You are about to start something amazing. It is training done the right way!!!!
You will not hear any recommendations on becoming an “ alpha”. You will not hear us talk about "pack structure" or needing to show your dog who is “ ominant". These are old, outdated theories. They are not needed.
Our program uses force free training that both you and your dog will enjoy!!!
The Newfoundland’s Dog Whisperer Training Program strives to meet all your needs to aid you form a better healthier bond with your dog.
We do not teach your dog.
We teach you how to communicate with your dog so you can bring about desired behaviours allowing your dog to become a happy, healthy and valued canine member of your family.
This is accomplished through our comprehensive training programs.
The programs consist of three levels of obedience training supplemented by other optional courses and additional group activities aimed to promote a better relationship between you and your dog. All training uses positive reinforcement methods. It is rooted in classical and operant conditioning, counterconditioning, systematic desensitization and applied behaviour analysis. We combine instruction with real life distractions, focusing on heavy socialization and professional evidence based best practice.
Our courses are eight weeks long, once a week, an hour a night. Class sizes are kept small and controlled. There are two instructors to a class so that individual problems can be addressed. Our programs are meant to be fun, challenging and rewarding for both dogs and their owners.
Basic Obedience: Level One
You will learn a combination of formal and informal obedience. There will be a heavy emphasis on achieving good and proper communication with your dog.
Owners and their dogs will be introduced to formal obedience commands; sits, downs, stands, sit stays, down stays and stand stays, heeling, turns, recalls and heel finishes. We will also cover informal commands such as; leave it, quiet and focus exercises. The introduction of these skills will be used as tools to develop proper communication patterns with your dog.
Skills are taught using both verbal and nonverbal cues using force free training and positive reinforcement techniques.
If owners are having individual issues with their dogs, these issues will also be dealt with at the owner’s request. Questions are always welcome.
Advanced Obedience: Level Two
The same skills will be covered in this course as were completed in Level One, however the emphasis is aimed towards getting a loose leash and eventually an off leash heel. Skills will be practised from greater distances using bigger distractions focusing on the use of training sequences and manipulating training perimeters.
The course is done at the owner/dog team’s own pace.
Some teams progress faster than others in certain skills. This is very normal. It is a challenging course, with half the course being taught outside.
Master’s Obedience: Level Three
Again, the same skills are taught and practiced as in the basic and advanced course but the emphasis is placed on even larger distractions and greater distances. Most of this course is taught outside.
This is a very challenging course and owners are expected to practice extensively and consistently with their dogs. We will be delving deeply into training sequences and heavily manipuating training perameters.
At the completion of the course, owners should be on their way to mastering an off leash heel outside in a high distraction environment.
My Dog Is Awesome Course
This course is a great preparatory course for anybody considering having their dog partake in therapy dog services, good canine citizenship and good canine neighbour testing. It is also a great course for people who are dealing with anti social and skittish behaviour with their dogs.
This is a six week course. It will focus on skills such preventing a dog from jumping on people, accepting treats nicely, accepting praise, being handled, and overall polite behaviour.
It is a challenging course and one your dog will love.
Participants in this course must have completed our Basic Obedience Course as a prerequisite.
Puppy Foundation Classes
Science and research shows that early proper and extensive socialization is a must for dogs. It is a great investment that pays dividends over time. It helps with the long term health and well being of your dog and aids to prevent more serious behaviour problems.
This course is aimed at providing owners the opportunity to socialize your new puppy in a proper way.
The course will focus on opening the lines of communication, developing realistic expectations between owner and puppy, starting the puppy on the path of learning valuable skills, and of course, proper socialization with humans and other puppies.
This is a six week course that is a lot of fun for your and your puppy. On completion, your puppy will be well on the way to being a very happy, healthy and confident dog.
Supplemental Activities
With our training program, we feel it is important to offer activities outside of the formal classroom situation allowing owners and their dogs a chance to develop their skills and provide socialization in normal everyday living.
Some of these activities include:
Weekly Dog Walks
Expo Demonstrations
Charity Events
Christmas Parade
Practice Sessions in the Park
Doggy Daycare
For some, formal group training is not an option. It may be that busy work schedules do not allow owners to attend class regularly. Perhaps there is a problem with a certain behaviour that needs fixing before attempting a class. Our quality trainers can help you deal with these issues through a home one on one assessment and behaviour modification program with an experienced dog behaviourist. Please see the One on One Behavior Modification portion of this site for more information on that service.
Again, no dog is too difficult to handle and no problem too big to be addressed!!!
Ken Reid is a large supporter of many organizations and causes, in particular: Furever Young, the SPCA and The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program. We are always looking for ways to integrate these organizations into our training opportunities and encourage our students to partake and support these organizations and their causes.
I am proud to partner with Jodi Rideout and Jessica Short of A Dog’s World Inc. Check them out. They are dong amazing work.
For more information or to register for a course, call 685.2851 or use the contact form in this site. We look forward to dealing with you and your canine companion.