First Our Training Methods
*First and foremost, always remember...you are only as good as your training,
training equipment, toys, food, treats and play reward system.
Genetics also plays a huge role.
Your time is valuable, so do it right the first time, communicate with your training companions and always have a plan to succeed. Don't set yourself up for failure.
If your dog is not performing well, and your dog is normally able to do the exercises, then you have to ask...what have you done to cause this. Feeding your dog before training? Too much excecise? Too much freedom? or What's different that day(it could be as simple as you are not using their favourite toy or treat)?
Once every potential cause has been eliminated, then you need to ask yourself, does your dog have a health issue? I have seen several trainers over the years, including myself...thinking that the dog was just being difficult and did not want to listen, when in fact...the dogs were injuried from spine, neck or hip...or really sick like one of my own dogs who had Leukemia, and did not have the energy to work anymore, but other than that appeared to be fine.
Always be fair to your dogs, because you just never know.
Positive Re-enforcement Reward Based with Food
We use positive food reward to teach dogs all of our base foundation programming. Our training is based on proven methods used for training in the Sport of Schutzhund/IPO. A hungry dog or a dog with high food drive is very easy to train and will love to work for you.
Positive Re-enforcement Reward Based with Toys
Toy reward based training teaches the dog you how to play. This helps promote a stronger working relationship by building up your dog's trust, confidence, so your dog will love to be around you. We base our training on proven positive methods to make your dog tired. A tired dog is a happy dog.
Corrective Collar, E-Collar and Muzzle Based Correction
Every corrective collar can be an effective training tool, if used correctly. With that said, we only use them when we have too and only after we know, the dogs knows what they are supposed to be doing, but are instead choosing not to listen. (I.e. the dog has learned the recall and comes in every time and is rewarded with food, toy, verbal or play. But for some reason one time the dog refuses…then a correction is warranted).
We do not correct a dog who does not understand what is expected. If your dog fails and exercise, you need to ask yourself, “What have I done to cause the dog to fail?” In other words, if your dog does not understand, then you should NOT be correcting your dog, because it did not get taught correctly. You need to be fair to your dog at all times.
Although some dogs do require a corrective collar from time to time for behaviour issues, especially dominant or aggressive behaviour. We prefer to start off with proper foundation programming and positive reward based training. With that said...we also understand that sometimes it is the only way to fix issues certain issues to save your dogs or other dog’s lives.
We recommend that corrective collars should not be used until the dog is at least 12-15 months age minimum. Too harsh of a correction on a young dog can harm your relationship, between you and your dog. Far too many dog owners incorrectly FIT and USE their dog’s E-collar, Prong, Choker or Dominant Dog Collar, which could lead to dangerous situations, like collar failure or risk of bites to the handler by stimulating the dog into active aggression through pain simulation from an ineffective correction.
We believe that Muzzles are great for stopping bites, if you need to take your dog to the vet or if you have not socialized your dog properly at age with other dogs and now your dog is older and reactive towards other dogs, but a Muzzle is NOT a permanent fix for the problem…It is just a Band-Aid. Proper training is the only way fix it. That's where the corrective collars come in, along with exposure to controlled situations with other stable energy dogs.
Why is my dog not listening?
I often hear from dog owners that their dog is not listening; such as they will not come when called or don't heel/walk so well, especially when other dogs are around. Some dogs are chewing them out of house and home, very destructive. Well the key to getting your dog to behave and listen is to have a good relationship.
1) They have to want to be around you, because you are fun, the easiest way to do that is through play with toys from the owner/handler NOT playing with other dogs(that is socializing and is way different). This puts value into the relationship with your dog.
2) They have to want to work for you and one of the biggest reasons they don't want to work for you is because they have to much freedom at home. Free rain of the house, furniture, bed, toys all over the house, free feeding(food bowl left full on the floor).
3) They treat their dog like child or person instead of a dog. Yes...you can love your dog but, if you threat your dog like a human... it will treat you like a dog.
4) Dogs are pack animals, which means there are Leaders and Followers in a pack, so you the owner/handler need to be the Leader. Most people have a real hard time with this one. They have a problem with their commands/body language. It is very easy to spot them they will, "ask" their dog to do something vs. tell them to do something. If they don't step up to be the leader, the dog will step in immediately to do the job. Sometimes, growling at the owner other people and dogs. Resource guarding food and toys around other family members or dogs. Biting/nipping their owners and family members. I have seen owner's in tears, fearful of their own dogs.
I could go on and one about this, but my dogs love to work for me, want to hang around me and want to please both on leash and off leash. Because, I am fun to be around and provide them with leadership, rules, food and a job to exercise their mind.
Well the bottom line is, if what your doing isn't working...maybe you need to think about changing it? That's where, I come in and can help with that.
*Dog training – may involve inherent risks, dangers and hazards that all dog owners need to be aware of. You should never use a corrective collar without first consulting a professional trainer.