I use the term "Reward Based Training" to describe how I do what I do.

Putting labels on training approaches can be problematic. 

Labels can be ambiguous. 

They can mean different things to different people. 

They can overly simplify something that can be quite complex. 

However a brief description does give dog owners an easy to understand summary of the way a trainer will approach training and how their dog will be treated along the way.  

What Is Reward Based Training?

• It encourages a cooperative partnership between dogs and owners

• Promotes understanding of the whole dog - the effect of physical health and emotional wellbeing, not just observable behaviour

• Proactively sets dogs up to succeed with management and planning of sessions

• Carefully structures training into manageable steps so dogs learn easily

• Focuses on training FOR the situation not IN the situation, meaning training is practiced and rehearsed BEFORE it’s needed in real life

• Avoids using unnecessary pressure or stress as a deliberate training strategy, because day to day life is full of unavoidable pressure and stress, it doesn’t need to be added to

• Promotes noticing, correctly interpreting and responding to dog body language as an essential element in any training plan

• Understands that a dog’s behaviour will always be determined by their emotional regulation which has a direct impact on their ability to learn and respond

• Understands the theory behind, and practical application of, how dogs learn

• Promotes education for owners so they have the skills to move forwards with their dog’s training and ability to change behaviour

• Prioritises dog welfare whilst still maintaining good results for dogs and owners

• Keeps up to date with current research and developments in training and behaviour and adapts to integrate new information to enhance outcomes

• Educates owners on why dogs do what they do by explaining how to recognise what normal and natural dog behaviour is and looks like, as well as what drives behaviour

• Actively encourages the use of things dogs like (rewards) to reinforce behaviour, such as treats, toys, play, social contact, enjoyable activities

• Avoids the use of things dogs dislike, such as aversive devices, force, intimidation, coercion or anything that deliberately scares dogs, as a way of changing behaviour

• It is super flexible so each dog can be treated as an individual, rather than with a “one size fits all” approach