Are we a good fit?!

If you’re looking for a quick fix, we’re not a good fit. When owners align with their trainers' philosophies they are more successful.  There are plenty of dog trainers that will simply address the issue you’re having at the surface but never undercover why it’s happening. Many of them are unfairly hard on dogs and diminish their personality. I’m not one of them.

If you’re looking for minimal work with maximal results, look elsewhere.  I won’t tell you that a few 5 minute training sessions a week will get the results you want, because in my world, that’s neither possible nor acceptable.  

Dogs NEED ways to express themselves and often that means changing what you do or how you do it.  It also means reframing what you think they need for what they actually need.  It means being open minded and understanding dogs are all incredibly different and just because your previous dog was great, doesn’t mean this one is going to fit that same mold.

I help owners build an irreplaceable bond with their dog.  One that goes far beyond a spoiled life of treats, toys, and cuddles and taps into things they need to thrive. Spoiler alert, it’s not more toys (trust me I know—been there, tried that).  At the end of our program your dog will look to you as a leader and be happy to listen to you and work WITH you. But only if it’s done right, which is why I want to make sure we are a good fit.

Dogs NEED meaningful interactions.  They need someone emotionally invested, not a cold, robotic series of instructions from someone trying to suck the enthusiasm out of them.  Once you learn how to tap into their natural desires, show them you’re on their team, and convince them you know best, your dog will thrive and the problems will start to melt away. Together we’ll work to give your dog a PURPOSE. At the end of the day, no matter how cute our dogs are, they’re still predators, and their natural motivations need outlets — and puzzles and enrichment toys aren’t going to cut it.

My training celebrates your dog's wild and crazy side while teaching them to listen.  I compare it to putting an angry kid in sparring sports for anger management.  The sports give the kid a constructive outlet for the frustrations and tensions in life.  I use games and play to teach similar concepts.  You wouldn’t try to teach an angry child to never get mad… so I’m not interested in teaching an excitable dog how to be calm.  Instead I teach them to be wild & crazy when it’s appropriate, listen in the face of excitement/distractions, and learn how to stop doing things you don’t like.

There are a lot of things to take into consideration when I accept clients into my training programs.  Having the ability to get the dogs outside to run and sniff and play are musts.  Dogs that aren’t getting proper exercise and outlets to fulfill their biological needs cannot function long term without issues, period. 

You have to be willing to explore with them in nature, get on the ground with them, learn what THEY like, have the patience to teach them HOW to play, and most importantly you must forget the idea of what you think your dog SHOULD be.  You also have to be willing to tell the dog when it’s wrong, apply a consequence, and show it how to be right.  

If you’re not willing to learn a new way and you can’t dedicate the necessary time more days than not, this won’t work.  For some dogs it could be as little as 15-30 minutes a day, but those minutes need to be purposeful, like how I teach you… not mindless or preoccupied while scrolling social media or watching TV. They notice and it makes a difference, I promise. The amount of time and the intensity varies with each dog.

If you’ve made it this far, there’s no hiding that I use prong collars and electric “shock” collars (in some cases, not all).  I use plenty of rewards as well, but I don’t shy away from using a training tool that is both effective and efficient.  Too often trainers ONLY use treats or toys.  These dogs can become neurotic constantly searching for how to get the reward.  Not to mention it can be tricky to fade out the use of the treats, leaving most owners to bribe their dogs, and ultimately that end up with a dog that doesn’t listen without a treat. 

We live in a world where saying “no” is filled with so much baggage and even worse, follow through is almost unheard of.  This is a people problem.  Dogs do NOT see issues with negative consequences.  It is hard wired into their DNA.  Avoiding something unpleasant is the most important rule to staying alive (for them and us).  Training is SO much clearer to dogs when both sides of the spectrum are used.  A one sided approach leads to issues down the road and at the very least, much more time and money spent on training.  Imagine playing “I spy” without the use of hot AND cold.  That would be incredibly frustrating.  There’s no denying you would be more successful if you knew what is right and what is wrong, vs. just knowing what is right.

The issue lies in people thinking “no, negative consequences, and punishment” are all synonymous with mistreating and abusing dogs.  This couldn’t be farther from the truth and is perpetuated by people who lack education on the topic.  Social media is the quick “how to” guide for everything these days and it’s littered with well meaning trainers spreading absolutely false information. I know, because I followed these methods for too long before I invested in my TWC certification.

Although I do not train dogs full time, I am confident I’ve invested more into my education than many others who do train full time.  I invested a lot because to me, dogs mean a lot—each and every one of them.  And I want to do right by them and for them, while coaching owners to live an enjoyable, fulfilled life with them.  I’m proud to say I’m one of two trainers of the western side of PA and the only one in Westmoreland county with Ivan Balabanov’s Training Without Conflict Certification.