate humane, ethical training methods that are minimally aversive to animals. I do not promote or participate in any organization that endorses methods or training styles that use punishment, force, fear or intimidation. I am a member of the International Marine Animal Trainers Association (IMATA), Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA), Pet Professional Guild, Professional Canine Trainer (PPG) the Animal Behavior Institute.
Will you guarantee your training results?
My recommendations will always consider your best interests, as well as your dog’s best interests, when striving to reach your dog’s training goals. Following the recommendations I provide will help to ensure success in reaching those training goals. However, as any professional force-free trainer will say, results are not guaranteed. The reason being is there are too many variables involved and a professional dog trainer cannot control these. Instead, I will guarantee to work with you in tandem to affect the most appropriate behavior change in line with your goals. The results will be dependent on many things, including your level of commitment and compliance to the recommended program. Failing to follow the specific instructions I provide will reduce your and your dog’s likelihood of reaching those training goals.