Responsible Dog and Cat in Sarasota Florida offers dog training, dog classes and behavior solutions, using pet friendly training methods. All services further the human-dog bond. Get the relationship you’ll have with your new puppy, rescue or shelter dog off on the right paw. Schedule a private dog behavior consultation and dog training lessons at home before you let your puppy, shelter or rescue dog attend public classes where they may continue learning bad behavior and/or learn new unacceptable behavior in environments she/he may not be ready to deal with yet.
Joyce Kesling, CDBC is a certified dog behavior consultant and professional dog trainer. To review Joyce Kesling’s resume and see how dog behavior and dog training problems are assessed, go here http://www.responsibledog.net/about.html .
Behavior problems include jumping, barking, chewing, digging, housetraining, socialization and play behavior. Complex behavior includes what are often only defined types of aggression, anxieties, fears, separation anxiety and attachment problems, phobias, and sibling rivalry require a behavioral assessment that includes a behavioral history, and observation. Read how dog training is assessed from complex problem solving http://www.responsibledog.net/trainingandbehavior.html .
“Behavior modification exercises are NOT, repeat NOT, obedience exercises. At the very outset, clients should be disabused of the notion that this is fancy obedience.” Karen L. Overall, MA, VMD, PhD, ACVB, ABS Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Psychiatry Department, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Behavior problems are most often-complex requiring critical evaluation by skilled dog trainers and/or behavior consultants educated in learning theory, animal behavior, the biology, and physiology of dogs and understanding ethology. Owners often are led into thinking training solves behavior problems employing unskilled dog trainers often using ineffective punishment and training methods, often include shock collars, if this were not true, we would not see the overwhelming number of relinquished pets due to unresolved behavior problems.
Most often when dogs and humans collide, it is because we do not understand dogs well enough, using force on dogs, especially unconfident dogs will result in less confidence often leading to aggression and/or learned helplessness.
Read how punishment and aversive control methods lead to learned helplessness, http://www.responsibledog.net/helplessness.html it will make things easier for you to understand when making your choice. You may also want to ask yourself these questions. Do you want a companion dog that loves and wants to be around you, respect you, and playful? Alternatively, do you want a dog that fears you, less apt to learn and try new things, acting more like a robot than a happy dog being a dog? Some people do and perhaps they should not have gotten a dog!
Dogs are different from humans; this difference creates different challenges in training and solving problems without jeopardizing your relationship. Understanding canine communication and cognitive abilities are important elements of knowledge in educating owners how to prevent problems and conflicts between dogs and humans.
Owner relinquishment because of behavior problems is a growing trend and lack of training and resolution of behavior problems is the leading cause cited by numerous research studies.
Recommended methods used for training and/or behavior modification include lure/reward, shaping, targeting, clickers (if appropriate), and play. Tools and equipment selected for training and behavior modification are those recommended and excluded according to “Good trainers: How to identify one and why this is important to your practice of veterinary medicine,” published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2006) 1, 47-52. The excluded tools included choke collars, prong or pinch collars, and shock collars.
If you do anything for your pet, take the time to check the credentials and resume of the “dog trainer” and/or “dog behavior” specialist. Just because someone tells you they are a “dog trainer” does not mean they are the most qualified, dog trainers come in as many varieties as flowers we have to pick from, if you do not want weeds, be careful whom you select, your dog’s life may depend on your decision.
Don’t be fooled by deceptive marketing, ask to see their certificates of continuing education (CEU’s), evaluate the credibility of those certificates, how much time was actually spent in each class and/or seminar. Often seminars include multiple programs and are no longer than 45-55 minute segments.
Make sure the dog trainer has sufficient dog training experience, meets sufficient criteria including learning theory and ethology, can they explain how and why their methods work without using coercive punishment. Does the dog trainer understand your needs, how effectively can they resolve the behavior problem and/or conflict with your dog? What may be an unacceptable behavior for you may be acceptable for another and normal dog behavior operating in a dysfunctional environment. Problem behavior is a case-by-case study and why it is important you choose the right dog trainer or behavior specialist in the beginning. If you already have a conflict and/or behavior problem, you need a dog behavior specialist not a dog trainer!
Call today and set up a private appointment, the sooner you begin working on behavior problems, the sooner the problem can be resolved. Call 941-966-1188. We also offer private training lessons at our facility for less than other unequally skilled “dog trainers” and so-called “dog behaviorists” are currently charging in this economically challenged market. We understand what you are going through; we are here to help you. We want to help avoid your dog ending up in a shelter, rescue, and/or the unknown fate many of these dogs face. Remember, it is not their fault; dogs are simply dogs, doing what dogs do, and what you have reinforced them to do!
Read, “What is a behavior problem” http://www.responsibledog.net/behavior_problem.html .
Joyce Kesling, CDBC
Responsible Dog and Cat
Dog Training and Behavior Solutions
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant
Florida Dog Trainer, Dog Behavior Specialist
Sarasota, FL
http://www.responsibledog.net/
http://www.responsibledog.wordpress.com
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Posted on July 24, 2009
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