My Training Philosophy

Connect With Your Pet In A Holistic Way

Dogs can bring such happiness to our lives, but for some families they can be total nightmare! Problems start to develop when there is lack of structure and leadership in the relationship. One of the first steps in dog training is for the owners to understand that their behaviors will have to change too. What many don’t realize is that WE influence both the good and the bad behaviors that we see in our dogs. My unique method of balanced dog training brings peace into the lives of committed clients and their families, who understand that real change is possible when the right approach to their dog's behavior is consistently applied and practiced. Training is not just series of tricks; training is an everlasting lifestyle. It is important for owners to understand that even after our sessions the training you learn should continue to be applied continuously. Together, we will take a hands-on approach to find a solution to resolve the problems you are having with your dog. My programs are designed to help connect the gap between human and dog communication, by helping you and your dog improve your relationship and bring peace into your life.

There are many different styles and views for how to train a dog. I understand that all dogs are different and need to be approached differently when it comes to training. Not all dogs respond well to Positive only training which is why I use what is called the Balanced Dog Training Style.

Balanced Dog Training refers to any approach of dog training or behavior modification which involves the use of both reward-based techniques and corrections to train and rehabilitate dogs. A good balanced scale trainer uses positive reinforcement until the point that it doesn't work anymore.

In this training approach, I begin a dog’s education through the use of rewards. Your dog will learn new behaviors through goal driven learning that is both enjoyable and effective. Your dog is allowed to gain an understanding of the training exercises without concern about making a mistake.

When more reliability is needed, a light "correction" from a training collar is introduced into the training program in a careful and thought-out manner. To “correct” a dog for disobedience, I first need to make sure that your dog has an opportunity to learn not only about the training exercise, but also about the tool, meaning the dog must learn that what I call “pressure” is something that they can control and avoid through their actions.

First, I use a leash and training collar. Through this process the dog learns all the various situations in which pressure may be applied, and the various behaviors that they can rely on to remove that pressure, and this is all done with a low intensity so the dog has the opportunity to learn about the tools without any stress.
After many repetitions the dogs begin to view the leash pressure as simply another piece of valuable information, which allows me to help them navigate the world and earn rewards and praise. Only once this has been accomplished do we then use the tool in a more motivating way as necessary, to prompt the dog into appropriate choices, or correct them for willful disobedience.