Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions from clients before a meeting.

What training methods do you use?

I use only science-backed methods following the LIMA (least intrusive minimally aversive) standards. This means that your dogs welfare will be foremost in my mind. I do not use tools such as prong collars, shock collars, or choke collars. We will use positive reinforcement to help your dogs, along with desensitization, counter-conditioning and other techniques meant to build your relationship with your dog without fear. Each case I approach is different and sometimes we use the whole toolbox and others only some of the toolbox.

Do you need to see my dogs behaviour?

No, I do not need to see what your dog is doing in order to work with them. I dedicate the first part of any session to getting a detailed history of the behaviour and I will then introduce a training plan that I will show you how to implement.

While there are subtle changes in behaviour and small things that differentiate most of my clients, the techniques we will implement are similar in many cases. And my goal is always to keep the dog as comfortable as possible and as happy as possible, I can not do that by throwing them in a stressful situation. It is not always possible to keep our dogs under threshold, but that is always the goal.

The only time I will want to see a dog over threshold is during the initial consultation for Separation Anxiety.

What does separation anxiety work include?

Missions are written after one has been completed. If you do not complete a mission, another will not be written. They are done based on how well the previous mission went. Missions should take between 20-30 minutes, until threshold exceeds that time.

SA work is done in 4 week stretches. And requires you to not leave your dog for longer than they are capable of. This may mean you will need to find a dog sitter, daycare, or someone else who can watch your dog when you are gone.