Next Step Dog Training Philosophy

Structure and Exercise

Dogs THRIVE on a trusting relationship with the owner(s) built over time through structure and exercise. This is done through luring, engagement, training and exercise. Dogs learn how to behave in different situations know what is expected of them. Repetition of proper behaviors leads to patterns that leads to good habits. Through this training, dogs understand who is the leader and respect you. By providing “Structure” through training to the lives of dogs, they become less stressed, happy, well-behaved, and are a true joy to be part of your family.

I always incorporate Positive Training (treats, toys, praise) in my puppy/dog training. Reward based training is a must for teaching and reinforcing new behaviors. However, some dogs respond better to both rewards and corrections. This is called a BALANCED APPROACH in dog training. A balanced approach means we rely on positive training and a fair and appropriate level of correction for the specific dog and behavior.

A correction is as a tug on a leash, inflection of your voice, applying spacial pressure and then showing them what you want them to do. Some behavioral problems require corrections. Remember, not all dogs are the same, some are easily trained while others take more time. Training varies greatly from dog to dog.

Every dog, owner, and environment are different, so I tailor training sessions accordingly. The pace at which we go, the time required and the topics discussed are driven by you and your dog. Remember training takes time!

Training your dog is an investment into a long and rewarding relationship. It is a win, win for you, your dog, and your family to get everyone trained.

Foundations of Dog Training

1. After the luring, engagement phase and building trust phase, teaching the basics to older puppies and adult dogs begins.

2. Leash Training is one of the key steps to dog training. Being able to walk your adolescent/adult dog on a loose leash without pulling with distractions sets the stage for good obedience within your household, inside or outside. So for many of my clients I start here unless they have mastered this part of training or have a puppy.

3. Reliable Recall off leash or simply just coming in from the back yard when called or coming to you at the end of a 4ft, 6ft, 15ft leash/longline should be a goal for most dog owners.

4. Place Command is another step in basic obedience. This command trains the dog to go to his place and stay there until released. Commonly used if you have guest, or have people coming to your door, or just don’t want your dog in the kitchen in the way while cooking. This command has many applications.

5. Leave it Command is a must to teach your dog NOT to place an unsafe or unwanted item in his mouth.

   By teaching these commands, your dog begins to understand structure, the rules/boundaries that YOU make so he can live a happy life within your household. Some dogs will require more training than others due to their GENETICS and previous Environment influences temperament, prey drives, energy levels, and what they were breed for(hunt, guard, herd, companion, protect). You as the owner must be able to meet the demands through proper training, environmental management and exercise in order to have a well behaved dog.

Puppy Training

On day one of getting your puppy, training starts. It is critical that you began to shape their behavior during the 8-16 week period so they mature to become a confident dog that knows the rules and what is expected of him. Crate training, house training, establishing a routine are all building blocks. Building a trusting relationship and making training fun for you puppy is critical. If you put the work in early, the dividends pay off immensely for a life time. Your puppy will change as he cycles through the developmental stages of his life. I can help you with all of this.

Behavioral Problems

Regardless of where you are with the above training, I can help with most behavioral problems that arise at the various stages of you dogs life. This includes crate training, puppy teething, leash pulling, leash reactivity toward dogs\moving objects, aggression, biting, resource guarding, separation anxiety, jumping on others, excessive barking, fearfulness, protecting your kids, etc. Some of these problems depending the severity, can be solved with a few sessions while others can take much longer. There is no reason to tolerate bad behavior from your dog or make excuses for them for lack of training or knowledge. Contact me for help. See my photo galleries of some of the many types of dogs, I have helped train along with the owners.