The Team Pit-a-Full approach to training and rehabilitation is one of simplicity, common sense, humane comprehensive and consistent leadership, and treating dogs with trust love respect and care. One of the simplicities, based on common sense, is dogs-teaching-dogs. So we start with the basics, practice a time or two, and then introduce a very stable, balanced, calm and obedient dog into the training environment. Formal, structured, calm introductions happen... and then training can begin. One (or all) of the Team Pit-a-Full dogs do what they do best (lead with stable, balanced, calm and obedient energy) and receive a positive response for it. This provides the trainee and their leader the opportunity to observe, and then mimic the behavior. We now remove the stable dog and let the trainee and his/ her leader practice stable balanced calm and obedient on their own. The entire pitch and tone and vibe in demeanor is now ready to address other behavioral issues (i.e. reactivity, overt territoriality/ over protective, social fear/ lacking confidence, etc.) 

• Spay/ Neutering, Vaccinations and Good Health We require all of our trainees to be spayed / neutered, current on vaccinations and in good physical health prior to assessment and beginning training. Unlike us humans, dog see sickness as a vulnerability or exposure and may become defensive/ territorial/ aggressive when in poor health. Addressing these needs is to set a dog up for success. 

• Behavioral Medication When some dog owners find themselves dealing with behavioral issues, their go-to is their Veterinarian. Sometimes, experienced and well educated Veterinarians may have no specific experience in dealing with behavioral issues. At this point, they may prescribe medications to address those issues. With the exception of a diagnosed neurological condition (and some medications associated with treating neurological conditions), we do not work with dogs currently on medication prescribed for behavioral issues. Please inquire for further information.

• The Free/ No-Obligation Assessment With the exception of some text-book puppy trainees, we start every new training relationship with a free/ no-obligation assessment. Not only are we assessing the dog, but the people who are responsible for the dog, their role in the household, their level of confidence around dogs, etc. The assessment runs about an hour and also provides the opportunity for questions-and-answers and explanation of  how our technique crosses over to real world/ actual scenarios. Lastly, the assessment helps to determine the severity of behavioral issues. This severity dictates the hourly rate charged per hour of training. Contact us for more information. 

What you'll need for the assessment: not much!!!

- Standard collar (nylon or leather.) No choke chains, pinch collars, shock collars or harnesses. Make sure the collar fits properly... not too loose, not too tight.   Proper ID + tags attached.

- Standard 6ft leash (nylon or leather.) No chains, ropes, retractable leashes.

• Calm is Everything A calm dog is everything we want in a dog: Obedient, Typically non-aggressive/ assertive, Socially confident, etc. A calm dog makes better decisions, is less reactive and more tolerant of stimuli, and do well in many different scenarios and levels of stress. Our approach to achieving calm, a four step "Hot Dog Treat Training" method brings the results in a straight forward, easy to understand and easy to follow through technique:

1. Capture Attention/ Acknowledge Leadership

2. Reduce Energy By Half

3. Reduce Energy Entirely

4. No/Leave it/Move away on Command

     Mastering the four steps, there is now a foundation or basic language to work from. We then show our trainees how to apply it to real-world, every day situations.

• Balanced Method  (positive and negative response to behavior) To communicate both Yes and No, correct and incorrect, right and wrong... we use BOTH positive and negative response to behavior accordingly

     3 Tiers of Positive Response 

• Passive Positive Response - The lack of any response at all. Dogs associate no response from a leader as positive (i.e. "What ever I'm doing right now, the leader has not corrected me, so it must be right")  

• Active Positive Response - a positive touch or vocalization or leash signal that conveys "Good".

• Monetary Response - giving a treat or toy or other physical resource that conveys "Good". 

     Negative Responses

• Short/sharp vocalizations (without yelling or becoming emotional)

• Body Language  

• Proper use of Leash Signals/ Pop-n-Release (distraction)

• Touch (distraction)

No "Mixed Technique" Allowed

Mixed Technique is when a client is under the instruction of two different dog trainers/ techniques, and attempting to pick-n-choose which aspects work best  for them, not their dog. The end result is a very confused dog, a completely ineffective leader, and no progress made in addressing behavioral issues.

• Stopping a Behavior vs Stopping a Behavior RIGHT NOW

We love and respect and care for dogs, and everything about dogs. This includes behavior perceived(?) as undesirable.

Example: The dynamic of a dog barking/ protecting the front door of its home maybe perceived as undesirable behavior. But at 3am when someone's home is being burglarized? We want that very behavior.

We teach a dog both. More importantly, we teach dog owners how to elicit both behaviors, on command. This obedience is built on  love respect trust and care.

• Leadership Dogs are of  their own culture, not ours. They do not live within a democracy. They do live within an hierarchy, which has a leader. It is what they understand. Instead of attempting to make dogs more like us humans, we teach people to be better leaders, the entire role of a leader, and to be more understanding of dogs and their hierarchy/ social structure.

