Even though we need to teach our kids not to take candy from strangers, turns out that dogs intuitively know this. It’s no surprise that I often get called in when other trainers have failed. When I ask clients what they didn’t like about the other trainer, almost across the board the answer is that they relied on treats. My next question is, “Your dog took a treat from them?”.
Regardless of the behavioral issues they were called in for, the first 45 minutes or so of our Love & Leadership is spent on us developing a relationship with the dog. Upon arrival, we tell the client to leave their front door open, let their dogs loose in the house (even if they have a bite history), and just have a seat wherever they would typically accept company. We ask that they avoid any talking, touching, and eye contact with the dog no matter what happens.
Whether I am alone, or have Lisa or Frank with me, we do the same thing. We walk in like we own the place and sit down with the family and ignore the dogs. They have one or two reactions, they are either all over us or they keep their distance and bark. Within a few minutes, no matter how out of control they were, they are either laying down or keeping their distance. They now know there is something different about us. Even the dogs that were all over us will now not usually allow me to put an Immediate Correction Lead on them. I hand it to the client to put on. I NEVER chase a dog. At this point they are experiencing the fight or flight response. Just like us, when this takes place, they stop salivating and will not take food. We treat them as if we were dogs, just like them. They are used to humans coddling them and bending over to give them treats. How many times have you seen an anxious dog owner try to have someone give their dog a treat if their dog seems anxious? They bow down, lowering their head, and try to baby talk the dog into taking the treat. Sometimes they do. Often it takes a lot of effort. Either way, their body language is the same as a dog walking up to them with their head held low in submission. We don’t have time for that. Sometimes the dogs fate hangs in the balance based on what we can do with them. I don’t care what their history is. No matter the breed, age, or size we treat every dog the same during the first visit. At that moment, your dog begins recovery from everything from abuse to bad behavior. It’s a new beginning.
From the time I arrive, I am modeling the behavior I want to see in the client and their dog. Once the lead is on the dog, we go for a Pack Leaders Walk which resets the dog’s natural instincts to follow a strong leader. Not a word is spoken to the dog. Then I turn that over to the client who the dog responds to even better than me because they have a preexisting relationship and their owner is now acting like a leader.
Once we get back, we work on loose leash walking as well as heel, sit, down, stay, and come commands. We do these by the numbers with minimum effort and maximum efficiency. At this point, clients are often amazed about how much their dogs have been hiding from them in regards to what they know and can do. At this point, the dog is “unlocked” and we spend the rest the time addressing the problem behaviors. What we teach is simple, not easy. The reason it’s not easy is because it requires consistency. Your dog needs to be mentally stimulated by communicating with you everyday, not just the days when you have extra time. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have lots of extra time.
Just like with an exercise program, the faster you see results the more likely you are to stick with the program. We get results in that hour and it only gets better from there.
It is usually at the end of the appointment when we are talking when clients notice and comment that we didn’t use any treats.
One of the reasons people don’t seek dog training because they are embarrassed or ashamed about their dog’s behavior and their part in it. How can you be expected to know how easy it is if most dog trainers don’t? Contact us for an appointment right now. From now until December 1st, our Love & Leadership appointment is $75 instead of $85 and still includes an Immediate Correction Lead. On the first of the year, the price of our Love & Leadership appointment will go up to $99. If you book an appointment between now and then, your price for follow up visits for life will be $65.
We cannot wait to train with your pack.- George