Humane & Reward Based Dog Training

Kimberly and Nathalie are committed to using the most current, humane, and science-based dog training methods. They focus on teaching you the skills and knowledge needed to effectively interact with and train your dog, strictly avoiding the use of punishment or corrections. Both trainers maintain their professional expertise by continuously pursuing education and earning the Continuing Education Units (CEUs) required by their certifying organizations. For detailed information on their accreditations and educational background, please refer to the About page.

Understanding Training Outcomes

It is important to understand that dogs are living beings, and as such, I cannot ethically guarantee specific training results or timelines. Training outcomes are influenced by several variables, which is why providing an exact guarantee is not possible.

These variables include:

Your dog's training history.
The learning pace of both the dog and the owner.
Breed-specific characteristics.
The consistency with which the training & management plan is implemented.

We are committed to giving you the most accurate projection possible regarding the time required for training and the potential results.

You can read our full ethics pledge here!

Why we don't use Aversives

The dog training industry is not regulated unlike other jobs in the field. What it comes down to is that anyone can call themselves a dog trainer without having gone through any kind of certification on the level of education and skills. It’s important to look at the about page. The lack of formal education and skills is often missing. There is a saying: “Punishment starts where knowledge ends” and that is a pretty accurate way of being able to identify if a dog trainer has done their due diligence to learn about dog behavior, improve their handling skills and continue their education because as this field and our knowledge about dogs evolves so should we as professionals.

Aversive collars are designed to implement an unpleasant to painful stimulus. Aversive collars are:

Choke (slip) collar:
These tighten around the dog’s neck to withhold air. Air becomes the training tool It is a very effective training tool but it comes with serious fallout behaviors.

Prong (Pinch) collar:

The prong collar is similar to the choke collar with the exception that it has either metal or plastic pins on the inside that tighten around the dog’s neck when the dog pulls or when the dog is corrected.

Shock (E)-collar:

The shock collar is an electronic device with two metal pins that distribute various levels of electric shocks into the dog’s neck. There are various levels of shocks.

Reward-based training is scientifically proven to be more effective and safer for your dog's welfare, making it the preferred method.

Avoid using aversives (punishment-based tools such as shock/prong collars and leash jerks) in dog training. These methods pose significant risks and negative consequences, including:

Increased fear, anxiety, and aggression
Damage to the human-dog bond
Significant stress (elevated cortisol levels)
Risk of learned helplessness
Potential for unpredictable behavior

Position Statement of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior concerning Humane Dog Training:

American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior Position Statement