Practice Makes Progress
Methodology:
How Will We Learn?
Quick Bird-Eye View
BASELINE
Meet dog's basic needs so they don't find ways to do it themselves.
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Assess health, pain, stress
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Set up for success using management tools such as gates, exercise, leashes, and adjusting daily routine.
Zoom out past behaviors to the situations that cause them
TEACH
Watch, then learn how to train your dog on easy mode so you can both figure things out.
Refine body mechanics (hands off the treats!) and make any adjustments you or your dog need.
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Read the dog's body language to predict behavior.
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Create a clear system of communication and remove ambiguity.
STRENGTHEN
Build muscle memory so practice becomes intuitive.
Gradually increase difficulty and use in new places.
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Introduce skills as part of daily routine.
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Replace unwanted behaviors with more acceptable ones.
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Be consistent to foster trust and a lifelong bond.
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MAINTAIN
​​Keep a routine that is considerate of both human and canine needs.
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Know your dog (and what you've worked on!) to be realistic about expectations.
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Naturally use skills to navigate the world and thrive with your furry friend.
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Know when to make adjustments.
Animal Welfare, First And Foremost
How we feel has a serious impact on how we act. When you're hungry (AKA "hangry"), you probably have a sharper temper and snap more easily. If you've got a headache, you may not feel as excited to do things that would normally have you amped. You may not be able to do what you want today because of chronic pain or a twisted ankle from yesterday. These are all obvious and apparent situations to us - and they also impact our dogs!​
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There is a strong ethical appeal to making sure we're looking out for our dogs' well-being - we all want our dogs to live happy and fulfilling lives! But welfare also plays a practical part in how our dogs act at any given time, just like with us. Humans are able to speak to communicate when they aren't feeling their best and make decisions about what to do accordingly. Unfortunately, dogs can't simply tell us when they aren't feeling great, so behavior is our best resource to know what's going on.
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Unless learned from past experience or specifically trained, behavior tends to be a dog's natural response to circumstances that are often out of their control, and this is why Fuzzles Dog Training does not use aversive tools or methods in training protocol. Threat of pain and/or fear can be effective in reducing behaviors, but it does not address why the dog responded that way in the first place. By punishing away unwanted behaviors without providing a more appropriate way to meet their purpose, we lose a valuable tool in cross-species communication.
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Put another way, behavior is often a symptom of other factors, so we look at the behavior in addition to the reason it's happening. For example, physically punishing a dog barking from fear may stop the barking, but focusing on the behavior distracts from the cause, fear. The dog will still be afraid but will have lost the ability to use their natural communication skills - potentially escalating to more dangerous choices in the future. When humans use physical and psychological force to limit their dogs' behavior, we assume that dogs are consciously disobedient because they are lazy, stubborn, stupid, etc. The truth is, they are often trying to tell us something important (I'm hot and need a break; I'm nervous and need to keep my eye on the scary thing; I don't know what to do). When we stop seeing behavior as "good" or "bad" and start seeing it as information, suddenly our dogs become much easier to understand!
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We don't hit or physically punish children in schools anymore to change behavior. Carrier pigeons were trained to fly vast distances without fear or force in the early 1900s, and zoos have long since moved away from using aversive and coercive methods on the multitude of species housed within. It's time for our pet dogs receive the same basic welfare considerations that every other captive animal gets.
"Pawrent" - A Value Statement
Fuzzles Dog Training does not refer to humans as owners, just as I don't refer to dogs as inanimate objects. While dogs have historically been bred and genetically selected for working purposes as tools, most modern urban dwelling dogs were brought into the home as companions to live alongside their humans for the sake of company and friendship or to assist with personal medical needs. One standard trait humans have artificially selected for in dogs is friendliness towards humans, and many people use endearing terms like "fur baby" and "puppy parent", which sound more like family than property. Dogs can't be turned off like a lamp, either! This can feel unfortunate when some other specifically selected traits (high energy output, boundless curiosity, prey drive) start to show themselves...in the apartment.
