Frequently Asked Questions

Where will the Behavior Consultation and training sessions take place?

We will come to your home for your 90-minute Behavior Consultation. Clients who reside outside of our service area are encouraged to book a remote consult via zoom. Training sessions take place at your home or out in the community, depending on which behaviors we are working on.

I have heard that my dog humps other dogs in order to assert their ‘dominance’, is this true?

No. Dominance in domesticated dogs is a pervasive myth that has been debunked by animal behavior science. Humping is a normal dog behavior that we often see in play between dogs. Just like chasing or play fighting are normal play behaviors, humping is just one of the many ‘moves’ dogs use to solicit play interactions. Some dogs do prefer humping as their go-to play move, but it has nothing to do with dominance.

Do I have to use food to train my dog?

Professionals like using food because it is one of the most powerful motivators in animal training. The reality is that you get more strongly conditioned behavior if you do not limit yourself to praise alone. Another advantage of food is that you can use it to target the dog into position. Food therefore has two roles: as target (“lure”) and as reward.

Training with positive reinforcement allows the dog to relax and learn, and strengthens the bond between you and your dog. Over time, you can expect "more for your money," that is more behaviors for fewer treats. We will also help you become skillful at incorporating other rewards into training.

Is crate training cruel?

A crate is a safe, comfortable place that most dogs voluntarily use when the door is left open. Properly crate training puppies can prevent destructive or otherwise undesirable behaviors when you are not able to fully supervise. Crating also prompts dogs to hold their bladder and bowels, facilitating housetraining.

I have heard that playing tug causes aggression, is this true?

The only study ever done found no correlation between dogs that play tug and aggression. If you teach your dog to “take” and "drop" on cue and cancel the game if he breaks one of these rules, there is no reason to deprive your dog of this fun and efficient energy burner. Tired dogs are well-behaved dogs. Fetch is another great game to play.