We practice positive reinforcement-based, balanced dog training. This means we work hard to set clear expectations for the dog, so they know how to succeed.  Our goal is to improve the relationships between dogs and their families, so your dog can earn more freedom and be included in more activities with you. Obedience is key to a healthy and happy life!

Phase 1 | Show and then Tell

First, we teach your dog all the exercises and commands, using a great deal of positive reinforcement.

This phase is generally done in a low distraction environment, so it is easier for the dog to stay focused.

We show and lure dogs with rewards such as food, treats, toys, and praise. 

We show the dog how great it is when they work with you, rather than against you!

We want the dog to establish an enthusiastic response to the verbal cues and motivate them to engage with you.

Phase 2 | Practice and then Accountability

After we establish that the dog understands and responds well to the cues, we start practicing the three D’s: Duration, Distance, and Distractions.

We now begin to ask for longer durations of the cues, as well as adding motion and distance away from the handler, and lastly adding tempting distractions!

At this point, we may ask for multiple cues before rewarding, while still using verbal affirmation and praise. Eventually, we will continue to decrease treats and toys to the point they are spaced out intermittently. The idea here is to encourage your dog to make a good choice and never to know for sure when a reward is coming. We will also start to hold the dog accountable for the cues he has learned, by layering in training collars and/or leash pressure.  This is a necessary step, to help the dog understand that the cues are no longer “optional.”

Phase 3 | Exposure and then Habit

Once your dog has become reliable with the cues and some distractions, it’s time to expose the dog to new situations and environments.

Dogs do not generalize well, so it is important to practice not only in the house and yard, but out in public spaces.

We want to establish a habit of obedience in any setting, so you and your dog can be welcome anywhere!

We are consistent and insistent about every cue given going forward.

E-COLLAR

The collar we use is a TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit that is a muscle stimulator.  A TENS unit is actually a medical device that is often used on humans in physical therapy for pain relief.  It feels more like muscle movement or a tapping sensation rather than a traditional "shock" collar. It has 100 levels of stimulation and most of the time we are using it on very low levels that the dog barely feels. In general, humans can’t feel the stimulation under a level 15, and most dogs work under a 10 in a low distraction environment. We condition the dogs so that they have a positive relationship with it, as well as a clear understanding of what it means: Focus on the handler and follow through with the command. Once they are fully conditioned to it and understand what it means, we can go a little higher to help stop unwanted behavior. This retails at $220 and is included in each package pricing.

PRONG COLLAR

A prong collar is a metal collar with links that can be an incredibly useful training tool. The collar can be resized as needed and is designed to sit high up on the dog’s neck behind the ears.  It protects the trachea by distributing pressure evenly around the neck. It is used to teach the dog how to correctly respond to leash pressure and can be a game changer on walks.

 SLIP COLLAR

A slip collar or leash is a training collar that slides over the dog’s head. As the dog pulls on the leash, the collar tightens rather than falling off. This is a safety tool and can help prevent escape-artist dogs from running off while training.