The philosophy
Puppy Learning: Building Foundations with Confidence
Puppy learning is about setting the stage for lifelong success. Using positive reinforcement and Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) principles, we focus on building confidence, curiosity, and emotional resilience from the very beginning. Puppies learn best when they feel safe and supported, so training is always conducted under threshold and at the puppy’s individual pace. We emphasize early skills from the Good Dog 15, including sit, down, come, place, recall foundations, and early leash manners, while also teaching appropriate greetings, boundaries, and calm behavior in the home.
Arranging antecedents is a critical part of puppy training. We carefully manage environments, distractions, timing, and energy levels to ensure puppies are successful and not overwhelmed. Training from a place of yes means we reinforce desired behaviors as they naturally occur, shaping good habits while preventing unwanted behaviors from forming. This thoughtful, science-based approach creates confident puppies who are eager to learn and prepared for the next stages of development.
Adolescent Fundamentals: Navigating the Teenage Phase
Adolescence is often the most challenging stage of a dog’s development, marked by increased independence, big emotions, and testing boundaries. Our adolescent programs focus on strengthening cooperation through positive reinforcement and BAT, helping dogs learn emotional regulation while navigating a more complex world. During this phase, we work deeply on the full Good Dog 15, including recalls at 10 and 30 feet, loose leash walking, place, stay, greeting skills, jumping behaviors, barking control, household manners, and clear boundaries.
Training is intentionally paced to match the dog’s developmental stage. We prioritize staying under threshold by arranging antecedents—choosing appropriate environments, adjusting distractions, and accounting for factors like weather, stimulation, and fatigue. By working at the dog’s pace and reinforcing success, we create reliable behaviors that last beyond adolescence and support long-term stability in the home.
Reactivity: Creating Calm Through Choice and Understanding
Reactivity is addressed through Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) and positive reinforcement, focusing on helping dogs feel safe, capable, and in control of their choices. Rather than forcing exposure or suppressing reactions, we carefully observe thresholds and design training scenarios that allow dogs to disengage, self-regulate, and make calm decisions. This process builds confidence and reduces reactive responses over time.
Foundational skills from the Good Dog 15—such as recall, place, leash manners, and impulse control—are integrated into behavior modification to support real-life success. By intentionally arranging antecedents, including distance, environment, triggers, and session length, we prevent overwhelm and allow learning to occur organically. Training from a place of yes ensures dogs are reinforced for calm, appropriate behaviors, creating lasting emotional change rather than temporary suppression.
Service Work: Purposeful Training Built on Trust
Service work requires exceptional emotional stability, reliability, and cooperation. Our service dog training programs build upon positive reinforcement and BAT principles, ensuring dogs are confident, resilient, and capable of working in complex environments. Training is individualized and progresses at the dog’s pace to support long-term success and well-being.
The Good Dog 15 forms the behavioral foundation for service work, ensuring dogs demonstrate consistent manners, boundaries, recalls, and public access skills before advancing to specialized tasks. We carefully arrange antecedents to simulate real-world demands while keeping dogs under threshold, allowing them to practice skills in a way that promotes clarity and confidence. Training from a place of yes fosters willing cooperation, creating service dogs who work with their handlers as trusted partners—not out of pressure, but out of understanding and choice.