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Values Based Dog Training.
Make life better.
You added a dog so life will be better.
But... what does better mean?
How will you know when better happens?
What values will be added?
The human perspective
Let's ask the question.
Which values would you like more of, in relation to your dog?
Love?
Peace?
Respect?
Understanding?
Trust?
Freedom?
Happiness?
Touch your values
Dog training should give you what you want.
More of is important.
More of what you do want, can reduce what you don't want.
I'll have more Peace...
...when my dog stops barking.
Some families have said:
We'll have...
​"More Love when she lets me pet her."
​"More Peace when they stop fighting."
"More Respect when he stops biting me."​
"More Understanding when she whines."
​"More Trust when she reliably comes when I call."
"More Freedom when we can leave her home."
"More Happiness when we can walk him without pulling on the leash."
Check boxes
What do you say?
I'll have more...
​Love when
​Peace when
Respect when
Understanding when
​Trust when
Freedom when
Happiness when
Write
Good job!
The dogs perspective
Dogs want values too.
Which values do you think can help dogs thrive?
Touch values
Love
snuggles​
Freedom
of choice
Happiness
instead of stress
Respect
my needs
Understanding
about scary things
Trust
veternarians
Peace
relaxation
Here are some examples from a dog's perspective.
Which values might a dog choose to have more of?
​Trixie, a rescued dog, may choose more Love.
Her first exercise may be​ a nap on her human's lap.​
Jake, is bouncing off the walls. His choice is Peace.
His first exercise might be a relaxing massage.​
Daisy, a former street dog, wants more Respect.​
Her first exercise might be a safe place to eat meals.​
Sandy, hates fireworks. She needs Understanding.
She may get to watch a handful of treats, being tossed into the sky and falling on the grass during the day. This simulates fireworks in the air without sound. Who knew? Dots falling from the sky are not so bad after all. Later exercises we introduce sound and dark and sparkly things. Then much later, she begins to think about this fun game and wags her tail when she sees real fireworks.​
Fluffy, is afraid of people. She needs more Trust.​
She may eat peanut butter and watch people on TV. ​
Rex, loves to run. He needs more Freedom.​
He might get to chase his dad around the house.​​
Buddy, looks sad. He needs more Happiness.
He may get treats simply for wagging his tail.​​
See the connections?
By increasing values, we are meeting the dogs needs.
When needs are met, behavior naturally changes.
It's kindness in action.
When we focus, we can understand what our dog's needs are.​
Once we understand and meet those needs, we can teach acceptable communication behaviors.
​
They'll no longer have a reason to display the unwanted behavior because their needs will be met, and they'll have a new way to express their ideas.
​
Does this make sense?​
Yes.
No.
What about your dog friend?
I want my dog to STOP...
Pick the most important challenge to change in your dog.
Barking?
Jumping?
Chasing?
Marking?
Pulling on leash?
Fighting?
Biting?
Chewing?
Stealing?
Anxiety?
Fearful
Bolting?
Running?
Please stop
Is it something else?
Your dog's perspective.
From your dog's perspective, which of these values may help counteract your dog's biggest challenge?
There are no wrong answers, and your wants may be different from your dog's needs because you are both individuals.
My dog needs more...
Love?
Peace?
Respect?
Understanding?
Trust?
Freedom?
Happiness?
Touch values
Your exercises
707 806 8780
Call
Ask Sherry for a free sample exercise.
Sessions are one-on-one, by phone.
You are the person who will learn to recognize and strengthen a calm, cognitive state in your dog in your own home. Start with zero distractions to teach needed skills before going out into the world.
From your dog's perspective, you (not a professional trainer) know all the answers to relieve discomfort and guide them toward new behaviors that give dogs what they need and what we want.
​
Slow is fast. Micro-short practice sessions, sometimes just a few seconds, make it more likely for your dog to build pathways of new brain cells without associating old conflicting thoughts.
Doing this alone with your dog in your home focuses on patterns you want to repeat in your home, without a trainer present.
By phone, I share my current and always expanding understanding of the complex concepts of behavioral neuroscience. Through simple step-by-step exercises designed for the level of understanding that is comfortable for you, your family and your dog.
It's nature, it's intuitive, it's what we want and what dogs need.
The science that supports values.
For humans...
It's my belief that this set of values strengthens the neural pathways that lead our thoughts to choose kind training methods over forced control. It's neuroplasticity for our brains to increase collaboration and decrease judgmental thoughts.
For dogs...
I believe micro-short teaching moments prove to dogs that they are safe and can show who they are as sentient beings.
​
Methods...
Sources of information (I equate methods to sources of information) that support Values Based exercises are filtered to remove options for harmful practices. There is good and bad in all methods.
Exercises can come from nature, science, psychology, neuroscience, behavioral learning theories, social learning theories, specialized methods, alternative, intuitive, and holistic approaches. Other sources include emerging methods, frameworks, and concepts, buzzword methods, cultural methods, industry-specific methods, social media videos, and more.
​
We use the segments of each source that make life better for dogs and humans.
​
The common language of values creates a safe place for all humans who live with dogs and for all dog trainers to communicate.
Safety and collaboration, as it is with dogs, can motivate us to listen more deeply to each other. In turn, values-based can be a foundation for a more functional existence where our true needs have more opportunity to be fulfilled.
Let's ask our dogs, what they are thinking and do our best to understand.
Schedule a personalized session.
707 806 8780
Call
Values Based Dog Training
Learn how
...can make life better.
