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A Better Dog .. Home Dog Training
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Tips On Hiring An Ahwatukee Dog Trainer
 
© ABetterDog101.com .. All Rights Reserved
Thanks For Visiting Phoenix Valley Dog Training!
Certified Dog Behavior Advisors .. Canine Dimensions Phoenix Franchise
International Association of Canine Professionals .. member #3240
Association of Pet Dog Trainers .. member #74521
American Kennel Club .. Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator #37520
American Red Cross Certified in Canine CPR and First Aid
"Since we last spoke, Basil has
progressed even further. She is
just becoming the sweetest,
most social little thing.  Far
more than I certainly could have
imagined. I am looking into
agility training along with a
friend of mine from school who
has a pup of her own (wow Basil
is making friends! :) Anyway a
few words for your website if
would like to put them up, I will
definitely refer your services to
anyone who is having any dog
troubles."
Christina & Basil
Phoenix .. Arizona
"Steve, thank you so much for
all of your help with Basil.
She is much less nervous
now, and her submissive /
aggressiveness is now under
control. Before I couldn't even
have people over to the house
because she had become so
unfriendly, however now I can
have groups of people over and
Basil is not an issue. Your
techniques put me in control
of my dog, and now not only am
I much happier, but Basil is too!
Thanks again Steve for going
above and beyond for us, we
appreciate everything!!"
"Hey there Steve, wanted to
give you an update on our
Zachariah. We are very well
pleased with Zach’s progress.
He now has freedom to roam
around our home and he and
Martin are best buds. Quite
amazing to see him content to
sit on Martin’s lap and take a
snooze, from when we first got
him, Zach turned his head away
and wouldn’t sit still on Martin.
Thank you for your wisdom and
knowledge - we now believe
God had this precious little guy
made just for us - it took a few
months of diligence but it has all
paid off and we have a peaceful
family. Thanks ever so much."
Martin, Linda & Zach
Surprise .. Arizona
The leadership methods that
you showed me are working
already. Holly is submitting and
Boojum and Joops are sending
me thank you vibes. I think this
will also help bring my cat Gu
back into the mix. Hopefully Gu
will soon realize that Holly is not
in control and my kitty can come
around more. Once she is again
milling about with the pack, then
I can correct Holly whenever
she goes into cat attack or
pursuit mode. While working
the techniques that we
discussed will take some
getting used to, I am willing to
put in the time. THANKS!"
"You would not believe the
peace and tranquility and JOY
and RESPECT around my house
after only a few days of
consistent and persistent
training and correction.
Boojum is no longer yelling at
me, Joops is about the same
(just a silly boy eager to please),
and Holly is much calmer and
more focused. It appears that I
am becoming recognized as
leader of this cowdog pack!!!
Kathleen, Boojum, Joopiter
Holly & Gu the cat
Ahwatukee .. Arizona
Second Email
"Steve, I wanted to send you a
quick message to say thank you
and let you know that we are
thrilled with the progress we
are seeing in Bello in the few
days since we first met with
you! We have seen a marked
decrease in his barking
and, though we'd be thrilled
enough with that, he has
also responded well to our
establishment of pack
structure. We have been very
successful with our training
sessions each day. He already
has the "sit-down-stay"
command with 15+ feet and
holding for over 30 seconds. We
started working today on the
"stay" while out-of-sight
command and he did better
than I anticipated! We had a
house full of company last night
and everyone remarked on how
calm Bello was and how well
behaved! Most of the time he
sits just by putting our finger up
- such a nice little party "trick" :).
He also "sit-stayed" while our
front door was open and our
guests left - a major change
from his prior behavior!
Thanks again and we'll be in
touch once we've mastered
the initial skills you taught us.
Kami, Jeff & Bello
Laveen .. Arizona
"After living with my
roommate's dog for almost
three years I could not imagine
life without one when he
considered moving out. About
a month before he was
scheduled to move I got the call.
A young female pit bull was
found by an acquaintance of
mine in the backyard of a
foreclosed home. I was
cautious at first, knowing that
pit bulls can be aggressive and
not knowing the trauma she had
gone through. After meeting
her and seeing first hand her
loving and tender personality I
knew she was too amazing to
let go. The first few weeks with
Indi were equally fun and hard.
