I use a wide variety of training equipment and methods.
I believe all dogs learn differently and that there is no one training style that works for all dogs OR their owners.
I will help you build an individualized training plan that fits your dogs personality and your lifestyle.
I strongly believe in working at the dogs current level and not rushing the process.
Foundation Training and Commands should be taught at home in a calm environment best suited to the dogs ability to learn and focus.
Over time building duration, then distractions you can control and eventually distance as well.
Then as the dog has shown a clear understanding and has successful mastered controlled distractions we move on to unpredictable distractions out in the world.
We find this system sets our clients and their dogs up for the most success.
I believe all dogs learn differently and that there is no one training style that works for all dogs OR their owners.
I will help you build an individualized training plan that fits your dogs personality and your lifestyle.
I strongly believe in working at the dogs current level and not rushing the process.
Foundation Training and Commands should be taught at home in a calm environment best suited to the dogs ability to learn and focus.
Over time building duration, then distractions you can control and eventually distance as well.
Then as the dog has shown a clear understanding and has successful mastered controlled distractions we move on to unpredictable distractions out in the world.
We find this system sets our clients and their dogs up for the most success.
Rewards
A reward is something your dog finds valuable.
It may be a kibble, treat, butt scratches, ear scratches, ball, tug toy, or just exuberant praise.
Food is the most versatile in teaching behaviors as you can use it to lure/ leading the dog into positions when teaching (Down, Heel etc)
Once a dog has a clear understanding of a command other types of rewards may be used.
The keys is that they are just that a Reward!
Think of a Reward as Payment for a job well done.
A reward is NOT a bribe to entice the dog to do the command in the 1st place.
Once the dog knows a command if you want that behavior to continue longterm you should be rewarding it in some way the dog finds valuable at the very least on a random schedule or it will diminish overtime and your dog will find something that they find more valuable to do instead.
Check Out our Blog Post on the different treats we use and recommend
Training Programs
I will teach you how to read your dogs body language, understand them and communicate with your dog in a way they understand.
I help to coach you in teaching your dog commands that will be a reliable form of communicating with your dog.
Dog training is all about building a better relationship with your dog.
I will coach you how to handle your dog appropriately and give you all the tools you will need to have control in any situation.
You will have homework to do and you will need to make time in your schedule to work with your dog.
Your dog will only get as much out of training as the time and effort YOU put in.
Off Leash
We recommend you familiarize yourself with your local leash laws in your city, but there are destinations that allow verbal control, or off leash dog areas you may travel to.
When you hear the words off leash….
Can you see your dog running down the beach coming back the 1st time you call him?
What about..
Dropping the Leash and having your dog stay close
Leaving the front door open while you unload the car or get the mail
Your dog staying on a dog bed while you answer the door and greet a guest and invite them in
Coming to you when its time to come inside instead of playing catch me if you can games
ALL of these Skills also require Control at a distance
Good Foundation in Training should ensure that your dog can perform all of these above skills pretty reliably and with distractions present.
What happens when they make a mistake in one of the above scenarios?
Your dog is still an Animal and they have instincts, drives and sometimes fears and sometimes those can lead to your dog being impulsive at times.
I make mistakes, and I would never expect another being to be completely flawless in their ability to listen or follow directions
You get to choose …
Option A - Use Management
Always use a long line that you're holding or tied to something for backup tied securely to something immoveable in the event that your dog makes a mistake they can only get so far.
Option B - Hope its enough
DO NOT RECOMMEND - And if this is your choice we aren’t going to be a good fit.
I wish you luck in your search for a dog trainer who better fits what your looking for.
Allow the dog off leash and hope for the best as all the hard work you’ve put into training will work MOST of the time. It’s true - it will work MOST of the time but the real world is unpredictable and you can’t prepare your dog for every possible scenario and it’s unsafe to go this route.
PERSONALLY - MY DOGS LIFE IS NOT WORTH RISKING
Option C - Use an E-collar / Remote Training Collar
This is my personal choice and my recommendation
and here’s why...
Imagine your busy thoughtfully working at the computer full engrossed in what your doing and someone walks in the room behind you and says something from the doorway… You might not register hearing them.
