What and Where?
I am a dog trainer with a primary focus on working dog training and behavior and a BA in Anthrozoology located in Spokane, WA. I practice positive reinforcement training to help dogs and owners learn a wide variety of skills and have specifically made a point of providing a place to have affordable training of all types!
About Me
I found my passion and talent for training dogs 14 years ago, when I began training my high-drive German Shepherd; the dog equivalent of having a porche for a first car. But that's not what makes me and my training special-it is what drove me to be one of the first Anthrozoology majors in the world. Through four years of studying animal psychology and biology, with a specific focus on the working canine-training track, I have learned how to teach your dog nearly anything! I have experience training dogs in obedience, manners, agility, tracking and other scent work. Have something you want me to train your dog? Ask!
What's more, my scientific background and approach to training dogs means that I don't just do what works, but instead make it my business to stay on the cutting edge of dog psychology and neuroscience to assure that your dog gets the BEST training possible.
What do I mean by the best? The major tenet of my training philosophy is that dogs learn when they're having fun! I achieve this through positive reinforcement, the most effective and humane means of training, and promoting good communication between you and your dog.
I currently am owned by a Rottweiler and Ragdoll that I simply adore :)
What's more, my scientific background and approach to training dogs means that I don't just do what works, but instead make it my business to stay on the cutting edge of dog psychology and neuroscience to assure that your dog gets the BEST training possible.
What do I mean by the best? The major tenet of my training philosophy is that dogs learn when they're having fun! I achieve this through positive reinforcement, the most effective and humane means of training, and promoting good communication between you and your dog.
I currently am owned by a Rottweiler and Ragdoll that I simply adore :)
Training Philosophy
The first, and most important, rule is that the dog must be having fun. This is why all training done here will be positive reinforcement. Your dog will learn, first, to be rewarded by a treat or toy and eventually simply for your praise.
Part of keeping training fun is making sure to set the dog up for success. To do this, we will keep the environment as distraction-free as possible by having small class sizes and teaching the dog incrementally. Haste makes waste and we will get much more done, better, by taking baby steps throughout the training process.
Finally, crucial to the entire training process is that you, the owner, can communicate effectively with your dog. For this reason we will make sure all verbal requests can be made in plain, conversational English and are paired with hand signals so that if your dog goes deaf with age, he/she will still be able to understand you!
Every dog is trainable, it is simply a matter of learning how to ask them what you want and teaching them to understand.
Part of keeping training fun is making sure to set the dog up for success. To do this, we will keep the environment as distraction-free as possible by having small class sizes and teaching the dog incrementally. Haste makes waste and we will get much more done, better, by taking baby steps throughout the training process.
Finally, crucial to the entire training process is that you, the owner, can communicate effectively with your dog. For this reason we will make sure all verbal requests can be made in plain, conversational English and are paired with hand signals so that if your dog goes deaf with age, he/she will still be able to understand you!
Every dog is trainable, it is simply a matter of learning how to ask them what you want and teaching them to understand.