She was so great to be around
but her constant elimination in
the house, disobeying of
commands and chewing of
furniture, carpets and cabinets
soon became too much to deal
with. Every second she was not
in eyesight lead to another
mess to clean up or more
destruction. Internet research,
advice from friends and the four
books I had bought all seemed
to have great insight and advice
but different strategies
altogether. After a few weeks
and very little improvement I
was at a breaking point. I was
so stressed I even considered
giving Indi up, that is when
someone suggested I call
A  Better Dog.
I felt better after my first
conversation with Steve. Even
though I know he heard them
before, he listened while I told
of him of all the problems I was
having with Indi. He reassured
me that he could help and three
days later he came to my house.
What a relief! It was not easy but
after every day, week and
month things got better. Steve
offered a complete system and
not just strategies or advice to
band-aid her behavior. I am so
thankful for him making me a
proud owner of such a well-
behaved and disciplined canine.
I get compliments on her all the
time! After the turn around Indi
made on their system I would
recommend A Better Dog  to
anyone, and I do! Thanks again!"
Eric & Indi
Tempe .. Arizona
"Recently my wife and I were
talked into purchasing a dog for
our 12 year old daughter Sadie.
We made a deal with her that
she would be responsible for
the dog and had to be the one to
take care of her and train her.
She agreed and it was actually
her idea to hire a dog trainer.
Under our supervision, Sadie
got on the phone and started
making calls. Steve at A Better
Dog was really the only trainer
we could find who would take
her seriously and actually spend
time on the phone with her. We
listened in on the extension and
were very pleased that he was
speaking to her like an adult and
taking the time to explain
exactly how the training
programs worked. He also
emphasized with her that she
would need to be responsible
for Sugar's training and work
with her regularly. After hanging
up with Steve, Sadie was almost
giddy. She wanted to get started
right away. Steve came over a
few days later and after the
preliminaries, he began to work
with Sadie and Sugar. I told my
wife after that session that I
was really impressed with the
way that Steve explained
everything in a way that Sadie
could understand and he was
very clear on how she could
accomplish her goals. He also
had a way of talking to her and
making her feel important, but
after every key point he would
glance at one of us to make
sure that we all understood
things. He did it in a way that
never made Sadie feel like he
was really talking to us. We've
made great strides with Sugar
over the past few weeks, but
I'm even more impressed with
what's happened with Sadie.
She was always a bit quiet and
shy, but as she works with
Sugar, I can see her confidence
and self-esteem growing. It's
really interesting and
rewarding. Whenever she has a
question, she calls Steve. He
makes the time to talk to her
and if he isn't available, he
always calls her back quickly. He
has always been very
professional and he uses
humor and games to keep both
Sadie and Sugar interested in
the training - and us for that
matter. So anyway, thanks
Steve. You've done more than
just help us to train our dog and
we really appreciate it."
Efram, Sadie & Sugar
Queen Creek .. Arizona
"Thanks for the timely follow
up. I was going to write last
night to tell you that Dudley and
I had two of the best walks
yesterday. They were in fact the
best walks I have ever had with
a dog companion. Dudley was
well mannered and focused the
entire time. He responded well
to "heel" and we worked on
his "sit " when I stopped. We
need more work on that!"
Second Email
"Dudley and I just got back from
a great walk. We met three
women, mother, daughter,
grandmother. We were heeling
along, we stopped, Dudley sat,
waited while they passed and
went on. The mother
commented on how well
mannered Dudley was and the
grandmother thanked us for
stopping to let them pass.
IT WAS FREAKIN GREAT!!!!!!!!"
Click Here To Read
More From Our Clients...
Tim, Kate & Dudley
Chandler .. Arizona
"Hey Steve! I just wanted to
send you an update on how
Audi is doing. She's fabulous
and we're on our second foster
dog. I think it's really helping
her deal with distraction and
still listen to us at the same
time because I've noticed a
HUGE improvement! We've been
working with long distance
recall and she's getting much
better at coming to us when
called but there is still more
work to be had. Everyone
comments on how she looks to
us for 'permission' before she
does something and they all
think it's really cool. I'm like
'yeah, I  know, she's my girl!'
