Training philosophy
Reward-based training, one-on-one, in Calgary
Sessions happen where your dog lives, or I take your pup out to practise in the real world. I offer 1:1 training in Calgary.
Method
How I train
I use reward-based methods. Dogs learn what works by being rewarded for the behaviour you want, so they are keen to repeat it. I aim to build a dog who wants to cooperate, not one who complies out of fear of what happens if they don’t.
Environment
Training where your dog actually lives
Trust comes first. I take the time to build a relationship with your dog, so they feel safe and want to work with me.
Then I train in your dog’s everyday environment: your home, your street, the places you actually go. That is where your dog spends their time. A controlled setting can be a good place to learn some skills, and many of them carry over. Not everything translates directly, though, because a quiet room doesn’t have your doorbell, your visitors or your neighbourhood in it. Training in your dog’s real environment means we practise what actually happens, and we can see what holds up.
Tools
What I don’t use
I do not use prong (pinch) collars, shock (e-)collars, or other aversive tools. Aversive methods work by causing discomfort, startle or fear. They can suppress a behaviour without fixing why it happens, and they carry risks to the dog’s wellbeing and to your relationship with your dog.
For a veterinary overview of the issue, see Preventive Vet: dog training and aversives ↗
Sessions
How a session works
- Enquire. You fill in a short questionnaire about you and your puppy.
- I visit your home. I see your dog in the environment where the behaviour happens, and we agree on goals together.
- 1:1 coaching. You learn the skills, because you are the one who lives with your dog every day. Sessions can include outings to practise in real situations.
- Homework. Short, simple practice between sessions.