Welcome to our Pack
Join us on a journey of understanding and connection with your canine. Embrace positive training methods that build trust and strengthen your bond.
At Alpine Dog Training and Enrichment, our approach to training is centered around creating a strong, positive healthy relationship between you and your furry companion. We believe that by fostering trust, respect, and appropriate communication, we can help your dog thrive in the human world while maintaining their autonomy and individuality. Our methods are grounded in positive reinforcement (which I know is a buzz-word for some, but, hang with us), utilizing play, treats, and a deep understanding of the psychology behind canine behavior to encourage desired behaviors. We firmly stand against aversive or physical methods, instead opting for gentle, compassionate techniques that prioritize your dog's well-being.
Furthermore, while we prioritize positive reinforcement and gentle methods, we also recognize the importance of boundaries in maintaining a healthy relationship. Our trainers may utilize their bodies NEVER as a form of correction or discipline, but solely to maintain boundaries that ensure the safety and well-being of both you and your dog. These boundaries are essential for fostering mutual respect and understanding, creating a safe environment where your dog can thrive while also promoting the healthiest relationship possible.
Throughout our training process, we emphasize the importance of building a healthy relationship between you and your dog. We recognize that you are your dog's leader, and we focus on empowering you with the tools and knowledge to fulfill that role effectively. Our training sessions incorporate verbal commands to guide your dog's behavior positively. We also prioritize your own mental health and ability to lead, ensuring that you feel confident and capable in your role as a dog owner.
Central to our approach is a sense of curiosity and understanding towards your dog's behavior. We believe in viewing behavior through a lens of learning and communication, striving to understand your dog's needs and motivations. By fostering healthy communication and mutual respect, we can build a strong foundation for a lifelong bond between you and your furry friend. Our goal is not just to teach obedience but to empower you and your dog to navigate the world together with confidence and joy.
When it comes to addressing negative behaviors, our approach is rooted in understanding and compassion rather than punishment. We do not resort to aversive or physical methods; instead, we focus on redirecting and modifying behavior through positive reinforcement. One effective technique we utilize is counterconditioning, where we replace negative associations with positive ones through gradual exposure and reinforcement. For example, if your dog exhibits fear or aggression towards certain stimuli, we may gradually introduce them in a controlled safe environment (assuring their body language shows us they are comfortable) while simultaneously providing treats or praise to create positive associations. Additionally, we employ the use of negative punishment, such as removing rewards or privileges for undesirable behaviors. This approach helps your dog learn that certain behaviors result in the loss of desirable outcomes, encouraging them to make more appropriate choices in the future. Moreover, we not only address negative behaviors but also teach and reinforce what is right. By consistently rewarding and praising desired behaviors, we help your dog understand and choose positive alternatives, fostering a harmonious relationship based on trust and mutual understanding.
In our training approach, we celebrate and reinforce positive behaviors through a variety of techniques. One key method is utilizing play as a means of engagement and reward. By incorporating fun activities such as fetch, or interactive games, we create opportunities for your dog to engage with you in a positive and rewarding manner. Additionally, we employ the use of high-value treats and verbal praise to reinforce desired behaviors. These rewards serve as incentives for your dog to repeat the behaviors we want to encourage. Moreover, we focus on building a strong relationship between you and your dog, emphasizing trust, communication, and mutual respect. Through positive reinforcement and nurturing this bond, we empower you to become a confident and effective leader for your furry companion.
TOP 10 TRAINER’S TIPS:
MENTAL HEALTH: Your mental health matters. Remember, your dog's behavior is intricately linked to your own mental and emotional state. Just as you influence your dog's environment and routines, your mood and emotional regulation will significantly impact their behavior and well-being. Dogs are highly perceptive, sensitive to changes in their owner's demeanor and energy. When you're feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, your dog will pick up on these emotions and respond. By prioritizing your mental health and emotional balance, you create a more stable and positive atmosphere for both yourself and your furry friend. Practice self-care, ask for support when needed, and cultivate a calm and reassuring presence. Your own well-being plays a crucial role in shaping your dog's behavior and fostering a strong, healthy bond between you. You got this!
Say it Once: Dogs do not instinctually respond to our voice. In fact, often- when dogs learn “commands” they actually are paying attention to your body language! Dogs have to be taught to respond to our words, and this takes TIME and PRACTICE. A great way to catalyst this process is to STOP talking! It only confuses your dog. Say the command one time, if your dog does the behavior, reward. If your dog doesn’t- it’s likely you two are miscommunicating and repeating the command will only confuse your dog more and train them to ignore you (oh no!).
SAY NO… to dog parks, strangers petting your dog, and your dog saying “hi” to stranger’s dogs. I don’t want to spend the whole book telling you all the reasons why you should avoid these things, so instead I’ll tell you that these three ingredients are a great recipe to build a reactive dog. Use discernment.
SHORT and FUN training sessions are better than inconsistent long ones. Set a timer!
Be Proactive- if you don’t want bad behaviors to develop… don’t give them the opportunity.
DO NOT PUNISH. Please. It will only make your relationship with your dog worse and more bad behaviors will form that you’ll have to work through. Now, a perfect human or dog does not exist. If you’re reading this you’re either a robot or a human- and if you’re the latter you will inevitably make mistakes in your dog training adventure. Do not get stuck in shaming yourself. Here’s what I do when I get frustrated by something my dog has done;
Pause. Take a deep breath in… out…
I put my dog in a safe place if I need a break, or clip on a leash to help supervise them.
When I am calm again, I clean up (assuming a mess) and I do an activity that I know will be bonding with my dog (fetch, tug, tricks) Even if it’s just for 3 minutes.
And then I do something a little strange… I repair with my dog as if they were a human child that could understand what I was saying. Goes a little something like this; “I’m sorry buddy that I lost my temper earlier, I was feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and irritated. Next time, I’m going to do a better job at noticing how I’m feeling and do what I need to do to stay calm. I want to be a good leader for you and I messed up, I’m sorry”. Here’s why I do this; it helps me shape a healthy mindset and regulate myself- which in turn, regulates my dog. #emotionallyhealthydogtraining
Study your dog’s body language. If your dog is scared do NOT force them to do something. Our goal is always to create positive associations. Think of ways you could minimize the “scary” stimulus to a level your pup feels comfortable with- then build confidence with positive experiences from there. This is also one of my tips because it helps me sort out the root of WHY I’m seeing a behavior and how we can solve it. A Dog’s body language is how they communicate best :)
Ignore mistakes. Most of the time, if we “correct” a mistake verbally- we will only confuse our dog more. If I am trying to teach my dog something- I always ignore mistakes- if I am trying to teach my dog not to do something (like puppy biting) I’m not ignoring it.
Your dog is always learning whether you’re “training” or not.
HAVE FUN - if you’re not having fun- your dog probably isn’t either :)