Before your Evaluative Consult

We use a wide variety of training methods which vary from dog to dog, and situation to situation. It’s a very reasonable question for folks to ask, however for a true professional dog trainer to answer this question is much harder than folks realise. Why? Well, in the way the term ‘training methods’ is used by the average dog owner it is usually meant to provide definition – a point of reference for them to try and understand the general method of operation of a dog trainer. From the perspective of a person that practices dog training as a craft, methods are perhaps the least important defining factor…because they should vary from dog to dog, and methods should shift and change for the same dog based on what is effective and what is not. As an example, luring is a common method involving the use of food to produce and then positively reinforce behaviour. Like all methods it has some strong points, and also some limitations. The choice to use luring should be made based on the relative merits of luring to move the dog’s training forward in the broader context of what is trying to be achieved…not because it’s the only method the trainer understands how to employ. Without getting more bogged down than we should on this point, let’s move on to provide a solid answer about our ‘training methods’: We have a very strong preference for creating motivated, engaged and enthusiastic attitude to learning in the dogs we work with. Our predominant focus is on helping folks build behaviours they’d prefer to see their dog express, and this generally involves the intelligent application of positive reinforcement to build a strong history or reward for correct performance. It’s been our experience that where this is achieved it overcomes the greatest part of the change our clients are seeking in how their dog behaves. There are also times that it’s wise to form inhibitions in relation to certain behaviours. Sometimes this is for the benefit and safety of the dog himself, and sometimes for the safety and benefit of the human. This means that we do consider the use of positive punishment and negative reinforcement in our training practice. Where we do so it’s a considered decision made based on the relative merits of the options available to us given the entire situation we are presented with. As professionals it is our responsibility to remain completely open minded about how we approach training with each and every individual dog and handler that we work with. By doing so we can help the widest variety of dogs and owners most effectively. NB: Typically speaking if a trainer is myopically focussed on only using one given tool or method then they’re not broadly skilled, and it’s often the case that they do so at the expense of the dog that they are working with. This narrow-minded focus often shows up where the trainer defines themselves by the tool they use, or what methods or tools they won’t even consider using – even where that method or tool may be the best fit for the dog and handler they are working with. Without an open mind, a kind heart, and a huge ‘tool box’ of options they can employ a professional dog trainer will always be limited in how much value they can offer in a given situation. Just in case you’ve gotten this far and you don’t feel you’ve been provided with a clear, quality answer about our approach to training: We’re patient, we’re skilled, we’re highly experienced, and we’re well informed and educated. We practice good dog training. We don’t fit any label well, nor do we define ourselves by the tools or methods we will or won’t use. We have a strong focus on canine welfare, and building desirable behaviour in dogs to help interfere with any problem behaviour the dog is predisposed to displaying. We train for action first, however we also train for abstinence as required. Where we train for abstinence we do so in a Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive fashion.

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