Training Methods & Tools
Balanced Training
Balanced training is the lens through which we view all interactions. Balanced training follows an entire spectrum of “yes” and “no” so that we have the FULL equation when communicating with our dogs. The vast majority of our training is positive, teaching obedience and polite manners through rewards for wanted behaviors. Unwanted and dangerous behaviors are quickly stopped through the use of consequence, as well as holding dogs accountable to known commands. Corrections are always brief, fair, and matter-of-fact, without anger or frustration from the handler. With balanced training, the dog is taught in the simplest terms possible, what is expected and what is not allowed. It is through these clear guidelines that a great deal of stress and anxiety is eliminated from a dog's life, the dog understands their expectations, and truly learns to thrive. This balance will allow you to enjoy life with your dog back at home!
Verbal Cues & Markers
Many aspects of the voice are used during training, though there are also many times we train with no voice at all. Dogs are taught verbal obedience commands, such as "down" or "place," in which they respond to the verbal cue provided. We also use marker words, which help to precisely identify wanted and unwanted behaviors for the dog. For example, whenever a dog successfully performs a task, the wanted behavior is marked with a "yes" and a reward is delivered. Or if a dog jumps up onto their owner, the unwanted behavior is marked with a "no" and a punishment is delivered. The marker word allows for precise timing of marking what is desired behavior or unacceptable behavior, giving the handler space to then reward or punish as necessary. It is important that use of our voice be kept neutral during training, so that it is matter-of-fact, rather than emotional, and maintains calmness.
Reward
A reward is something given to encourage and reinforce desired behaviors. A reward depends on what the dog finds valuable, which differs from one dog to the next. Rewards may include verbal praise, petting, food/treats, or toys. We spend most of our program time working with rewards to help create behaviors that form the framework that we want the dog to work within.
Punishment
A punishment is something applied in order to discourage and stop undesired behaviors. Unfortunately, the word "punishment" tends to leave a bad taste in many people's mouths, but it is imperative to understand that punishment is not mean nor abusive when applied properly. A punishment that is given fairly, in a calm and matter-of-fact manner, is the most effective way to stop an undesired or possibly even dangerous behavior. Implementing punishment provides even more clarity & fairness to our dog on what our expectations are, and being fair + clear is being kind. It is vital that the dog understand both "yes" and "no" to be successful.
Prong Collar (+ Standard 4-6 Ft. Leash)
Deceptive in their appearance, prong collars are actually one of the most gentle and least-invasive styles of collar available. Be Heeled includes a prong collar with all Board and Train / Day Training programs because it is so effective and safe when used as intended. The special design of a prong collar evenly distributes pressure around a dog's neck, rather than creating a pressure point on the trachea as flat-buckle collars, martingale collars, and choke collars can when a dog pulls against them. If you have ever walked a dog who is pulling, gagging, and choking, you have seen first-hand the damage that can be inflicted. Prong collars are extremely helpful in allowing the handler to communicate information quickly, gently, and effectively due to the fact that very little pressure needs to be applied in order for the dog to feel and understand the pressure/release ideology we use to teach. They can also provide brief, effective corrections when needed, to quickly stop an unwanted or dangerous behavior.
Remote Collar (or E-Collar)
While ALL obedience is first familiarized on-leash & with verbal cues, remote collars open up an entire new dimension of dog training, and are very liberating for dogs and owners alike. We exclusively use high-quality remote collars by E-Collar Technologies which do not "shock" the dog as many people believe. The collar provides a muscle stimulation (just like a TENS unit) with a range of 100 different levels to work within. We layer on the remote collar stimulation to commands our dogs are already familiar with - this is an EXTRA step in the training process, not a shortcut. The vast majority of our remote collar training is done at the dog's "working level," which is the lowest level that the dog can sense (for many dogs, this can be as low as a 1-2 out of 100)! Lower levels on the remote feel like a tingle or like being touched, and are useful in getting a dog's attention and communicating with a pressure/release ideology. When a command is given, the collar is activated at a low level. When the dog completes the command, the pressure is released, signaling to the dog that it has responded correctly. Higher levels are used to give brief, momentary corrections for not listening to an understood command, or for engaging in an unwanted or dangerous behavior (such as taking food from the counter or running towards the street). Remote collars allow you to communicate precisely and effectively, up to a half mile+ away. They are incredibly effective and humane, and provide dogs with very clear information. Click here to learn more about E-collar Technologies.
Other Tools Used
A spray bottle to spray a brief burst of water at the dog that can be used to disrupt and discourage behaviors.
A pet convincer is a device that shoots a small stream of pressurized air (like those used to clean a keyboard) around the dog. The sound is unpleasant to the dog, disrupts the behavior, and discourages them from repeating the behavior.
A bonker is a wrapped up towel that can be thrown at the dog while they are engaging in the bad behavior to disrupt and discourage it. Being nothing more than a cotton towel, it is completely safe and cannot harm or injure the dog. It is simply something the dog finds unpleasant, and can be extremely effective at eliminating problems.