We understand that
Every Dog is Different.
Our training approach is adjusted to each, individual
dog's personality and needs.
TRAINING APPROACH
We know your dog is unique. That is why we individualize our approach depending on each dog/handler team. We have trained countless dogs and have never found two to be the same. By using an individualized approach, we have been able to successfully train multiple breeds and personalities of dogs to meet their owner's training goals. Our training methods are proven to be clear and effective.
We apply the scientific theories of classical & operant conditioning while also understanding the science behind canine behavior.
Along with science, there is an art to dog training as well. The art is deciding when and how to apply specific types of training techniques and tools.
Our goal is to make every dog a stronger, more confident version of themselves. One of the goals in dog training is not necessarily controlling your dog, but it is simply teaching your dog to control its own impulses and be an active thinker. With our versatile techniques, we are able to achieve this while also promoting the K9 spirit.
Training Process
Step 1: Trust
Before we can start training behaviors, we must make sure each dog trusts us. This can be quick, or may take a few days to a week - this process cannot be rushed.
Trust is built though showing our intentions to the dog and simply spending time with them. This quality time includes walking, running, hanging our in the living area, cuddling, and play.
During this phase, we begin to teach different signal words to the dog such as "Yes", "No", and "Free".
Step 2: Teach
As soon as trust is built, we begin to teach behaviors using positive and negative reinforcement - two very powerful, confidence boosting methods of reinforcing desired behaviors.
After the dog understands and enjoys doing a behavior, we use humane training collars to help refine desired behaviors and stop undesired behaviors.
We use a wide variety of training collars and will choose which one to use on your dog depending on their learning style and your training goals.
Step 3: Generalize
After the dog understands our communication system, desired behaviors, and undesired behaviors, then we can show the dog multiple situations in different places to generalize behavior and improve reliability along with confidence. This is done by taking the dog to multiple new places to practice behaviors under distractions and challenging situations.
This phase is where the dog learns that the rules don't only apply in the classroom, but also in the real world. This is the stage where behaviors become practical and we start to reach training goals.
Equipment
We have been professionally trained to utilize a wide variety of equipment such as:
•Clickers
•E-collars (remote, bark, and containment)
•Prong collars
•Slip collars/leads
•Harnesses
•Headcollars (Halti, Gentle Leader)
& many other tools!
GENETICS
Throughout history, dog breeds have been meticulously bred for specific roles, reflecting their innate instincts. Whether it's herding, retrieving, or guarding, these instincts have played a vital role in our
co-evolution with dogs.
Genetics play a significant role in shaping your dog's temperament, influencing their behavior and personality traits. Different dog breeds have distinct temperament characteristics that are passed down through generations via selective breeding. For instance, Border Collies are known for their intelligence and energy, while Labrador Retrievers are famed for their friendly demeanor.
Additionally, dogs can inherit specific behaviors from their parents, such as aggression, fearfulness, or sociability. These genetic predispositions affect how your dog responds to various situations and stimuli. Certain genetic disorders can also indirectly influence temperament, causing discomfort or altering a dog's behavior.
Understanding genetics can help us with problematic behaviors - as many issues stem from a lack of understanding genetic urges of dogs, or breed specific traits that they have been selected for over generations. These traits cannot be removed or added - but can be guided, suppressed, or enhanced through training.
Our goal is to help each owner understand what drives their dog genetically, and to teach them how to harness these innate drives to not only get the most out of training, but have a happy, sound dog.
ENVIRONMENT
While genetics lay the foundation for a dog's temperament, environmental factors also play a crucial role. Early experiences, ongoing socialization, training, diet, exercise and the overall environment in which a dog lives can all shape its behavior and personality. If we want our pups to be on their best behavior, we have to set the environment in ways that allow our dogs to be successful.
With any type of dog training program, certain environmental changes within our lives, and our dogs' lives have to occur in order for our dogs to be mentally healthy and for training to stick.
Diet: Do you remember the saying "You are what you eat?" This saying does not only apply to humans, but also to our dogs! A poor diet can cause behavioral issues such as hyperactivity, anxiety, and depression just like in humans. We have knowledge and experience in selecting the right diet for our canine companions.
Exercise: Many of the most common behavioral issues are due to a lack of proper mental and physical exercise, causing our dogs to become neurotic and destructive. Many owners struggle with finding a proper outlet for their dogs with their specific lifestyle, or their dogs are so out of control that is can be challenging to exercise them properly. These are areas that we have a lot of experience helping our clients out with!
Proper Socialization: Understanding what socialization is and how to socialize a dog properly is very important. Some dogs have the genetic predisposition to be very social, and need to understand how to relax around humans and other dogs. While other dogs may be the opposite - more shy or aggressive and require controlled exposure. Basically, proper socialization is different for every dog.
Management Techniques: We love our dogs, but periodically we give them too much freedom too soon. In certain situations, this can set our dogs up for failure, especially when potty training puppies, keep dogs on the property unsupervised, or teaching our dogs not to jump on guests. We can prevent unwanted behaviors while we are working on them by utilizing crates, kennels, gates, leashes, and tethers properly. Management is usually temporary during the training phase.
Training our dog is similar to visiting the gym. In order to maintain the results, we have to train regularly. Dogs are always learning, this means they are also learning what situations they don't have to obey or what they can get away with. If we stop training, exercising, and managing them they are less likely to obey a command or maintain self-control.