A Passion for Training.
Imagine coming home to a calm and joyful pet, without the stress of finding chewed-up shoes or destroyed furniture.
Our Training Approach: Personalized and Proven
With over 15 years of experience, our highly skilled team has developed training methods tailored to meet the unique needs of each dog and their owner. We firmly believe that there is no one-size-fits-all solution in dog training.
Training Begins With You
Our approach stands out because we spend the time needed to understand the biggest factor in a dog’s behavior…..the owner. We are intentional in our focus on human behaviors and interactions with a dog because they set the stage for successful training. Understanding your role in the relationship is key and it’s why this plan goes beyond traditional training programs. We address the overall well-being of both the dog and the owner. Everything matters!
Our Training Philosophy
We believe that dogs should clearly understand right from wrong and what is expected of them.
Step 1. Understand the situation and build a connection. Through discussions with you, we work to gain an understanding of your dog’s current training level as well as the problems needing correction. Together, we lay out and agree on ambitious yet achievable goals. Upon drop-off we assess the dog’s knowledge and begin working to build trust between the dog and trainer.
Step 2. During the initial teaching phase, our primary goal is to ensure that your dog comprehends the basic commands. These include Sit, Wait, Down, Place, Come, & Heel. This is accomplished utilizing methods of positive reinforcement.
Step 3. Once the dog is familiar with these commands, we introduce appropriate rewards and corrections to reinforce these commands and then begin to teach you how to consistently utilize them.
Step 4. To reinforce & stabilize the commands, we apply stimulus. Stimulus comes in the form of noises, people, pressure, moving objects, & agility games. These are all performed in public environments such as parks, malls, and home improvement stores.
Step 5. Owner education. At pick-up we work through a thorough 2 hour 1-on-1 training. You will leave with knowledge and practice on utilization of the basic commands, rewards, and corrections. But that’s not the end of the story. We will follow-up regularly and make ourselves available to answer questions. You will also have access to our growing library of virtual content.
Dog Training Tools We Use
We utilize a variety of training tools, carefully chosen based on proven training methods as well as the individual tool’s ethical and historical success rates.
“No dog reacts to stimulus or positive pressure quite the same, thus the need to select from an appropriate set of tools.”
Crate Training: RECOMMENDED for ALL dogs! Dogs are “Den digging animals” and no amount of domestication is going to dislodge this genetic trait. Dark, quiet, & secluded spaces provide safety and comfort for a dog. An appropriately selected and sized crate provides this for your pup. Secondly, a crate is an excellent tool that allows you as the owner, the confidence to leave your dog home without the fear of coming back to a destroyed couch.
Treats and Praise: Upon arrival, all dogs are conditioned with positive methodology prior to using tools. This is purposefully done in order to develop a trusting & willing relationship between dog and trainer.
Electronic/Remote Training Collars: Anything applied in ignorance can result in negative consequences. For that reason, every Command Canine trainer is highly skilled and well trained in the use of electronic/remote training collars. Our primary tool for foundational skills is a leash, but electronic/remote and prong collars are layered beyond that as effective tools of communication. As have many other trainers, we have found this technique to be a positive and effective way to lovingly embed basic obedience skills into our dogs.
We are passionate about training dogs, spending time with them, and discussing all things canine! If you have any questions or need assistance, our team is always here to help. Feel free to reach out anytime. Once you join our pack, we’re always here for you.
