Our Methods
At Dacula Dog Training we believe that there is no "one-size-fits-all" training method. As with people, not all dogs learn the same way. Just because your friend's dog learned and behaved well with a certain technique or method, does not necessarily mean your dog will. That is part of why we stress the free consultations so much. We really want to meet your dog and get a feel for their temperment before we plan how we are going to train them.
If you had to put a label on our training methods, it would be called "Balanced Training." That means we beleieve in an equal and tailored balance of positive reinforcement (treats, toys, clicker training, praise, etc.) and negative reinforcement (setting boundaries, using training collars, communicating when the dog is wrong, etc.). Before you run away from the words "negative reinforcement," take a moment to read what that truly means and why a balance is important.
Negative reinforcement does not mean cruel or abusive techniques! It does not mean we are going to in any way beat, hit, hurt, or intimidate dogs into doing what we ask. It simply means with any behavior circumstance, there is a line the dog may not cross and we will communicate to him when he is getting near the line and when he has crossed it. A correction is not a bad thing. In fact, it should never be a bad thing. A correction is all about information; communicating to the dog that perhaps we didn't like what he just did, or he made a mistake in executing a behavior. A correction can be as mild as a gentle "No" and guiding the dog from point A to point B.
Balanced training has been proven to be the most effective form of training and communication after years of studying animal behavior. We communicate with dogs in a way that they understand and help bridge the gap between spoken word and animal body language.
