Animal Training

Private Training

Group Classes

Training Philosophy and Methodology

I am a positive reinforcement clicker trainer.  My training methodology is progressive, effective and based on behavioral science.  I use one of the four quadrants of operant conditioning called “positive reinforcement,” combined with an event marker called a “clicker” to modify behavior.  I do not employ punishment, dominance or corrections in my training.  I believe animals are sentient, cognitive beings and should be treated with respect and dignity.  Punitive methods are unnecessary for modifying behavior and are very damaging to an animal’s psyche and your relationship with them.

The focus of my training is strengthening desirable behavior through positive reinforcement and weakening undesirable behavior through lack of reinforcement.  Additionally, I teach pet “parents” how to communicate with their animals through body language and verbal cues, understand their animal’s emotional state in order to eliminate stress, anxiety and fear, and strengthen the bond with them through force-free, peaceful methods.

Please read this article by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior on dominance training.