Our furry friends have very different behaviors, needs, and communication styles than people, yet we still want to love them like humans - which naturally leads to some miscommunication. The core principles of my training take this into consideration, both in values and methodology, so we can teach our dogs in a language they understand, and with the same compassion and understanding we'd give any close family member.
Not Just A Dog Trainer
Positive training is a journey humans and dogs take together - when hiring a dog trainer, the most valuable education goes to the pawrent, not the dog! Curriculum includes learning goals for the human that are relevant to the lifestyle and behavioral goals they'd like to reach with their furry friend. As living, breathing creatures, our pups are always learning: they will continue to notice the consequences for their behavior, just as we do, so training is never suddenly "over". Even when trainers work directly with dog (IE day training or board and train programs), long-term success depends on the pawrent being able to follow through with given guidance to maintain the behavior. Without this, the dog will naturally find something new that works for them and adapt accordingly.
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Years spent working with dogs and their humans in downtown Denver have given me experience addressing the unique adversities that come with dog life in urban environments. Although a proverbial Disneyland waits just outside the door, I've walked on foot through most of the city and have found creative locations to gradually increase distraction level and difficulty during practice. I'm accustomed to many common apartment layouts and creating management solutions tailored for smaller spaces, and have acquired a wealth of knowledge about fulfilling our dogs' enrichment needs inside, since park spaces can be limited or difficult for reactive dogs.
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I live in a building right next to all these other buildings, can I join?If you live in an apartment or condo building along Little Raven or Cherry Creek near Confluence, feel free to reach out and ask! The buildings included are where I have the most experience, but I'm certainly open to other buildings in the area as well.
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What if I'm already working with another trainer?It's important to talk with your trainer before purchasing a membership to be sure it works with your current training plan. Walks will never include aversive tools or techniques, so traditional or balanced trainers are not a good fit with this membership. I will be reaching out to your trainer to see what the training plan and ongoing priorities are, and will work with them to determine how lesson credits would best be used. This may include activities such as handling a therapy dog during reactivity training, working through in-home desensitization, or being a high-value distraction. There is no option to purchase a membership without lesson credits.
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How does scheduling walks work?Walk credits that are purchased with membership renewal expire after 45 days. Each credit is valid for a 30-minute walk, to be scheduled for M-F 9:30 AM - 3 PM, or Sat/Sun 10 AM - 3 PM. Credits are reserved for the upcoming week on Sunday according to a schedule that we discuss during signup, so it's preferred that any foreseen changes are communicated by then. Schedules may be changed at any time, assuming availability. If a walk is cancelled before 9AM on the same day, your credit remains unused and can be rescheduled for another day. Walks cancelled after 9AM on the same day will forfeit the reserved credit. Memberships may be paused for up to two weeks, delaying the renewal date as well as credit expiration dates by the same amount.
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What/when are office hours?A minimum of four office hours will be scheduled and communicated weekly along with educational materials. Office hours are set aside just for members to call, text, or email with any questions or concerns about their dog's behavior. If I'm on a call with a member when you reach out, be sure you'll hear back from me soon!
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What if I have two dogs?If one or multiple of your dogs displays heightened stress behaviors (extensive barking, howling, scratching at the door, escaping) that do not stop a minute or two after their sibling leaves, this membership is not a good fit for your household. It is not recommended to sacrifice one dog's well-being to train another. Membership walk credits are valid for a half-hour walk with a single dog at a time to allow for ample focus towards the environment and training goals. Multiple-dog households can purchase a membership for a single dog, multiple dogs, or use one membership's walk credits on multiple dogs, keeping in mind this reduces how many walks per week credits will be available for. Lesson credits cover households and can be used to work with any human or dog that spends a lot of time in your household. Dogs from other households will only be trained for situations that happen on your property.
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Why are dogs with separation anxiety not a good fit for the membership?Separation anxiety is treated very differently than many other issues, done in short bursts by the dog's human over time. This is one situation where private coaching is inherently far more effective than with a day training format. Separation anxiety treatment always begins by confirming and securing a promise from the human that the dog will not be left alone longer than they can handle; I will not work with a case that will require me to frequently leave the dog in a highly stressed state of mind.