Training Methods

If veterinarians told you they had a new veterinary procedure that caused no harm, no negative side effects, no fear or pain, and got the intended results needed to help dogs, any good person would accept this treatment instead of an old one that did cause fear or pain.

Now if dog trainers told you that they had a new method that caused no harm, no negative side effects, no fear or pain, and got the intended results needed to help dogs, wouldn’t you accept this instead of older methods that did cause fear or pain?

Well here is the excellent news! I’m a professional dog trainer telling you this is exactly what we have for training dogs. Positive reinforcement (reward-based) training methods cause no harm. They create positive effects without negative side effects. They do not cause or work based on fear or pain, and they achieve the highest standards in results when applied correctly.

We don’t need to use punishment (force)-based methods like hitting, kicking, yelling at, choking, jerking on leashes/collars, or shocking dogs. We don’t need to alpha roll them, pin them down, jab or grab them by the neck or scruff, and we don’t need to intimidate them (stomp near them or put pressure on them by rushing towards them or moving into them). We don’t need bark collars, or spray bottles, or cans full of pennies shaken at them, etc. We don’t need harsh punishments, period.

Instead, we can set dogs up to succeed and reinforce (reward) desirable behavior. Once the behavior is strong enough, we can attach it to, or pair it with a signal or cue for a dog to learn when to perform the behavior.

This leads to dogs with less or no fear, anxiety, and aggression; more confidence, a better relationship between dogs and people, and is more effective than aversive/punishment-based training. There are numerous scientific studies supporting this.

Dogs are happier being trained this way, which is common sense. Harsh punishments that scare and hurt dogs are not something dogs would choose to have happen to them, just like people would avoid these teaching methods when learning a new subject as well. Using empathy, we can treat dogs the same way we as people would like to be treated - in a kind manner.

I understand this may be new information for you. It may directly conflict with information you’ve previously heard including from other dog trainers, but it is the truth. It is worth learning how to interact and train your dogs with reward-based methods. Your dogs will thank you and appreciate the new kind treatment. And you will be rewarded with even better behavior.

I entered this career to help pets - dogs and cats - get adopted and help their people learn how to teach new behaviors using humane, kind training methods.

My training programs are how I share these methods and information to improve animal welfare. I hope they will help you have a better life with your pets.