Easy to learn
Our methods are ideal for those who have never trained a dog before, or perhaps it has been a very long time for you. Teaching with games allows the dog to learn without force or punishment. If you make a mistake, you will do no harm.
Based on Science
Dogs learn best when they concentrate. The best way to have a dog focus is to make it fun and rewarding. That is why our method uses 2-3 minute games. Games create focus. Games prevent boredom. Plus, you can easily fit in tiny spurts of only 2-3 minutes to play games with your dog.
Video tutorials
Our lessons are easy-to-watch video tutorials. Start and stop the video whenever you want. Pause and take notes if that helps you remember. Adjust the volume to whatever level you like. Replay the lessons as many times as you wish.
Families can watch together. Everyone hears the lessons for themselves instead of you trying to remember all the details when you get home.
Convenience
Having lessons available 24/7 means you can watch on YOUR schedule. You don’t rush home from work to get your dog to class on time. You don’t have to drive on icy roads. You don’t fight rush hour traffic. You don’t have to scramble to find a babysitter. Break lessons into smaller pieces: watch parts of lessons whenever you have time.
Flexibility
Our course structure allows you to take your time. Proceed at the pace that YOUR dog needs in order to learn best. If your dog needs extra time, then you take it. If a commitment takes you away, you can pick up where you left off. You will not be left behind. Our flexibility supports better learning.
Direct Trainer Access
Our human class (Office Hours) is direct weekly access to the trainer. If there is something the trainer needs to see, then we have a private group where you can post videos of your dog to get feedback. It’s just like the trainer visited your house!
Office Hours gives you time for questions. Traditionally you only have a rushed few minutes at the end of a class where you’re competing for attention and your dog is probably ready to leave. (Many bad habits are created when your dog gets bored & fractious.) We avoid that after-class schmozzle altogether. We created Office Hours with plenty of time for in-depth explanations.
Benefits for the Dog
Training at home has huge benefit for your dog. Everything is familiar so there is less to get distracted over. It is where they feel safest and so it is the easiest place for a dog to learn new things.
There is less stress on the dog. There is no rushing out of the house. There is no car ride. There are no strange people nor strange dogs nor strange places.
When the human is calmer, they will be more relaxed, and so too the dog will be more comfortable.
Our class is ideal for rescue dogs. The best thing for a new dog is to give them time and a safe place to decompress. There is no pressure in our class. You go at the dog’s pace. The last thing a new dog needs is more upheaval rushing to a strange class.
We can help more dogs and people
Many people come for help because they already have a problem. For example, let’s say their dog barks and lunges at other dogs. So, if you take this particular dog to a classroom full of other dogs, it is just like throwing that poor dog in the deep end of the pool. The dog will probably get overwhelmed, and probably react even more. The human will be stressed and they won’t know what to do. ((If the human knew already, they wouldn’t need a class would they?))
Flexibility means a wider range of dogs and humans can join our online classes:
- Nervous dogs are not intimidated by other dogs
- Over-excitable dogs are not practicing all those out-of-control behaviours that their owners cannot contain
- Big and excited dogs are not dragging their owners around the room
- Dog-aggressive dogs are not a threat to themselves or others
- A mix of dog’s ages and capacity can now be accommodated
- Inexperienced handlers can grow in confidence and at their own pace at home, and will not be embarrassed nor endangered by their dogs in public
Strong Foundations
When your dog has developed skills at home, then you learn how to “take it on the road”. Many upstanding owners take their dog to obedience class where the dog does well, but then they are totally frustrated when they cannot get the same behaviour from their “trained” dog at their child’s soccer practice.
We teach foundation skills, and then, we also teach how to apply those skills in other places.
Slow & steady wins the race with dogs. Create a strong foundation first and you will achieve faster progress later.
Support the whole dog
Dogs are intelligent creatures. As their human guardians it is our job to teach them how to live safely and comfortably in our human world.
Dogs are not robots. They are sensitive, observant, intelligent, and have emotions. In our classes we first teach owners how to support their dog from the inside out. We develop calm and self-confidence, which in turn supports self-control and focus in our dogs.
It is not enough to teach a dog to sit. For example, If your dog is fearful, the sit will not fix the fear. We have to address the whole dog. We have to consider how they learn, how they will naturally respond, and how they feel.
When you take our classes, not only do you learn how to teach skills in your dog, but you also develop an understanding of your dog and some natural dog behaviour. When you see your dog in this light, and you understand their struggles, then you are in a good position to help them.
Paws on Hubbard 