Hello my name is Deborah and I am a proud mother of 3 human children and 4 furry ones (2 cats, a beagle and a husky/Australian Shepard mix).
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Short Version
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Methods: Positive Reinforcement and Reward Based. (rewarding for when the dog does well to encourage the desired behavior)
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Education: Degree In Animal Training and Management from Moorpark’s EATM program
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Experience: Petsmart and Petco for 5 years as a dog trainer. Now I have been on my own for 7 years so 12 years total not counting my schooling.
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Specialty: Train dogs for the Canine Good Citizen Test
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Basic Obedience and Socialization
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Aggressive Behavior Modification​
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Leash Aggression and Reactivity
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Breeds I train: ALL of them
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My Mission: Make your relationship with your fur baby better, happier, and healthier.
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Education
The Exotic Animal Training and Management Program is a college course that teaches the basics of animal care and management. While there I worked with many different species of animal including gibbons, pigs, mountain lions and many more.
I learned how to teach animals how to work with their keepers to walk into a crate or shake a claw. This knowledge has helped me understand how animal minds work and how to guide them to working with me to make their lives better and more fulfilled.
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Experience
Since graduation I found dog trained and knew it was my calling. When a dog comes to me out of control and the owner on their last string, I am able to guide them and show them how to communicate with their dog. Over a short period of time I can see both dog and owner understand and work together this is what I do my work for.
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I have spent the last 8 years working with every kind of case. Puppies and adults who need to learn manners and obedience, dogs so shy they sat in the corner the whole time, and aggressive dogs who couldn’t even look at another dog without losing it
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One dog that I remember is Rocky a little teacup Chihuahua who thought he was the biggest dog around! If you looked at him, he would try to bite you! It took time but working together with his owner by the end of the class he would let people come pet him.
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How Animals See the World
Dogs love humans, so do cats, but humans brains are wired differently. Simply put Humans think in words most other animals think in pictures. So when we see a squirrel we think "squirrel" when a dog sees a squirrel the see its fur, the movement it makes, and the direction it is going. Plus it smells the squirrel in greater detail then you could imagine. Your dog hears the squirrels feet move against the grass the noises it makes as it chatters. Dogs do not just see anything, including their humans. This is why dogs are good at understanding humans in ways we don't understand ourselves.
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About Me
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My Methods
My methods revolve around positivity and rewards. Positive Reinforcement in the human world happens in its purest form everyday. You go to work so they pay you. Positive Reinforcement is paying your dog for doing something for you. Often I hear the myth that positive reinforcement is bribing but bribing is giving someone money so they will do something for you, compared to payment which is giving money for work done for you. Dogs need to have a reason stronger than making you happy to do something for you. That reward can be a treat, a ball, going for a walk, or anything they want to do.
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I have found the the most successful puppy parents that I have worked with have found ways to work in training through out the day as well has putting 10 mins a side for one on one session. When you are putting their food down have them sit and wait. Picking up their poops have them stay. Things you can work into your routine to make your life easier.
My Mission
Just like with human families, poor communication can cause confusion and frustration.
Cats communicate through smells. Peeing on your shoes might be because they saw a rival cat outside or they need their potty box cleaned.
Dogs communicate with humans in many ways. Destroying your house is telling you they may not know what is ok to chew on or they have too much energy or they have some anxiety.
Your life with your fur baby can be so much better. My goal is to help you and your furry family understand each other better and easier.
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Dogs love humans, so do cats, but humans’ brains are wired differently. Simply put Humans think in words most other animals think in pictures. So, when we see a squirrel we think "squirrel" when a dog sees a squirrel the see its fur, the movement it makes, and the direction it is going. Plus it smells the squirrel in greater detail then you could imagine. Your dog hears the squirrel’s feet move against the grass and the noises it makes as it chatters. Dogs do not just see anything, including their humans. This is why dogs are good at understanding humans in ways we don't understand ourselves.
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My Fur Family
Gizmo, Gadget, and Link