Talk to you soon."
Katie & Audi
Ahwatukee .. Arizona
Dogue de Bordeaux
 
You can click on a category name to go to that section:
Dog Training Methods
The Dog Training Program
A Dog Trainer's Experience
The Dog Training Location
Dog Training Guarantees
Dog Training Costs
Tips On Choosing A Dog Trainer
At A Better Dog Home Dog Training, we have a unique philosophy
and approach to home dog training. Listed below are some explanations
of each of the above factors and how we answer the questions that you might have for each topic.
Methods .. The Various Methods Used By Dog Trainers
You need to understand the methods that a home dog trainer uses before you hire them. There are a number of different philosophies on the most effective way to train a dog. Listed below are the types of trainers that you will run into during your search. At A Better Dog Home Dog Training, we do not subscribe to these methods and have developed a very humane, dog-friendly program that does not fall into any of the categories that are listed.
Every dog trainer has their own methods and philosophy regarding the most effective way to train a dog. The average dog trainer will fall into one of three categories:
1. Shock Collar Dog Trainers
2. Koehler Method Dog Trainers
3. Purely Positive Dog Trainers
Each of these methods have their positives and negatives and you should understand if someone uses these methods before you hire them. It will be the basis for how they handle your dog.
Shock Collar Training
Shock collar training is exactly what it sounds like. They may refer to them as e-collars, stimulus collars or correction collars, but they are all doing the same thing. They are applying shock to your dog.
It's true that your dog may learn quickly using shock, but you are teaching your dog to learn by using physical pain and you risk side effects that cannot be predicted.
The following is taken directly from the koehlerdogtraining.com website:
"This one statement: "that when those choices are influenced by the anticipation of punishment they will most likely cease" is the genesis for most criticisms of Koehler's methods. The critics argue that teaching a dog to anticipate punishment will produce a condition of anxiety which will permanently colour his behaviour; and that the anxious dog will become, at best 'apprehensive', or at worst 'afraid', of his own behaviour.
I would like to debunk this argument by analyzing a part of our own human behaviour where an action is, in fact, motivated by the anticipation of punishment...stopping for red lights.
Everyday, on every street, in every city, you will see pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers stopping for red lights. How did this come to be? We are not born with a gene that predisposed us to this behaviour; we were programmed by punishment, or the threat of punishment, to do so. Once we have learned that not stopping for the light produces punishment, but that stopping for it somehow prevents punishment, we simply learn to stop in the presence of the stimulus (the red light) to avoid punishment. Therefore, when we approach a red light we do not feel apprehension or fear for the stimulus, we feel instead, only the need to stop.
Stopping for red lights is really a matter of choice. You may choose not to stop for the light, in which case you will then have to endure the anxiety which follows. Or, you may choose to stop for the red light, in which case you will feel the calmness which follows right action. Either way, it is a matter of choice."
We find this method of training cruel and unnecessary and we do not support it.
The Koehler Method .. yank and crank
The Koehler method was developed in the 1960's by a gentleman named Dick Koehler. It's refered to in dog training circles as the "yank and crank" method. All training is done on leash in the beginning and the leash is used to force a dog to respond to commands. You are not taught to handle your dog, you are taught how to handle the leash.
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American Staffordshire Terrier
 
The writer is actually comparing apples to oranges. He's trying to justify physical punishment (the use of the leash to physically punish a dog) by comparing it to a negative psychological punishment (getting a ticket for running a red light). It's ridiculous.
With the Koehler method, a dog is put on leash and then physically forced to submit to the handler's will. When you run across a dog trainer that says "we'll have your dog performing off-leash within three session...", they are not talking about off-leash walking, they are talking about using the Koehler method at the beginning of training and eventually working your dog without the leash.
Again, we don't support this method. We'll be working obedience with your dog off-leash from the very beginning. We'll show you how to build a relationship with your dog based on trust and respect, not fear of physical violence.
