WHAT IS RELATIONSHIP - BASED TRAINING?

By Laurie Williams CPDT, CPT - Director of Behavior Counseling & Training

Anyone can show you how to teach your dog to "sit," "down," "stay."  For that matter, you could pick up a book from any library or bookstore that can show you how to do that as well.  Teaching dogs "commands" and various different words is not difficult.  Getting them to do it, or even more importantly, getting them to want to do it consistently and reliably over and over again is a different story.  Showing a dog how to live peacefully and harmoniously in your household is also a different story.  Dogs are relationship-based animals.  They will follow a leader they feel is worthy of being followed.  They follow a leader they respect and who respects them.  And at Pup 'N Iron™ we show you how to be the leader your dog needs, not because they fear you, but because you are the person they must rely on for all their needs. 

Sure, it is much easier to slap a choke chain or prong collar on your dog to get results.  And that is what lesser trainers often do.  However in the end, the relationship with your dog will suffer.  A successful relationship with your dog should be based on trust and mutual respect.  While aversive methods and fear may get your dog to do what you want, it will also break down the relationship.

We offer a full schedule of programs and classes to suit your needs from puppy and basic family dog manners, behavior modification for behavioral issues, to competitive obedience, therapy dog, and agility training.  Our training classes and programs are led by trainers and behavior modification consultants with over 100 years of experience combined and are taught in an atmosphere conducive for both you and your dog to learn.  Our humane, dog and human friendly training techniques are based on the tried and true scientific canine learning and behavior theories of Pavlov (classical conditioning) and Skinner (operant conditioning).  Our indoor facility is safe and secure, with controlled distractions in a completely climate controlled environment.  Our trainers and canine behavior modification consultants have worked with dogs from a variety of breeds and different goals, from the pet needing reinforcement of basic manners, the special needs "problem" dog, to the canine athlete seeking that competitive edge.  Simply put, we are confident you will not find the level of experience and instruction offered at Pup 'N Iron™ anywhere else.  We are the place trainers and veterinarians come to train their own dogs!

Our classes are conducted in two secure rooms, a spacious 5400 square foot main gym, and an 1800 square foot training room, both equipped with state of the art equipment, and sports matted flooring specifically created to provide the best training environment for you and your dog.  At Pup 'N Iron helping you develop the best relationship with your dog is not merely an after thought that we've added - it's our PRIMARY FOCUS.  Here your dog will encounter the proper level of distractions that will help you manage him not only in your home, but while in the presence of other people and dogs.  We control the environment and add the necessary distractions at the appropriate rate.

At Pup 'N Iron we understand that many dogs have special needs and busy families have time constraints.  For you we offer special programs such as small group and accelerated programs as well as private behavior modification consultations.  At Pup 'N Iron there is literally a program for every dog and every human!

 **Please fill out the online class registration form located directly below.  After completing your online registration, go directly to our Pay Online page and submit your payment.  Online registrations without accompanying payments are deleted from our system within 24 hours. 

Please make note that payment must be received along with this online registration in order to reserve your dog's spot in the class.  Please bring a copy of your dog's vaccination records to class.