Training Classes

There is nothing traditional about my training classes. I don’t have start/stop dates. I don’t require a payment upfront. I don’t even require that you come every week.

I present classes in this manner because what I have to teach each week is not the precise and exacting skill of a perfect sit or the dog that can walk in perfect heel position within an obedience ring.

I teach owners how dogs learn and how to teach dogs in a way that gets dogs involved in the learning process, thinking, and retaining their new knowledge. I help owners learn how to read a dog’s behavior, a skill that I use constantly to reduce the chances of being bitten or putting dogs in a situation that would lead them to bite. I help build a bridge between a dog’s perception of the world and a human perception. I explain specific learners versus general learners and how to help a dog learn to generalize. I teach specific skills sets – sit, down, stand, target, relax to touch, come, leave it, loose lead walking, in many different ways so that owners can see that there is no one way to teach and so that dogs can practice these skill sets to mastery.

I want to work with thinking dogs. I help owners learn to set up this trait in their dogs and then watch what unfolds. Thinking dogs easily pick up new skills, generalize old skills, and confidently try new things. They are unafraid of the unknown and do not just respond to their hardwiring. Thinking dogs continue to learn new tricks into old age and delight in new experiences. They are a pleasure to live with and provide true companionship to their owners and friends.