You certainly weren’t purposefully ignoring them but you were mentally and physically engaged in another activity.
That person walks up and taps you on the shoulder and repeats what they said the 1st time.
The physical tap on your shoulder brings you back to the room and you can now apologize for not hearing them the 1st time and ask what they needed.
The physical tap has value!
Now.. Let's imagine that’s your dog engaged in a smell following a critter trail in the grass.
I really believe that my dog has these moments as well.
Where they are so engrossed in a smell or other activity that they just didn’t hear me.
An honest mistake but one that can be very dangerous.
The E-Collar Stim is a physical tap to interrupt your dogs current engagement to be able to bring their attention back to you.
The stim of an collar is the same exact technology of a TENS unit many people use for therapy on themselves on a regular basis.
Taught correctly, it is just another form of communication with your dog. It is a lot less force full and actually is much kinder on your dog than physical corrections from any other form of collar.
Not all E-collars are the same.
Some brands are more reliable, have a longer range of use and have varying range of levels.
I choose to use E-collars that have a wide range of levels.
Each of my clients is required to feel it before we put it on their dog. My clients are very surprised that they don't feel it until a 15 or so and their dog is able to respond calmly at much lower levels often 2-6.
My E-collar has a range of 1-100.
I believe a lifetime of freedom outweighs the moments of discomfort my dog could potentially need at higher levels to grab their attention in an emergency situation to keep them safe.
E-collar training allows you the confidence and safety that no matter what you can have control of what your dog is doing.
You can train all day every day and there is still a % that your dog can make their own decisions. There are things that we can't train or prepare for. I want to have control of that %. I am a safe driver but I still wear my seat belt. That's how I think of my E-collar.
That all being said the choice is yours!
This is not a tool that is mandatory for training, but you may have limitations without it.
If you want a truly reliable dog and have control at a distance wether its out in the world or when you have guests over this is your tool.
If this is not something you're comfortable with. No problem we can chat about Option A and teaching all the same skills but keeping some forms of management in place longterm for the safety of your dog.
Training Collars + Tools
It is important that you understand coming into training that we may recommend any of the below training equipment depending on you and your dog as we build all training plans to the individual dog and owners goals.
If you are not willing to try types of equipment if we feel it is the right fit for your dog you are only limiting you and your dogs potential.
By signing up for training with us YOU are agreeing to be open minded about training equipment and trust that the trainer has you and your dogs best interest in mind at all times.
Just a few of the training tools we may recommend.
Standard Flat Collar
Martingale Collar (Limited Slip Collar)
Nylon Slip Collar
Prong Collar
Head Halters
E-Collar
The results from training your dog are a direct correlation to the time and consistency you put in.
A reward is something your dog finds valuable.
It may be a kibble, treat, butt scratches, ear scratches, ball, tug toy, or just exuberant praise.
Food is the most versatile in teaching behaviors as you can use it to lure/ leading the dog into positions when teaching (Down, Heel etc)
Once a dog has a clear understanding of a command other types of rewards may be used.
The keys is that they are just that a Reward!
Think of a Reward as Payment for a job well done.
A reward is NOT a bribe to entice the dog to do the command in the 1st place.
Once the dog knows a command if you want that behavior to continue longterm you should be rewarding it in some way the dog finds valuable at the very least on a random schedule or it will diminish overtime and your dog will find something that they find more valuable to do instead.
Check Out our Blog Post on the different treats we use and recommend
Training Programs
I will teach you how to read your dogs body language, understand them and communicate with your dog in a way they understand.
I help to coach you in teaching your dog commands that will be a reliable form of communicating with your dog.
Dog training is all about building a better relationship with your dog.
I will coach you how to handle your dog appropriately and give you all the tools you will need to have control in any situation.
You will have homework to do and you will need to make time in your schedule to work with your dog.
Your dog will only get as much out of training as the time and effort YOU put in.
Off Leash
We recommend you familiarize yourself with your local leash laws in your city, but there are destinations that allow verbal control, or off leash dog areas you may travel to.
When you hear the words off leash….
Can you see your dog running down the beach coming back the 1st time you call him?
What about..
