
Positive Reinforcement Training
Positive Reinforcement Training How positive reinforcement ONLY training is failing the people and dogs who need help the most. What
Resource guarding refers to when a dog displays protective or aggressive behaviour in order to defend or control access to a particular resource. This resource can be food, toys, treats, bones, beds, furniture, people or any item the dog perceives as valuable.
The behaviour and body language of resource guarding can include some of the following:
Resource guarding is a learned or genetic behaviour which puppies will try when they are young. Depending on the result of that attempt, the behaviour will either be reinforced or shut down.
Some breeds are more prone to resource guarding (retrievers, beagles, rottweilers, livestock guardian breeds & chihuahuas), and some dogs have an anxiety induced resource guarding problem that is similar to OCD in people. Either way, resource guarding can definitely be (at bare minimum) safely managed, or at best eradicated with the right training tools and techniques.
When I am working with a dog that has resource guarding, I always take the human clients safety in mind first and foremost. This behaviour is dangerous, and so many precautions and management tools need to be put into place before we begin to tackle the resource guarding head on.
Most owners are shocked when their precious puppy growls or bites them for the first time over a toy or bone. Unfortunately, this fearful reaction will encourage the behaviour in the future because the puppy got exactly what it wanted.
Other reactions such as taking the toy away reinforces the behaviour because the puppy learned that their humans take yummy things away from them, and so they should resource guard it in the future.
Resource guarding is one of the most dangerous behaviors’ a dog owner will have to deal with. Because of this, when dealing with dogs over 15lbs who are resource guarding and have bitten a person and broken skin, e-collar training is the only recommended route in order to handle this in the safest way possible for everyone involved.
Since resource guarding is almost always a relationship problem, the first most important step to any dog training, is improving the relationship with your dog.
This is where I come in, to help you understand what you might be doing to send your dog messages stating that the dog is in charge. I help you communicate with your dog clearly and effectively to help them understand that they are not the leaders of the household, you are.
Through teaching you how dogs communicate, Kristina will be helping you how to clarify your interactions with your dog so you are sending them the right messages.
You must learn from Kristina how to communicate what is and is not acceptable. Then you must apply this and teach your dog the rules and boundaries clearly and consistently.
Once you have the knowledge, skills and tools from Kristina to improve your dogs behaviour, you are to practice every single day. Practice makes perfect!
***PLEASE NOTE: Do not try e-collar training without a professional trainer. E-collar training takes special technique and understanding in order to be used properly and effectively.

Positive Reinforcement Training How positive reinforcement ONLY training is failing the people and dogs who need help the most. What

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Hyperactivity and over-excitability is a state of mind that is often created by the humans in a dogs world. The good news is that because it is often created, it can also be reversed.

While many trainers claim they can get rid of behavioural issues, only very few are successful at it.

E-collar training can be an invaluable tool for training behavioural issues such as reactivity, resource guarding and prey drive. It is also one of the best ways to get perfect recall.
Kristina is super knowledgeable and has helped our Benny immensely! He's amazing and so sweet but was initially very reactive to dogs and humans alike. Kristina takes the time to work with you to establish a better relationship with your dog, and gives you homework so that you have things to work on independently between sessions! Benny no longer pulls on walks and is so calm around other pups. Thanks Kristina!!
We are very thankful for all the useful advice that Kristina has provided to us! We were really struggling with some behavioural issues with our dog, particularly around leash reactivity. After just one session, we have noticed a huge difference! Walking the dog had become really stressful and now we have concrete solutions to help with training that have worked wonders! Thanks Kristina!
Kristina saved our dog Gigi’s life. Being a first time dog owner we were very overwhelmed with our dog’s aggressive behaviour. Kristina gave us the skills and tools we needed to work through the behavioural issues. Through our training sessions we learned how to care for Gigi so that the aggressive behaviour was avoided. Thank you Kristina for all your help and professional advice. We cannot thank you enough!
We are so very happy to have found Kristina, for us and our very exuberant boxer puppy Lucy ! Walking her has been a challenge because of her endless energy and love for everyone. Kristina has helped us correct our reactions to her and encouraged us how to respond correctly ! After two sessions we have seen a huge improvement with Lucy, even with the 2 week quarantine after her spay. ! Her professionalism shines, she is a competent and most reliable trainer, I would and have highly recommended Kristina as a dog trainer .
I honestly cannot recommend Kristina’s services enough. As an experienced dog owner, I did not anticipate the issues of anxiety and aggression that showed up early in my chihuahua-mix’s personality. Kristina is the third or fourth trainer I have consulted with over the 2 years I have had Banjo, and I am feeling so much relief over our progress after our first 3 sessions. Kristina listens, she understands our issues, she has validated my concerns, and most importantly has given me clear, practical and actionable instructions for helping Banjo become a more confident and calm little dude. To be clear, this is WORK, but she has given me so much confidence and direction, and I’m clearly seeing it in my dogs behaviour. I have texted her between sessions with specific behaviours or concerns, and she has come back with real solutions that I can incorporate into our training plan immediately. All the stars for Kristina! She has made me feel confident for the first time in 2 years that Banjo has a much happier and calmer future ahead - and that I don’t have to live my life walking on egg shells.
My 1 year old Chihuahua has been working with Kristina at Hairy Tales Training for just over a month now. It's incredible to see the progress he is making though practicing his clearly listed homework duties that Kristina provides for us. She is quick to respond to any questions I have had throughout my dogs training and is true pleasure to work with.
Simply put, Kristina and her training plan changed our lives. We had limited dog experience and rescued a pittie mix last November. He's a wonderful pup, but working through lots of trauma. When we first came to Kristina, we couldn't get our dog to go on walks, eat from his bowl without growling, or play with toys safely. Now he's the happiest pup and we feel empowered to handle any training curveball thrown at us. All I can say is thank you - and if you're thinking about booking a session, just go ahead and DO IT. It will honestly be the best thing you do for YOU and your PUP.
We are so grateful for Kristina and all her help training our 100 pound puppy! She is very honest, knowledgable and really makes training feel simpler. Kristina has been so helpful teaching our dog (and us) all the necessities to have a loving, obedient, trustworthy dog! Everything she has showed us has been so helpful and we cant thank her enough- highly recommended!
I have been working with Kristina 5 sessions so far, and I have nothing bad to say about her. I can say that Kristina is a friendly, caring person not only towards her clients but also to their animals. She is an active listener, and she assesses your problem and your dogs behavior/demener to come up with the best and ultimate plan that works for your dog. I highly recommend her and have recommended other clients to her.
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