I prefer not to think of myself as a Dog TRAINER

So how can I refer to what I do?

Yes, technically, I am a Certified Professional Dog Trainer but it just doesn't sit right. It's not about getting dogs to "obey"
I had to take some time to think about how I approach the process of helping dogs and their people learn. I am always paying attention to body language, considering emotions, trying to keep things playful, breaking learning down into smaller digestible chunks, building trust, setting boundaries and remaining consistent with them. A-HA. I figured it out!

Trust

Build up and keep your dog's trust. Don't put him in difficult situations where he is going to feel stressed and won't want to cooperate in the future. Give your dog time to decompress before asking so much from them. Put money in the trust bank so that if there is a time when the situation is less than ideal, you'll have earned so much trust from your dog in the past that it will make for an easy recovery!

Expectations

Set your fair expectations, your boundaries, and then make them clear to your dog so that everyone knows the plan and knows how to best respond to specific situations. 

Adjustments

Adjust your expectations according to your dog's needs based on the environment, his mood, your mood, the other triggers present, and his past experience. This is when you are really zooming in to your specific dog's needs and remaining flexible in your training, in the moment.

Consistency

Think of this as an "If THIS, then THAT" type of scenario. IF your dog barks out the window at the UPS guy, what are you going to do? IF your dog jumps on the counter, how are you going to CONSISTENTLY respond? IF an off-leash dog comes running up to your on-leash dog, what's the plan? Set that expectations up front, intentionally and proactively, and then remain consistent with them and watch your dog breathe a sigh of relief! ​

Have Fun

Have as much fun as you possibly can when you are teaching your dog anything new. Whenever you can insert some joy into any given situation, your dog will feel less tense, less stressed, and will be making positive associations with what's going on around him. If no one is having fun, who is going to want to come back for more?

This video was originally taken as part of a RECALL SERIES with the NH Dog Walking Club!