I use a balanced approach to teach wanted behaviors using both reward-based techniques and corrections. I incorporate things like food rewards, toys, high-value praise, all the pets (when earned), and play to build engagement with every dog in my program. Tools like slip leads, prong collars, and e-collars are used to teach owners and dogs to speak a common language and break down the communication barrier between human and dog.

I condition dogs to the e-collar during my programs so that owners can easily maintain reliable and consistent communication across the entire household. The long-term use of the tools depends on each dog. My recommendation - it’s better to have the tools and not use them than be caught in a moment where you need them and don’t have them.

Poor fitting equipment and user error are some of the most common ways I see tools used improperly. I size all dogs for fit to ensure safe use of tools and introduce the tools through a conditioning process where I teach the dogs to understand the new language. When you pick your dog up, I’ll train you to ensure a smooth transition of knowledge. Don’t get me wrong, corrections can be uncomfortable depending on the sensitivity of each dog but it doesn’t automatically mean bad. Discomfort doesn’t always mean pain, most of the time it leads to growth.

First I address (as best as possible) what the source of the reactivity is. Is it excitement, insecurity, fear or true aggression? Very rarely is it true aggression. More often it is insecurity and fear. Another good portion of the time it is excitement. Generally the correction piece of it is addressed the same way but the other part of the rehabilitation may be addressed differently.