Service Offerings

Because dog training is a service-based business with progress and end results being intangible, I want to take this time to explain what is involved with getting your dog's behavior to shift from undesirable to most desirable. 

Services are a special form of product which consists of benefits and satisfaction gained through expertise by the provider and do not result in the ownership of anything. In this case you are purchasing my expertise to elicit improved behavior from your dog.

With a decade of privileged experience in all facets of dog handling and care, learned within various contexts, including; rescue, sheltering, transport, assessment, re-homing, private in-home training, workshops, classes and more, I have developed a fluency and set of observation skills through interacting with dogs in various states of transition. As well as various stages or behavioral wellness and behavioral deterioration. You are purchasing my cumulative experience and the transfer of my knowledge to you and your dog.

Being certified through CCPDT (the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers) means I was required to take a test covering all aspects of dog training, behavior and animal husbandry in addition to practice hours under mentors. 

Choosing to work with me and book future prepaid sessions means you have put trust in my services. Because behavior is fluid, variable and perishable, it's important to have this mutual understanding of what you are purchasing. 

Throughout the Initial Consultation and all service package offerings, we work to build a foundation of behaviors that are meant to span the lifetime of the animal. Part of that depends on us showing you how to get your dog to cooperate with you. The other simple, but life-changing value for our clients is a dog who is able to self-regulate, one who has learned how to make mannered, prosocial choices.

"Well begun is half done." 

-Aristotle

Invaluable learning experiences have enabled me to come up with a 3-point approach:

1. Carefully observe what is causing the behavior(s) to occur.
2. Figure out the simplest  way to approach reducing the behavior(s).
3. Determine the least intrusive access point for teaching the animal new behaviors with the lowest amount of stress.

 Part of why I do this work is to help dogs who are chronically stressed from fear, anxiety, phobias, sensitivities and reactivity. When I do  agree  to  work with puppies it's usually because the  owner wants a dog with skills beyond  obedience. Behaviors that can empower their dog through a variety of circumstances while the dog is able to self-regulate and make choices. 

"Dogs do not fail; they perform as trained."

-Steve White

Are you a dog owner who has tried many things, including obedience training, but still have outstanding issues that are interfering with the bond you share with your dog?  

"To begin to understand the communication of any species, you need 5,000-hour eyeballs."

-George Shaller

With well over 5,000 hours in dog behavior and training I've come to learn to listen with my eyes to dogs. Dog body language is vitally important to the safety and well-being of the animal as well as our safety. 

If we work together, here's what you can expect to gain:

• Clear, effective and simple communication that develops mutual trust between you and your dog.
• Heightened awareness of what is most important to be conscious of in situations which may arise. 
• You will be shaping behavior so your dog is able to make prosocial choices organically. 
• In order to get to this place, in which you are naturally synced with your dog, you'll learn their fears, likes, dislikes, sensitivities, breed tendencies, and how to train them. 

A quick word about breeders and veterinarians, I have the utmost respect for both; however, they are not dog trainers. Neither are they behavior specialists unless they have the title of Veterinary Behaviorist. Otherwise, you are taking training advice from the wrong specialist. As a dog trainer/behavior specialist, I wouldn't think of trying to give your dog medical treatment nor would I give breeding advice. Check out https://apdt.com/ for a list science  based  trainers.

The antiquated theories of "being the alph," alpha rolls, "show them whose boss," and pack leader, in addition to outdated equipment, such as prong collars, E-collars, and choke chains, are ideas and equipment which build an atmosphere of avoidance, fear, heightened vigilance, and oppressed behaviors. 

Even more horrendous is the fact that these treatments extinguish the warning signals dog’s give before they use their teeth. Harsh, antiquated methods are equivalent to removing the battery from a smoke detector.

Run, don't walk, if these words are spoken by a person who calls themself a “trainer“ in this third millennium.

We  believe  there will  come  a  time  when  all  dog  owners  understand  and  utilize  science-based,  force  free  training  methods to  enhance  their  relationship  with  their  canine  companions  and  deepen  the  bond  they  share  through  education,  training,  and  enrichment.

Harsh  Methods

When clients are referred to us they have usually been to at least one other trainer or have tried various methods on their own. If you've used any other methods, please discuss them with Janet. 

If you feel like your dog needs more extensive help, here is the link to The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists; it‘s a great resource in general. https://www.dacvb.org

 Reward-based or evidence-based training is reinforcing your dog with something she/he finds reinforcing, such as praise, access, treats, toys, walks, etc. Behavior that is rewarded is likely to be repeated and get stronger. In my humble opinion, evidence-based training, which has been studied extensively through behavioral science, clearly shows animals learn better while being encouraged and rewarded for prosocial behavior.

How does my dog know when he/she's done something undesirable?
We ignore undesirable behavior and teach an alternate behavior. If your dog jumps, you ignore that behavior by turning away (turning away is a nonverbal no-reward marker or NRM). Once all four paws are on the ground you can reinforce that with a reward. All paws on the ground equals paycheck. If the dog is fluent in other prosocial behaviors, this will work.

I am compassionate by nature and have loved animals since I've known what they are. I'm focused while working and make training as simple and fun as possible. I take a gentle, non-judgmental approach, focusing on what could be potentially causing, contributing to, and reinforcing the behavior. I work foundationally; I look at the behavior as important information as I collect other data about the animal, including environmental factors, genetics, history, stress levels, health, and more. 

I feel a sense of honor and privilege that I get to spend my days working with dogs. I have a deep respect for each dog I meet and knowing how much joy they'll bring their families (eventually:-)) informs the quality and commitment of my work.

Evidence-based training, which has been studied extensively through behavioral science. This model clearly demonstrates animals learn better while being encouraged and rewarded for appropriate behavior. It has the added benefit of strengthening the connection with your animal.

Safety

Safety  for  the  animal  is  nurtured  through  environment,  socialization,  and  consistent,  predictable,  human  interactions, among  other  things.

Improvement

Behavior that  has  been practiced  becomes  more  fluent.  Usually  when  Janet  visitis  with  you the  dog  has  a  serious  behavior  the  you’d  like  to  change.  When  we  change  our  own  behavior  it’s  a  slow  awareness,  followed  by  small  steps with new replacement  behaviors. Same  can  be  said  for  animals.  All  changes can appear  as “trending in the  right direction“,  progress on a single  behavior,  reduction  in  arousal, fluency with  a  pro-social  behavior  and  so  on.