Purely Positive Training .. click and treat
Purely Positive dog trainers are also known as "clicker trainers". Purely positive trainers have taken a lot of heat lately because they are thought to believe in a ridiculous premiss - that you can train a dog just by withholding the treat reward. Generally, a clicker trainer does not want to help a dog to learn through physical actions. They believe that this is a negative stimulus and should not be performed.
If you are a fan of the dog training shows on television, you may be familiar with Victoria Stillwell from "It's Me Or The Dog". Victoria is a purely positive trainer. We like her and her show, but we've noticed that you can watch 20 episodes and you might never see her touch a dog. It's almost as though a purely positive trainer doesn't understand that a dog can be physically corrected without using pain or violence. In nature, physical correction is the natural course for all animals.
A nationally known dog trainer named Ty Brown wrote the following:
"It is my contention that there is no such thing as 'purely positive' training. If you look at any force in the world there is always an opposite. Down always has an up. Left always has a right. The only reason you know what sad feels like is because you know what happy is. The only way you have been able to experience victory results from defeats you have had. There is always an opposite.
So how about applying this to 'purely positive' dog training methods. If something is positive that means that there has to be a negative to balance it. If training was truly 'purely positive' that would mean that you reward your dog with a treat for every single behavior he performs.
If you reward your dog for sitting on command with a treat that also means that you aren't rewarding your dog when he doesn't sit. Is withholding a treat 'purely positive' Your dog builds a negative association with disobedience because there is no treat. How can he build a negative association if you are using 'purely positive' methods.
The problem with 'purely positive' trainers is not only the semantics. The methods are so unsound and do not get the desired dog training results. Think about it, if you tell your dog to do a command and his only consequence for disobedience is the lack of a treat, how well behaved will your dog be? If your dog is running toward the street to chase a cat do you think he would rather return to your side to get the treat or continue chasing the cat?
Purely positive dog trainers and dog training methods are not only misleading but a horrible way to train a dog."
Again, we don't support this method. We'll be working obedience with your dog off-leash from the very beginning. We'll show you how to build a relationship with your dog based on trust and respect,
not fear of physical violence.
A Better Dog's Training Philosophy and Methodology
At A Better Dog Home Dog Training, we use a natural blend of classical, operant
and counter-conditioning to teach your dog respect and manners. The
foundation of our program is in pack structure. We teach the dog
basic obedience, advanced obedience and correction
commands using positive reinforcement and humane
negative reinforcement. We also teach them that
you are the pack leader in your home and that
they should be looking to you for their cues
on how to behave.
We teach using a three-phase learning program
that takes your dog through instruction,
correction and performance under
distraction. Our dogs are expected
to learn the commands, perform
the commands on your direction
and perform the commands even
under distraction.
All of our methods are very humane and dog
friendly. We do not use any kind of physical
pain or punishment to teach our dogs and we
will never give you any gimmicky devices such
as a clicker for obedience or a spray bottle for
correction. We never apply the yank and crank
method, shock stimulus or drug therapy to a dog.
By the end of our program, we expect your dog to understand that you and the other members of the household are above them in the pack hierarchy. They will be taught to respect you, your things and that they should be looking to you for their cues on how to behave, even under distraction.
The Dog Training Program .. Number of Sessions, Length of Agreement, Curriculum, etc.
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We want to talk to you about your dog and the problems that you are running into with them. The idea that you can use a cookie-cutter program for every dog and expect to get the same response every time is ridiculous.
We tailor our program to meet your dog's needs and your training goals. Our methods are very fluid and we have alternative methods for everything that we teach. If a dog is not responding to an exercise, we have other means of addressing the issue.
We will work with you until we find the most effective method for training you and your dog.
At A Better Dog Home Dog Training, we don't sell our services based on hours or number of sessions. We sell our program packages based on timeframes so that you have a dog trainer as long, and as many times, as you need them. Our programs are incredibly effective because we are not continually nickle and diming you with additional session fees. You never have to make a decision about a follow-up session based on how much more it will cost you.
When you hire us, you have a dog trainer for a set period of time. Whether it's six months, one year or for the life of your dog, you will get training sessions as you need them.
