 Methods:
Dog training methods have changed drastically in recent years from force- and correction-based techniques to a gentler psychological approach based on "operant conditioning" and positive reinforcement. Great strides have been made in understanding canine behavior; I can help you communicate more effectively with your dog and establish a stronger bond. Positive training is very effective, as well as fun for dogs and their owners! I use clicker training to teach your dog new behaviors in a way that makes him choose to comply. The best form of control of your dog is the dog's own self-control. I use positive reinforcement methods- choke chains, shock and prong collars, leash corrections, and yelling are not necessary in the type of training I do. Dogs don't usually understand what we want, and punishing them causes more problems than it helps. I also use a lot of dog psychology and the latest in canine behavior research to modify everything from jumping to serious aggression.
"I wish I could remember the trainer who advised us to use a shock collar. We can't get over the difference we've seen in three weeks, and now understand how the collar made it worse (as well as our reaction to her aggression). Everyone should be using these methods." G.W., Mackinac Island and Traverse City
All members of the household are encouraged to attend; children love these methods because they're easy, fun, and produce quick results!
What's the best age to start training?
I am delighted with the number of people bringing their puppies right after they bring them home. According to Dr. Ian Dunbar, a very well-respected veterinarian/trainer/researcher: " Your pup's first week in your home is the most crucial developmental period of his life. This short, make-or-break period pretty much determines whether your puppy will develop into a well-mannered and good-natured companion..." .Up until 16 weeks, they are Super-Learners and can learn all the basic behaviors as well as avoid the most common behavior problems. People are amazed that with clicker training their "baby" can learn to sit, down, come, etc. by 8 weeks! He's learning every moment during this critical time; why not teach him what YOU want instead of him learning the "wrong" behaviors?
For a FREE copy of Dr. Dunbar's book "Before You Get Your Puppy" , click here . (also GREAT for new puppy owners!). See New Puppy Starting Out Right and Puppy Kindergarden to start training your new puppy.
I have an older dog; is it too late?
Absolutely not! I trained 8 year-old and 10 year old rescue dogs who learned as easily as a puppy, although some older dogs who have been trained with other methods take a bit to figure out this new fun game, since no force is involved and they may not be used to making choices on their own. The trick is communicating with the dog in a way he understands and finds rewarding. All training should be fun! I work with all ages and breeds of dogs, to be well-mannered family pets- not pushy, demanding, jumpy annoyances (or shy, fearful or aggressive, either!). Clicker training is the method I use for instilling new behaviors; click (pun intended!) here for an introductory Q&A about clicker training. It's lots of fun, and easy- even for kids, and the dogs love it. It is gentle, dog-friendly, and VERY effective!
I use positive reinforcement methods and psychology- no choke chains, prong collars, shock collars, leash corrections, or yelling (though I AM firm when necessary). As you may have discovered, punishment doesn’t work and usually causes more problems than it helps. Since most aggressive dogs are very anxious and stressed, I use a lot of dog psychology and clicker training to build up their confidence; click here for info on clicker training. It's fun and easy, and the dogs love it.
I have a passion for working with individuals and their families to solve their problems and train their particular dog at its own speed, so I do private training in a beautiful Petoskey Training Studio. Some trainers believe only 1 person should train the dog; I feel the exact opposite. I encourage the whole family to come so that the dog learns to respond to everyone (especially important with children), and the people learn how to be consistent; it's lots of fun! The dogs aren't distracted by other dogs and people, and can move along much more quickly (though I do use other dogs as distractions WHEN they're ready). I set each dog up to succeed for each behavior, taking baby steps if necessary. If we move too fast (trying to teach off-leash recalls for example) when he's only ready for coming in the house, the people get frustrated, the dog gets confused (or worse- learns that running away and not paying attention is very rewarding!)
"I cannot imagine how we could have accomplished what we did in a group class. I really believe private training is the best way to start training a dog" K.B., Charlevoix
"We are astonished at how well-behaved our puppies are and how much they learned before they were even 3 months old! People that see us walking them can't believe it; I'm sure you'll be getting alot of calls! The private training was great for the puppies, AND a fun family activity. Thank you so much!" D.N. Walloon Lake
"Clicker training is easier and more effective than I thought. I expected it to be a gimmick; I was WRONG! I recommend you without reservation. You blend kindness with appropriate discipline and maintain a sense of humor."
E.M., Petoskey
"Dear Patty- Thank you for your wonderful way with dogs. Your classes have caused us to really bond with Chubacca. We will continue working with him and practicing your methods. I already miss the class!" C.D., Charlevoix
"Dear Patty: Thank you for such an illuminating session (Owner training 101). We swear Macy is a changed dog already - it's amazing what a pocketful of treats and a clicker will do. We are looking forward to joining the class on the second session. " T.D., Birchwood
See what Animal Planet's Victoria Stilwell says about Positive Training; I couldn't have said it better myself! And I highly recommend her program: "It's Me or the Dog". Click here for Victoria Stilwell's full article. Here is the first page:
It is a widely held belief that if a dog shows behaviors such as guarding toys, food or locations in the home, urinating on beds, responding aggressively toward family and visitors in and out of the house, or bullying other dogs, the animal is trying to exert its authority in an attempt to become the "alpha" or "top dog" of the family. I see it differently. A dog that exhibits these kinds of behaviors is NOT a confident dog, nor is it trying to unleash an evil plan for home domination. This dog feels insecure and copes with life by trying to control the environment around it. Thus, from the beginning, owners must give their pets the tools they will need to live successfully in a human world. A dog given consistent guidance from an early age grows up to be a confident dog. Education brings security, security brings confidence, and a confident dog has no need to show anxiety-based behaviors, such as those described above.
So, how do you show your dog that you are an effective leader? Modern behavioral science has proven that forceful handling, such as physical punishment, leash yanking, excessive shouting or rolling a dog on its back to get it to submit, is psychologically damaging. Instead, the most successful modern training theories suggest that reinforcing good behavior with rewards, and marking bad behavior with vocal distractions or by simply ignoring the dog, yields much better results. Positive reinforcement (i.e., giving the dog a reward in the form of praise, play, food or toys when it behaves in a way that you like) has been shown to be the most effective training method. There is a marked difference between a dog that has been trained with harsh methods and one that has been trained using positive rewards. The first dog responds to an owner's commands out of fear; the trust between the two has been broken. The second dog looks eagerly at its owner as if to say, "OK, what do I have to do next to get that treat or toy out of your hand?" Ultimately, positive training results in dogs wanting to please and obey their owners. Aversive training, which uses fear-based tactics, often results in a "quick fix" that hasn't truly identified or modified the root cause of the animal's misbehavior. Anyone who says that using rewards in training is bribery should try working for no money and see how they like it. Our dogs were originally bred to work for us, so let's pay them for it!
by Victoria Stilwell
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