What is the best way to train your Dog?

My method of training is based on Operant Conditioning, or the Basic principles of learning theory. Operant conditioning is the theory that animals learn to repeat or avoid any given behavior that give them a positive or negative consequence. For example, a dog will learn to “come” to its owner if it perceives coming to its owner as a positive experience. A dog will also learn to avoid coming to its owner if it perceives coming to its owner as a negative experience. Owners unintentionally increase the likelihood of bad behavior, and fail to increase the likelihood of good behavior everyday. It is my hope to “bridge the communication gap” opening up the possibility for life long communication by providing owners the tools they need to continue to teach their dogs anything they wish long after our sessions are finished!

My methods are all based on positive reinforcement. Meaning, I motivate dogs to do what I want by associating it with a positive experience. (ex: treats, verbal praise, affection, attention) I also discourage behavior I do not want by the absence of a positive experience, which to the dog is a negative experience! (ex: withhold treats, verbal praise, affection, attention) I do not use physical corrections, yelling, shock collars, chain collars or prong collars.  These harsh training tools are not necessary to establish one self as a calm assertive leader!   Instead, I use body language and leadership exercises to establish a "pack hierarchy"  This is the best way to establish a leadership role WITHOUT compromising your bond and relationship with your dog!  

My primary tool of communication to teach new behaviors is the clicker. I believe it to be the fastest and most effective tool to teach a dog what we want. It is most effective because it   encourages the dog to "think" as opposed to using the lure and treat method in which the dog is following a treat with its nose and eyes and thus distracted by the food and NOT thinking.   With the lure and treat method, learning is actually slowed down as the food becomes a distraction instead of a motivating force!  With clicker training the dog actually becomes aware of why it is getting a treat, which speeds up learning, and helps the dog to retain this information longer!  The clicker “marks” the behavior at the precise moment the dog is performing the behavior we want. Thus communicating to the dog yes! That is what I was looking for! and yes! you are going to get a treat for it!! After both dog and handler are performing a learned behavior with success 90% of the time, we phase out the clicker, and replace it with verbal praise. For more information on clicker Training please visit The official Clicker website www.clickertraining.com

Group Classes

Private Training

Daycare