Our Training Philosophy
We stand behind the guidance of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior in their position that "reward-based techniques should be used for teaching common training skills as well as to address unwanted behaviors. The application of aversive methods – which, by definition, rely on application of force, pain, or emotional or physical discomfort – should not be used in canine training or for the treatment of behavioral disorders."
You will never see us using prong collars, shock collars, or intimidation to teach your dog. If these tools are currently the only things making you feel comfortable interacting, walking, and training with your dog… WE UNDERSTAND because at one point, we felt that way too. But now we have tools that leave those primitive ones in the dust, and we’re here to share them with you.
We’re here to help build your relationship and understanding with your dog so that we can safely + comfortably work towards trust, with the goal of getting your family to a place where you feel safe working with your dog, without tools that cause them pain or discomfort.
L.I.F.E. Based Training
A LIFE based approach to teaching and solving behavior concerns refers to the Least Inhibitive, Functionally Effective framework. We base all our interactions with you and your pet on this principle. This means we won’t ever use force, intimidation, or intentionally cause stress, pain, or anxiety in an effort to reach training goals. And above all, will promote optimal welfare for the animals under our care and in our lives.
Continued Education
We’re never done learning because the research in our field is always growing and changing. We have and always will continue to attend training and behavior seminars, do our part in research studies that we’re asked to collect data for, read the latest literature, research the latest studies, and network with colleagues to remain at the forefront of training and behavior knowledge.