Dogs, like people, do not learn best in the setting of corrections, aversives, or punishments. Utilizing corrections can create negative associations and can degrade a dog’s trust and motivation for training. Additionally, punishments can suppress (but not eliminate) unwanted behaviors and can create fear, distrust, and anxiety. Many dogs may even have an increased tendency for reactive or aggressive behaviors.

Our training programs focus on preventing unwanted behaviors. Additionally, we focus on training alternate desired behaviors that become highly-reinforced to give our dog clear expectations of what we want. This sets our dogs up for success to “make good choices” independently!

This question is best answered by taking a look at the social structures of dog’s ancestors, wolves.

Scientific research has since disproven the early theory of dominance hierarchy within wolf packs (in which it was believed that wolf packs required a ‘leader’ or ‘alpha’) and has actually proven that wolves live in family units led by their parents, just like humans!

And, just like humans, dogs naturally repeat behavior that has created a positive experience (love and happiness) or in which they received attention!

What does this mean? Just like wolf pups and our families, our dogs need loving and structured parents, not alphas!

How lucky we are to get to share our lives with dogs… dogs are one of the only animals that share human emotions. Dogs truly want to make us happy, because it makes them happier!