Before you consider working with a dog trainer, I think it's important to understand the ideas guiding their training methods. After all, what the trainer thinks about dogs will determine the way they treat and train your dog. More importantly, these ideas will decide the relationship you will have with your dog.

When I started as a professional trainer in 1980, I believed there was something wrong with the prevailing dog training systems which were based on overpowering the animal. These methods relied on submission, correction, and instilling fear in the dog. Owners became taskmasters. In the process, many of the joys of having a dog as a companion and friend were lost. In addition, although these systems could work, they didn't always work. I also thought something was off target with the logic behind correction based training. We know domestic dogs have an affinity for man. They've chosen to partner and live with us. Wouldn't it follow they would want to please us? With those thoughts in mind, I did extensive studies of wolf, wild dog, and domestic dog behavior. I saw the dog's ability to learn, to understand, to self-control. In my mind, it followed..if you gave a dog the right information, information it could comprehend and use, and if you tied that to a dog's natural desire to please, you'd get obedience based on a relationship, not on control.

I began developing training that functioned as a "bridge in thought" between the owner and the dog. I helped owners show dogs how they fit into their human families; what behaviors were acceptable and which were unacceptable; what behaviors solicited rewards and which did not. I turned a lot of the responsibility over to the dog. I began training dogs in real-life settings, in busy parks and neighborhoods, in front and backyards, so the dogs would respond in real life situations. And it worked! The dogs learned quickly because they understood what to do. They responded reliably because they were rewarded for good behavior. Owners and dogs were happy, and the bond between them was strengthened.

There's nothing pre-packaged about my training methods because no two dogs or owners are alike. I don't feel it is necessary for the dogs to master a forty word vocabulary. Owners tell me what they want and need from their dogs. I train to accomplish that. I have worked with thousands of dogs for many purposes all over the United States. In every situation, I combine intuition and creativity with my years of experience to take the owners and dogs where they want to go. And with each experience, I learn something 'new that I bring to the next experience.

Thanks for taking the time to share these thoughts with me. I look forward to speaking with you about your training needs and to working with you to make sure your dog becomes your best friend. I wish you and your dog many happy years together.

Please give us a call if your dog…
• Won’t respond to the “no” or “come” command
• Won’t walk without pulling
• Runs away
• Jumps on people
• Won’t housebreak
• Chews
• Steals food
• Barks incessantly
• Bites
• Seems untrainable

If you’ve just gotten a puppy and want to know…
• When to begin training
• How to avoid or eliminate bad habits & behaviors
• How to create a well mannered, happy dog

Dogs should respond out of willingness to please rather than a fear of correction, and dogs are anxious to please if they understand what you’re asking of them. That’s where I come in. My training functions as a “bridge in thought” between the owner and dog. The bottom line…I love dogs. I am doing what I love. I can help you obtain a respectful effective relationship with your dog.

Dennis Hill –
Animal behaviorist & professional dog trainer