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Paw Fund

Paw Fund a Bay Area non profit organization that supports homeless people and low income people to care and keep their pets through vet care, emergency services and spay/neuter.

"Balanced Training" - Correction, Reinforcement and Reward

I believe firmly in an approach to dog training that promotes reward and praise as well as correction and reinforcement. Let's call this "balanced training" because it takes techniques from both ends of the training spectrum. Reward also balances the pressure of correction. There are lessons to learn from all philosophies of training. The key is in finding what works- refining it and combining it with other successful methods.

Balanced training means that your dog will be taught to cope with all real world situations. We do not work exclusively "below threshold" as some trainers do. We teach the dog to learn to cope with normal, everyday things. We introduce the dog to the "trigger" and teach them an appropriate response. This is done thoughtfully, and in stages. We use reward so the dog learns the benefit to coping with this new pressure. We introduce correction to teach the dog that it must follow through with our command.
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Anxiety in Dogs

Anxiety is an epidemic in companion dogs. Anxiety can be obvious to see: the dog destroys your home when you leave - or more subtle - the dog follows you from room to room. Whatever the outward behavior is, your anxious dog is not a happy balanced dog. He has an inability to fully relax, be calm and unaffected by change in his environment.

Many owners have no idea how to work with anxiety in their dog. They do many things that they think will help quell their dogs' nerves but very often these actions are the very things that increase the anxiety. They try to calm the dog by petting him a lot. They allow him to sleep on their bed every night. They let him sit by the dinner table every dinner time. They do nothing to stop him from following them into the bathroom time and time again.
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How to Build Resilency

Ten tips on building resilency.
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The Importance of Neutral, Calm, Clear Energy

Developing neutral, calm, clear energy with your dog is essential to a successful training program. It helps the owner establish a presence that demonstrates clarity and guides the dog into new, more balanced behaviors. This is especially important in a behavior modification program, in which we are working toward changing the dog's state of mind and perceptions. This starts with an attitute that is open and willing. From this place, we can learn to slow down, think clearly and guide calmly. There are several key ingredients necessary to learn how to become calmer while working with your dog: leaving baggage behind, learning to respond rather than react, and not being attached to a particular outcome. When we practice this daily, a new awareness begins to awaken, bringing with it a sense of calm and neutral energy.
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Three Primary Components of Working a Successful Training Program: Attitude, Practice, and Technique

Every time you ask yourself, “Why am I doing this deep process of change and exploration with my dog?” And, “Wouldn’t I rather be doing something else with my dog?” Instead, try to tell yourself this:

My time with my dog is finite. I want to give my all to help him be the happiest, most content, confident and reliable dog he can be. So I will do everything asked of me.
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