Positive Training

Whole Dog offers private training and behavior modification for the companion dog.

Whole Dog takes a three-pronged approach to behavior modification.

First, we set them up for success. We come up with strategies to manage your dog’s environment to minimize the likelihood of unwanted behaviors. We’ll work together to “dog proof” your home and other environments you frequent together. With less opportunities for error, we have more opportunities to solicit and reward the behaviors we want.

Secondly, we recognize what it means to be a dog. We understand that to be a dog is to dig, to bark, to hunt, scavenge, even…to chew and bite. We identify what drives are intrinsic to your specific dog, we acknowledge that dogs must have outlets for these core drives and we work to put them on a cue or find ways they can be mimicked or satisfied through specified “legal” outlets and enrichment activities.

Lastly we recognize that agency builds confidence in a dog. We are the decision makers, but within these decisions we make for our dog’s saftey and well being, we allow them confidence-boosting choices. The focus is on teaching our dog what we want them to do as an alternative to undesirable behaviors. We learn to give our dogs clear and consistent information that makes training enriching, fun and rewarding for both you and your dog.

The end result is a happy, healthy dog whose needs are met, and a genuine bond built stronger between humans and our magnificent four-legged friends.

My areas of interest include manners or “obedience” training, aggression, reactivity, resource guarding, multi-dog households, and all things puppy.

A word about methodologies:

It is a myth that aggression cases require a “heavy hand.” Quite the opposite. When we use aversive training techniques on our dogs we diminish trust, increase fear, stress and anxiety and in so doing run certain risk of ramping up aggressive and unpredictable behaviors instead of resolving them. No doubt positive punishment (defined as achievement of reduction in a behavior by the addition of pain or discomfort) will lead to immediate compliance in a given moment, but pain and force damage a dog’s emotional health leading to long-term problems with behavior and learning, and damaging our relationships with our dogs. This is why it is so important for dog aggression cases to be handled by trainers with specialized training and certifications that are AVSAB compliant and demonstrative of a working understanding of animal learning theory and the principles of behavior training. Consumers should be wary of trainers that use aversive tools, regard the use of food as bribery, or advertise their methods as “balanced.” That said, there is no judgement in coming to me and letting me know that you have tried these avenues or aversive tools and techniques and are looking for a new way to support your dog’s behavioral needs.