You never pay additional session fees or travel fees with us. You get an unlimited program with us so we can address each and every behavior that your dog is demonstrating without you worrying about ongoing fees and escalating costs. And we never withhold information that you need just because we want to sell you an additional session.
When you work with us, we will teach you how to correct the pack structure within your home and we will teach your dog basic obedience, advanced obedience, pack structure, leash manners, general dog manners and behavior correction.
Experience .. The Dog Trainer's Experience and Credentials
Don't be afraid to ask a dog trainer about their experience in the field. There are no state or federal regulations that need to be met to call yourself a dog trainer. There are a number of people out there who have read the literature or taken an online course and now call themselves dog trainers.
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Also, don't be too impressed by credentials or length of time in the business. Length of time in the business is only important if the trainer has taken on continuing education and stayed current on the newest and most effective dog training methods. If a dog trainer has been in business for thirty years, but has not continued their education on the newest science of dog training, they may not be the trainer for you. Ask them about their on-going training and how they keep on top of the newer methods and technologies.
And always keep in mind that the majority of the credentials out there can be bought. The closest thing that we have in our industry to a self-policing, or self-monitoring, organization is the International Association of Canine Professionals. To be a professional level member with that organization, you have to have been training dogs for five years and you have to prove it. Most of the other organizations will allow you to buy your membership without proving your abilities.
In addition, to become a certified evaluator for the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen program, you must pass their Evaluator Test.
A Better Dog's Experience and Credentials
A Better Dog Home, LLC is the name of our local company. We also own the franchise rights, for the Ahwatukee area, to a national dog training company called Canine Dimensions Home Dog Training. We bought into the Canine Dimensions franchise because of the effective and progressive methods that they have developed.
Before we could be approved to purchase our franchise, we had to pass the Certified Dog Behavior Advisor certification program and complete a one-on-one, formal internship led by the founder of Canine Dimensions. We are also required to participate in on-going training annually at our corporate campus. None of our education is done on the internet. All requirements are met by handling actual dogs.
Our Organizational Affiliations and
Credentials Include:
Certified Dog Behavior Advisors .. Ahwatukee Canine Dimensions
Franchise
International Association of Canine Professionals .. Professional Member #3240
Association of Pet Dog Trainers .. Full Member #74521
American Kennel Club .. Certified Canine Good Citizen
Evaluator #37520
American Red Cross .. Certification in Canine CPR and First Aid
Accredited By The Better Business Bureau .. "A+" Rating
Member of Ethical Arizona .. a BBB organization
Location .. Where The Training and Follow-up Sessions Will Be Held
When you work with our Ahwatukee dog trainers, all of the sessions will be performed one-on-one, in and around your home. We never make you pack up your dog and bring them to a class for follow-up sessions.
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Dalmation
If needed, we will also accompany you to a park or other public place to help your dog learn proper behavior in those settings.
Most behaviors need to be addressed in the dog's home environment, not in a classroom. This is where the poor behavior is happening and most people find that when they take their dog out of the home, the dog's behavior changes. This is very common.
 
 
 
We've also found that in-home dog training helps to build the dog's bond with their owner and they tend to be more focused and open to learning.
Guarantees .. Any Promises That Are Made By The Trainer
Watch out for the trainer that promises too much. It's an unethical practice to promise or guarantee specific results. It's the equivalent of a doctor saying "You're sick? Come on in, I promise I'll make you healthy." It's not something that anyone can promise.
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The best promise or guarantee anyone should give you is that they will work with you to the best of their abilities and they will continue to help you to try and reach your goals and objectives for your dog.
To say that they promise that they can change your dog or that they can guarantee their results is a dishonest practice and the trainer is doing a disservice to you.
An ethical trainer will tell you up front if he thinks your dog is fixable, but he will be honest with you about the road that you will have to travel to gain success.
Costs .. Upfront Costs and Ongoing Costs That You Will Incur
We don't quote our prices on the website. It's not something that we can do in a fair or accurate way.
