What kind of training methods do you use?

I train all of the species that I work with via positive reinforcement. This training method is backed by the latest research in animal behavioral science and has proven to be the most effective way to train an animal with the least amount of negative side effects.

I’ve tried training with treats before and it didn’t work. What’s different about your training?

Although the idea of training with treats may seem simple, behavior is quite complex and there is more to training than just giving your pet a treat when you tell them to sit and they sit. In my training, I take a holistic approach and address all of the factors that contribute to your dog’s behavioral health and work closely with you to set everyone up for the best possible chance of success.

Do I have to use a clicker and treats?

Although using a clicker can be very helpful for precision in training, it is not necessary. If we need to mark your pet’s behavior, we can use another signal in place of the clicker.

Treats are easy to use and almost always reinforcing, so we do use them a lot, but many animals will also work for toys, attention, and other life rewards. Over time, we reduce the amounts of treats we’re using as your pet becomes skilled in the behaviors he’s learning.

What happens if my pet makes a mistake?

If your pet makes a mistake, we’ll simply reset and try again. If your animal is really struggling to do what we want, we’ll re-evaluate our training protocols and change whatever we need to change to help them find the right answer. At no time will we ever use any kind of physical correction on your pet. Your pet is the learner and we are the teachers— the onus is on us to make sure they can be successful.

How will my animal know when they are being bad?

Believe it or not, just the act of withholding a treat, toy, or our attention is enough for your animal to learn when they’re not doing the behavior we want. If they still do things we don’t want them to do, we’ll use a combination of management, redirection, reinforcement for the right behaviors, and withholding reinforcement for the wrong ones. Your pet will learn to stick to the behaviors that result in the most reinforcement.

Will I have to practice for hours every day?

Heavens no! Who has the time?! We all have busy lives so I’ll be showing you how to incorporate training into your everyday activities. This way, every interaction is a training opportunity and you’ll get in the habit of always noticing and reinforcing your pet’s good behaviors.

How long will it take to train my pet to behave the way I want?

Training time varies greatly according to what behaviors you want your animals to learn, how much undesirable behavior already exists and for how long your pet has practiced those undesirable behaviors, and how much effort and consistency you’re willing to put into helping your animal learn. During our initial consultation, we’ll go over all of your goals together and set realistic expectations as to how long each goal might take to reach.

Do you guarantee your training?

Because our animals’ behavior is affected by so many variables, including your own behavior, it’s not possible for me to guarantee a specific behavioral outcome. What I do guarantee is that I will support you throughout your training journey with your pets, employing all of my education and experience to help you achieve the best possible outcome for you, your family, and your animals.