TRAINING PHILOSOPHY

Would you like a dog that is so well behaved that he is a joy to be around, a member of the family, and welcome in the community?  A dog you are proud to show off to your family, friends, and co-workers? This is our mission!  To help individuals choose the right dog to add to their family or transform the one they already own.

No one can change a dog's personality or temperament but with adequate exercise, leadership, and training a frustrating, rowdy, or destructive dog can become a great dog!   

The importance of adequate exercise cannot be stressed enough!  Dogs need mental and physical exercise to be healthy, happy, and relaxed.  Especially young dogs and working breeds.  An hour daily brisk walk (or two half hour walks) will help with bonding, leadership, and manners (some dogs will need more).  "A tired dog is a good dog!"  Throwing the ball or playing with other dogs can be very helpful, too.  But nothing beats a good brisk walk or jog with a family member!  If you work long days then you may want to hire a dog walker or consider a well supervised, clean dog day care a couple of times a week. 

It is just as important to educate the people in a dog's life to be good leaders.  Some aspects of leadership with our dog are counter-intuitive.  Good leaders do not forcibly dominate or intimidate their dog.    Good leadership takes charge through setting boundaries and not giving in to demanding, pushy  behavior.  Dogs should earn petting and praise, work for food and toys.  Dogs will feel more secure with naps confined to a crate.  Consistent leadership builds a bond between you and your canine companion.  Dogs want to please us and they want some one to take charge and protect and direct the "pack".  What a relief it is to your dog to give that role over to you. 

Intelligent dogs need extra mental stimulation or they will find things to do (usually unacceptable to us humans).  Training and tricks are great for this.    Fifteen minutes of training is as tiring to a dog as an hour of physical exercise! 

Similar to leadership, training our dogs can be counter intuitive too.   Other than house training, nothing frustrates us more than a dog that wont come when called.  If you are trying to catch a dog that is not coming to you, your natural impulse (after you have repeated the command several times in a loud, angry voice) is to run after the dog .  Resist this impulse! Why? You have just rewarded the dog for running off!    

You come upon a soiled carpet ...again   Resist the impulse to scold your pup (scold yourself instead because you left pup unsupervised)!   Rubbing his nose in it or swatting him on the rump will cause him to distrust you and will cause your dog to hide to do his business.  He will resist doing his business in front of you outdoors. 

Let me help you understand how your dog thinks and help you learn to motivate your dog to succeed.