Packman? Why are you called “Packman”?
Packman is our company name as we walk LARGE packs of dogs. We are believers in the power of a calm, balanced pack of dogs being lead, not walked. We also will use other dogs to help with the training of new clients.
Okay, so you walk dogs and you’re a behaviorist and dog trainer? That’s strange a dog walker is a trainer and a trainer is a dog walker…
Yes. Our humble roots go back over a decade when we began walking dogs. We’ve never just walked 1 dog, it’s always been packs. In fact, we have been featured in several media articles. After enjoying our time in nature with dogs, our attention was drawn to the science of canine behavior. A lot of our canine clients had trainers, but the behavior was never addressed, it was “trained” over resulting in short term results.
We’re also very active in the Professional Dog Training Industry, including memberships in s, International Association of Canine Professionals along with being a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. We are dedicated and committed to continuing our education and knowledge and regularly attend seminars and conferences. We also partner with other trainers and behaviorists to expand our knowledge of dog psychology and behavior.
I’ve tried so many other training classes, trainers, programs, etc… with little results. What makes your program successful?
We’ve found that a lot of trainers are only focusing on the management of the negative outcome on behavioral issues and covering with short term fixes. Unlike many other dog trainers that use treats as food bribery along with avoiding situations; for example, having you avoid other dogs if your dog is leash reactive, we show you to identify the dog’s state of mind and then look into the root cause of the behavior problem. We will also observe your handling, body language, and energy to help you become the confident leader your dog needs. We also do not reward over-excited behavior, but we do reward calm, relaxed behavior. We cannot tell you how many trainers we’ve witnessed petting dogs that are in a very excited state of mind and exhibiting bad behavior; jumping up, forcing food treats when the dog is obviously over stimulated and not focused. We are here to coach you!
What is your training method?
We do not have 1 set training method. Each dog has individual factors that affect the behavior, from environmental, physical (we would refer you to a vet), genetic, lack of socialization, under-stimulated, etc… there are too many too list. Our first sessions would be observing the behavior, the client, the dog’s environment, diet, exercise and then making an intervention plan.
We draw our programs based on applied theories and principals of training, bolstered with dog psychology and balanced dog training.
What is balanced dog training? It means your dog will know the difference between right and wrong and happily behave without treats in your hand because they understand YOUR rules about being a great family dog. We will still reward positive behaviors during this dog’s program. This video is an excellent explanation of some of the tools we use during behavioral sessions.
We do not and will NEVER abusive methods to intimidate your dog to cause submission such as choking, “alpha” rolling, kicking, repeated harsh pulls, etc... This will most always exacerbate and escalate the behavioral issue. In the short term it might have a “quick fix” effect, however, it will cause further psychological damage along with physical damage to the dog.
Do you use positive reinforcement?
Absolutely we do! We tend to stay away from food-based rewards as it’s not a “real world” solution. What do we mean by real world? Will you always have treats on you 247? For example, if you’re taking your dog to a home improvement store for a quick errand? What happens if the collar breaks he/she got loose and you had no treat for the recall? Our positive reinforcement is calm and not overexcited which can distract the dog from the training. You can read about a recent Emory University Cognitive & Neuroscience Study regarding verbal positive reinforcement vs food-based rewards.
Do I have to be mean to my dog in order to be the leader in my home?
No, NO, NO!!! A true leader is calm, patient, kind and confident.
Do you offer a guarantee in your training?
No, it would be unethical to offer a guarantee. However, we offer many support benefits.
We will do everything to help you achieve a well-balanced dog and a successful training experience. The process of dog training and rehabilitation takes teamwork. We will be there to support you before, during and after your dog training. Success in achieving a calm/balanced dog depends on many variables such as commitment, dedication, consistency, follow through and patience. You will play the most crucial part of the training and recovery process. We strongly suggest that you avoid trainers offering such guarantees.
Can I call/email you and ask for training advice, tips or ideas I can use for training my dog?
We offer behavior or training consultations over the phone or Skype. If you wish to set up telephone consultation or Skype session where we can address your dog’s behaviors or training needs, you can email us at info@packmandogwalker.com
I’m out of your service area, can you still help me?
YES! We offer phone and Skype Consultations! If you wish to set up telephone consultation or online coaching session where we can address your dog’s behaviors or training needs, you can email us at info@packmandogwalker.com
For more information on our Policies and Procedures – visit here.
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