F.A.Q.

Q: How soon should I start my puppy?

Answer: As soon as possible so you do not make mistakes owners make, such as yelling, getting frustrated, inappropriate feeding schedules and praise, using the wrong toys and poor leadership.

Q: How EXACTLY do you train dogs and modify behavior?

Answer: Just like if you asked a doctor exactly how he healed the sick or a police officer how she upheld the law, they might answer that unless discussing a specific or hypothetical case, the question is overly broad because there are infinite circumstances involved. Every dog breed, and owner have their own unique set of circumstances, problems and needs. We get results fast because we do not have one METHOD, but instead treat everyone as individuals and design a program that works best for them. Everything we do to control problems and to instill obedience is consistent with the answer to the next question.

Q: Will dog training affect my dog's personality? I want a happy dog.

Answer: Dog training should be fun for both you and your dog. If done right, it brings your dog to life because he or she will know how to please you. Good training enhances a dog's personality, bonds dog to master, and makes it easier to spend time with your best friend.

It is very important for you to be fun, fair and firm with your dog. What firm means is making the rules. If you don't make the rules, your dog will make them, and you won't like them. A good dog trainer can show you how to make the rules without bribing with treats, being mean, yelling, hitting, and without you getting frustrated, depressed or angry.

Q: How much time do I need to practice?

Answer: Besides walking your dog, you will need to set aside 5 to 7 minutes two times a day to practice obedience initially. Within a short time you can then integrate obedience into your normal routine and everyday relationship with your dog.

Obedience

No Food-Bribery

Q: Why aren't you a "Positive Reinforcement" trainer?

Answer: We do use positive reinforcement, that is praise, love, affection, attention and friendship.

When you hear "Positive Reinforcement" it is bribing with treats. It is slow, unreliable and does not work in real life. Real life is when there are distractions present or no treats to bribe with. Why would you want bribe dogs using treats when you can get them to listen to your voice in less time and be much more responsive too?

Almost half of our customers have been through "Positive Reinforcement"training and they tell us the horror stories (then having to hire a real trainer, worse aggression, worse eliminating in the house, worse barking, lost dogs, being left with no other choice than having to euthanize their dog, neurosis and self-mutilation.

Q: Do you ever use treats for training?

Answer: Yes, we sometimes reward with treats but never bribe! because there is no time to run back in the house and get treats before your dog gets hit by a car in the street. Your dog should do what you say every time because you say so, not because there are treats but treats can make the initial teaching of exercises more rewarding to the dog, we want our dogs to want to work with us but we also teach that they must obey!  Do you really think that if you called your dog and he/she had a choice between a cat, a chicken, another dog or a treat, that he would choose the treat? Dogs that are trained solely with treats are not trained, but conditioned to do cute tricks if and when they feel like it.