MY APPROACH

• Is scientifically sound, replicable, and reliable

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• Adheres to the humane hierarchy 

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• Is Least Invasive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA)

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• Is effective in any species from apes to ants

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• Should be enjoyable for owners AND pets

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• Will never include fear, pain, force or intimidation

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• Requires me to pursue continuing education

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​Tips for Choosing a Pro

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I Promise To

• Serve as your trusted adviser

• Say what's needed, even if it's not what you want to hear

• Tell you if we can't go further

• Refer to someone better if needed 

• Tailor to your lifestyle and goals, but within your pets' abilities

• Put the emotional and physical well-being of humans and pets first and human desires come after

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No Judgement

• Never feel judged about your pet, lifestyle, housekeeping, or collection of 2000 unicorns

• If you don't care if your dog's on the table, then I don't care either! (unless it pertains to the training at hand)

• Our sessions are a safe place and your information is confidential

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Fun

• I'm known for my humor

• Lack of laughter is very rare

• Everyone should have fun, especially pets

• Multiple behavior scientists explain why dominance is not good

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• David Mech explains why he was wrong about wolf behavior and “alpha”

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• Assoc of Pro Dog Trainers’ position statement on dominance-based training

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• American Vet Soc of Animal Behavior position statement on dominance-based training

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• Pet Pro Guild position on dominance-based training

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• Research explaining why dominance-based training is problematic 

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• Article on dominance by Dr. Sophia Yin

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• Article on dominance doing more damage than good by Dr. Sophia Yin

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• Learn about force free training

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• American Vet Soc of Animal Behaviorists punishment statement

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• Int'l Assoc of Animal Behavior Consultants LIMA statement

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• Assoc of Pro Dog Trainers LIMA statement

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• Certification Council of Pro Dog Trainers LIMA statement

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• Joint standards of practice statement

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• European Soc of Vet Clinical Ethology (ESVCE) paper on shock

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• A paper on aversive training

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• A paper on training methods and behavior problems

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• American Vet Soc of Animal Behaviorists statement on punishment

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• Certification Council of Pro Dog Trainers e-collar statement

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• Pet Pro Guild shock collar statement

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• Pet Pro Guild choke & prong collar statement

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• About shock collar training, Pet Pro Guild

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• The Shock-Free Coalition

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• Psychology today article on punishment

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​Rather than viewing a wolf pack as a group of animals organized with a “top dog” that fought its way to the top, or a male-female pair of such aggressive wolves, science has come to understand that most wolf packs are merely family groups formed exactly the same way as human families are formed. 

~ Dr.David Mech