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We need to talk to our customers about the problems that they are experiencing with their dog so that we can then tailor a program that is affordable and effective for the dog and the owner. We always try to recommend the most effective program for a dog while still keeping it affordable for the owner.
If you don't need the longer term programs, we will tell you that up front and be honest with you about the program that we would recommend for your needs.
If you are talking to an hourly trainer and you want to compare apples to apples, ask them the fee per hour and then ask them to estimate how many hours they put into the average dog with similar problems to your dog.
For example, if a trainer charges $125.00 per hour, and they estimate 4 to 6 sessions for your dog, you are looking at a total cost of between $500.00 and $750.00 dollars (keeping in mind that you will get 6 hours for your $750).
That may seem like a reasonable cost for in-home training, but will you really get everything you need in 4 to 6 hours, or will they continue to try and setup additional sessions beyond that?
At A Better Dog Home Dog Training, when we quote you a price, it is the only cost you will ever have with us. We do not charge for additional sessions and we do not charge travel fees. Your program will include as many sessions as your dog requires and you will also get unlimited telephone and email support for questions or problems that come up between sessions.
Tips On Choosing A Dog Trainer
Ask the trainer about the specific methods that they use.
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If you are worried about the side-effects of shock collar training, then you need to know ahead of time if the trainer uses shock. If you are against putting your dog on drugs, it's important to know if the trainer supports or recommends drug therapy. Don't be afraid to ask the trainer about their methods. They are going to be handling your dog and you need to support the methods that they use.
Watch out for trainers who need to do an in-home evaluation.
An experienced trainer can evaluate your situation with a few simple questions. A free in-home evaluation is usually offered as a ploy to get face-to-face with you. It's much easier to sell you on a service that way. A trainer who isn't willing to quote you their price over the phone may have a reason for that.
Be careful of trainers who charge an hourly rate.
The goal of an hourly rate trainer is to charge you per behavior. This can get very expensive,
very quickly. For a good training program, you can assume that you are going
to spend a total of at least 6 to 10 hours with your trainer.
We recommend avoiding classroom training.
Yellow Labs
We've tried it in the past and it just isn't very effective. A dog tends
to exhibit very different behaviors outside of their home and
in a classroom setting they can be distracted or stressed.
Also, you will find that you are paying for a trainer
whose time is split between multiple
participants and they can easily
become focused on the one
or two problem students in
the class and you and your
dog become secondary.
Ask questions.
Do you charge travel fees?
Are there additional
session costs? Are you
going to send me to
PetsMart every time you
recommend a new training
device? Are you going to slam
my dog's head in a door? Will I always have the same trainer?
These are all valid questions and a reputable trainer will not be afraid to answer them for you.
Don't be fooled by a trainer's credentials.
Sadly, our industry does not have any licensing or certification requirements. The IACP (the International Association of Canine Professionals) is probably the closest thing we have to a self-policing organization. Ask potential trainers about their qualifications. We are a Professional member of the IACP. To earn this status you have to have at least five years of dog training experience and you have to prove it. Most of the other dog training organizations out there are fee based memberships and anyone can join.
We are also certified evaluators for the AKC's Canine Good Citizen program. This also requires a level of experience and has testing requirements. It's not something that you can just buy.
Lastly, find a trainer that you enjoy talking to.
You will be working closely with your trainer and sharing your dog's successes and failures with them. Make sure you have found a trainer who communicates well with you and who is willing to discuss why their methods work and what they do if your dog isn't responding well to a certain method. Some trainers are locked into one way of doing things and don't understand or accept that not every method works with every dog. They should always be willing to discuss alternative methods with you.
Do your homework.
Do some investigation on any company that you are thinking about hiring.  Check sites like Kudzu.com, MerchantCircle.com, DexKnows.com, RipoffReport.com and Local.Yahoo.com.  And check with the Better Business Bureau.  If the company is not even listed or they are not considered an actual company, you may be hiring a hobby trainer or someone who just does it in their spare time. That's not a real dog trainer.
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When choosing a home dog trainer to work with you and your dog, there are a number of factors to take into consideration. The priority that each of these factors holds for each client is different, but they should all be taken into account before you invest your hard earned dollars.