Training Method
At the core of The Way of the Wag (TWOW) is a love and appreciation for the uniqueness of every dog.
We know that all dogs can learn (even the old ones), and we see them transform, becoming well-mannered, calm and confident. Their humans learn, too, to become the leader their dog wants them to be, and to communicate better.
My guiding principle at The Way of the Wag is “Agency with Discipline.” I use only positive reinforcement and encourage dogs to learn to choose the right thing. And they do.
Love Them and Lead Them
When humans show leadership towards dogs, it helps dogs become well mannered, calm and confident. Leadership is clear communication and consistent guidance, delivered with that same calm confidence. Leadership helps dogs feel secure. It reduces stress and anxiety. It builds trust, and it strengthens the bond we have with our dogs.
To lead a balanced life, dogs need three things- exercise, discipline and love. People may be generous with exercise and love, but may be less sure about discipline. But love without discipline creates an unbalanced dog. So part of what I teach is how to be a leader in and out of the house, how to handle the leash, how to give timely corrections, how to stay consistent no matter what. And more.
what is positive reinforcement?
As the name suggests, positive reinforcement relies on a system of rewards to teach the dog what we want. (Negative reinforcement, on the other hand, punishes a dog for not doing what we want.) I use verbal praise, pets, toys, and high-value treats to signal to the dog that they’ve done the right thing. Through many years of experience, I have found that organic, low salt, grass-fed beef hot dogs are the best reward. No surprise. I also intersperse Charlee Bear cracker treats to keep your dog’s digestive tract from getting, uh, overwhelmed.
we train the humans, too!
For the humans, I like to use Memory Tricks (mnemonics) to make learning easy and intuitive. Example:
The key to all training is C-R-A-P: Consistency-Repetition-And-Patience. I’ll help you understand how to put CRAP into practice.