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FAQ

I love to chat about dogs! Please don't hesitate to call or email us if you have any questions at all.  Some of the more frequent questions I am asked are answered here.  
What type of training do you use?

Dogs are happier when they understand their boundaries and have routine and structure in their lives. They are more comfortable when they know what is expected of them. I teach you to manage your dog’s behaviour through positive reinforcement methods. I use an approach where your dog enjoys learning and pleasing you.  Creating a dog that is an enthusiastic student is the easiest and fastest route to achieving success.

What's a positive dog trainer or positive dog training?

Positive training means that I don’t use pain, fear, punishment or intimidation to train dogs. I help you build a relationship based on trust, communication, impulse control and confidence. Dogs learn to associate good things with listening to and pleasing their owners.  With time, patience and knowledge, you can create a happy and mannerly member of the family through positive, reward based training.

I don’t understand why my dog misbehaves?  I love him but he frustrates me with his barking, jumping, chewing…..etc?

Dogs do not understand the difference between "right" and "wrong".  These are humans concepts.  I place an emphasis on helping people learn how their dogs understand the world.  It is important to understand how your dog’s brain works. Dogs have very different needs to humans and they do not see the world the same way we do.  If your dog is displaying unwanted behaviours (barking, chewing, destroying, jumping, pulling) we can help you change this behaviour and create a well mannered, family pet who is calm and happy.

Can I teach my old dog new tricks?

I sometimes hear clients say their dog is too old to change and he’ll never learn how to behave. This is nonsense! Once you discover how your dog learns and is motivated, you can teach him anything no matter how old he is.

What equipment should I use?

I start all training with a basic collar, a leash and some delicious treats.  If your dog is a chronic puller, you may need a front clipping harness to give you more control on walks.  I also teach you to use other forms of motivation such as praise and play. I love using clickers in training as well.  However, I do not like or recommend pinch collars, electric shock collars or choke chains. There are always more humane and more effective training methods available to solve behaviour problems.

If I train using treats, will my dog always require treats?

Teaching new behaviours is often easiest using treats, because most dogs are very food motivated.  Having said that, it is important to phase out treats as soon as a behaviour is learned and becomes reliable.  I will show you how to do this as part of your training program.

 

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