DOG TRAINING PHILOSOPHY

There are 3 distinct ways a dog trainer can choose to train a dog!

There are dog trainers who beg or bribe their dogs to do something by offering them food or a toy reward. When I train a dog, I use food and toys in my training sessions, but I also use verbal commands, hand signals, distractions and corrections when necessary. The dog trainers who only beg and use bribery will neither use distractions nor corrections in their dog training. This will eventually lead into a large enough problem during the dog training because the dogs that get this type of training often choose not to do what is asked of them because they will not think the reward is worth the task.

On the complete other side of the training spectrum is the group of dog trainers who use force and coercions to intimidate their dogs to do what they want. This is considered to be the old-fashioned and old school way of dog training (the jerking of the leash and collar around the dog's neck.) These dog trainers will put a choke collar on a dog and force it to do everything. For these dog trainers, time is money and with enough force they can train a dog to do just about anything. In most cases the dog that receives this type of training seldom likes their trainer and usually becomes overly submissive and afraid of them.

It is my opinion that both of the above categories for dog training produce problems and inconsistent results along with dogs that do not respect their owners. If you do not have a good bond with your dog or if your dog does not respect you as a firm but fair pack leader you will never reach consistency in your dogs training.

The last type of dog training is where I fit in. I am balanced right in the middle of the first two training categories. I am always prepared to move one way or the other depending on what is going on at that point in time.

I use verbal, food, toys, hand signals and praise to take a dog through a learning phase where the dog will actually learn the meaning of a command - for example the, "stay command", but then I add distractions to the dog training. If a dog does not listen under distractions, or does not choose to follow directions after already knowing and understanding the command given then I will correct the dog and give the command again.

After the dog completes the command I always end on positive praise and positive reinforcement to let the dog know what a great job he or she just did.