Dropping the Leash and having your dog stay close
Leaving the front door open while you unload the car or get the mail
Your dog staying on a dog bed while you answer the door and greet a guest and invite them in
Coming to you when its time to come inside instead of playing catch me if you can games
ALL of these Skills also require Control at a distance
Good Foundation in Training should ensure that your dog can perform all of these above skills pretty reliably and with distractions present.
What happens when they make a mistake in one of the above scenarios?
Your dog is still an Animal and they have instincts, drives and sometimes fears and sometimes those can lead to your dog being impulsive at times.
I make mistakes, and I would never expect another being to be completely flawless in their ability to listen or follow directions
You get to choose …
Option A - Use Management
Always use a long line that you're holding or tied to something for backup tied securely to something immoveable in the event that your dog makes a mistake they can only get so far.
Option B - Hope its enough
DO NOT RECOMMEND - And if this is your choice we aren’t going to be a good fit.
I wish you luck in your search for a dog trainer who better fits what your looking for.
Allow the dog off leash and hope for the best as all the hard work you’ve put into training will work MOST of the time. It’s true - it will work MOST of the time but the real world is unpredictable and you can’t prepare your dog for every possible scenario and it’s unsafe to go this route.
PERSONALLY - MY DOGS LIFE IS NOT WORTH RISKING
Option C - Use an E-collar / Remote Training Collar
This is my personal choice and my recommendation
and here’s why...
Imagine your busy thoughtfully working at the computer full engrossed in what your doing and someone walks in the room behind you and says something from the doorway… You might not register hearing them.
You certainly weren’t purposefully ignoring them but you were mentally and physically engaged in another activity.
That person walks up and taps you on the shoulder and repeats what they said the 1st time.
The physical tap on your shoulder brings you back to the room and you can now apologize for not hearing them the 1st time and ask what they needed.
The physical tap has value!
Now.. Let's imagine that’s your dog engaged in a smell following a critter trail in the grass.
I really believe that my dog has these moments as well.
Where they are so engrossed in a smell or other activity that they just didn’t hear me.
An honest mistake but one that can be very dangerous.
The E-Collar Stim is a physical tap to interrupt your dogs current engagement to be able to bring their attention back to you.
The stim of an collar is the same exact technology of a TENS unit many people use for therapy on themselves on a regular basis.
Taught correctly, it is just another form of communication with your dog. It is a lot less force full and actually is much kinder on your dog than physical corrections from any other form of collar.
Not all E-collars are the same.
Some brands are more reliable, have a longer range of use and have varying range of levels.
I choose to use E-collars that have a wide range of levels.
Each of my clients is required to feel it before we put it on their dog. My clients are very surprised that they don't feel it until a 15 or so and their dog is able to respond calmly at much lower levels often 2-6.
My E-collar has a range of 1-100.
I believe a lifetime of freedom outweighs the moments of discomfort my dog could potentially need at higher levels to grab their attention in an emergency situation to keep them safe.
E-collar training allows you the confidence and safety that no matter what you can have control of what your dog is doing.
You can train all day every day and there is still a % that your dog can make their own decisions. There are things that we can't train or prepare for. I want to have control of that %. I am a safe driver but I still wear my seat belt. That's how I think of my E-collar.
That all being said the choice is yours!
This is not a tool that is mandatory for training, but you may have limitations without it.
If you want a truly reliable dog and have control at a distance wether its out in the world or when you have guests over this is your tool.
If this is not something you're comfortable with. No problem we can chat about Option A and teaching all the same skills but keeping some forms of management in place longterm for the safety of your dog.
Training Collars + Tools
It is important that you understand coming into training that we may recommend any of the below training equipment depending on you and your dog as we build all training plans to the individual dog and owners goals.
If you are not willing to try types of equipment if we feel it is the right fit for your dog you are only limiting you and your dogs potential.
By signing up for training with us YOU are agreeing to be open minded about training equipment and trust that the trainer has you and your dogs best interest in mind at all times.
Just a few of the training tools we may recommend.
Standard Flat Collar
Martingale Collar (Limited Slip Collar)
Nylon Slip Collar
Prong Collar
Head Halters
E-Collar
The results from training your dog are a direct correlation to the time and consistency you put in.
© 2011-2023 Paws In Progress