Hello,
First let me thank you for deciding to work with a professional trainer. Either because your having problems and need/want the knowledge and skills to improve or repair your relationship with your dog, or because you have added to your family and want to set your new dog up for success.
My name is Stephanie, I have been working with dogs for many years now. I first started in rescue transporting and fostering dogs. Eventually I started my own rescue. Over the years I have seen my fair share of dogs wind up in rescue or a shelter simply because their owners didn’t know how or didn’t want to take the time to learn how to deal with very common behavioral issues. I then saw these same dogs euthanized in shelters or simply sit in rescues or even worse be adopted only to be returned.
It was then I decided why not try to prevent these dogs from ever coming into rescue, why not help the ones who are in the system learn the skills to be adopted and stay adopted. This was my push to then pursue a career as well as an education in Professional Dog Training. I am a graduate of Animal Behavioral College. I use positive reinforcement training styles. The theory of this style training is that your dog will be rewarded for a desired behavior increasing the likeliness of this behavior happening again.
Remember when you where a child and you got money for good grades or simply keeping your room clean? That reward reinforced you to continue to keep that room clean or maintain good grades…although our dogs don’t care about money they do care about food, attention and toys. By using these things to reinforce our dogs good or desired behavior we will teach them that it is fun and rewarding to continue them. This style of training also builds trust and a bonding relationship.
I also will use things like counter conditioning and desensitization to change or modify problem behaviors like leash reactivity, barrier aggression, and fear aggression. I choose not to use aversive training styles that punish a dog for a non desired behavior. It is important to me and I hope the owner to understand why your dog is behaving the way they are and to help them change the way they see something vs. punishing them. Often times all that does is amplify the dogs issues or teaches the dog not to trust you and to avoid something in order to avoid the un-pleasurable consequence.
I enjoy seeing the transformation not only In the dog but the family as well. I work with all breed dogs but my soft spot is for the misunderstood breeds like pit bulls and bulldogs. I come to you In your home where the problems start, I will also in the near future hope to offer group classes.
My over all goal is to “Reinforce Trust One Dog At A Time”, And I look forward to working with you.