Good Leaders are NOT just bosses. Good Leaders are:

     -Good decision makers for the group

     -Good providers

     -Good protectors

     -Good care givers

     Good Leaders DO NOT Bully, hit, kick, yell at or hurt dogs for any reason. Good leaders are practiced, calm, confident.

PLEASE NOTE - Leadership is just that, TO LEAD, not follow. This includes "Leading" a dog into / through / out of every situation in life, good and bad. [Example: Leading your dog AROUND a potentially aggressive dog vs right passed it/ allowing a fight to ensue, OR commanding your dog to be calm PRIOR TO entering a high stress situation.]

• Trust and Bonding: Why a Dog Will Follow We all want a social, obedient, well-rounded dog. The social and well-rounded will come with positive experience. The obedience is given when a dog trusts and becomes bonded to his/ her human. That trust is earned. In dealing with dogs with prior experience of abuse/ neglect... Even more so. Not only do we include confidence and trust building exercises in our training program, but we teach individual dog owners how to be the kind of leader their dog needs them to be. With time and consistency in leadership, a dog will adapt and trust and become bonded. A Dog that feels a sense of belonging / bonded with their leader will do anything asked of them, even under distress.

• Not Every Dog  Team Pit-a-Full Dog Training and Rehabilitation works with ALL DOGS of all breeds, of all ages, genders, histories, home lives, etc. But not ALL DOGS are right for all situations. As dogs are just as individual as us humans, Some dogs are not good in big crowds or being alone, or being exposed to loud/lively stimuli or be separated from the other dogs in a home. Training is customized to fit the individual dog, not necessarily the desires of the leader. Inquire for details. 

• Weekly Training & Homework We typically meet with our trainees one time per week for one hour. During that hour, we revisit information from the  week prior and any questions, concerns, etc, Particular homework addressing a current behavioral issues is given. The training technique, timing, frequency, etc is discussed and/ or demonstrated. Practicing the dynamic or doing the "homework" is approximately 1 hour or less in duration every week. The homework is about revisiting the behavior under certain circumstances over and over again, for very brief periods of time over the week.

• Never a Negative Response: When, Why, Forever When training and rehabilitating dogs, a major component is building a trust, a bond, a confidence between the leader and dog. Accordingly, there are situations that require leaders to give a neutral or positive response EVEN WHEN angry or frustrated due to poor results or set backs. Example: Working with a fence-fighting situation... a dog finally acknowledging leadership, breaking from the competition/ perceived threat and returning to indoors (after 5 attempts) needs a positive response for finally acknowledging, not yelled at or snapped at out of frustration because it took 5 attempts. The negative response sends a mixed/ confusing message. We don't do that. 

Likewise, we don't linger in a negative response due to frustration. Example: In working with a reactive dog, a situation may require a progression in severity of negative response until we get acknowledgement and obedience. The "progression" can cause frustration ( or even embarrassment ) that may lead to a prolonged (and usually unnecessary) negative response. Yes, we are human, we make mistakes. Our approach teaches leaders to remain emotionally detached while problem solving. 

• Defensive Dog Ownership Another aspect that sets us apart from other dog training organizations is Defensive Dog Ownership. Just like what it sounds similar to...Defensive Driving, Defensive Dog Ownership is all about prevention/ precaution and dealing with "the other guy" and his/ her dog. After the techniques and the theory and practice and trust is built, a times comes when we must prove it. Enter "the other guy". The other guy (examples) has a territorial or aggressive dog... yet claims "he's fine", or... doesn't believe in leashing his dog, or has a very high-energy dog that you have to walk passed. Defensive Dog Ownership arms leaders with even more tools and techniques to make the right choices, protect the group, successfully lead your dog through every day/ potentially bad situations to a safe outcome. 

- Practice the Skills and Techniques Before You Need Them 

- Keeping Focused, Aware, and 30 Seconds Ahead 

- Setting the Pace, Tone, Level of Confidence 

- When to Micro Manage, When to Start, When to Release

- Bermuda Triangle of Dog Walking

- 45 Degree Technique of Negotiating Around Potential Problems

- Why a Successful Outcome is So Important

• Training with  "The Team" Not only are we dog trainers, but also dog owners ourselves. Much like the dogs we train, our own dogs come from sorted pasts with a full array of behavioral issues and have entered and passed our training program. Part of their training and rehabilitation is their participation in training other dogs and passing forward the skills they have learned (ie confidence, sense of group, calm obedience) to our trainees. Our dogs usually enter the training environment at week 3 or 4 after our trainee has basic skills and control. Please inquire for more information.

Appeasement gestures: Behaviors a dog uses to ask for space or to present himself as nonthreatening. Appeasement gestures may include scratching, yawning, licking lips, play bows, turning head or body away, sniffing the ground, lifting up a paw, slowing down movement, freezing or a submissive grin. These signals are a normal part of dog interaction, but in some situations, they may be signs of stress.

Barrier frustration: Behavior, particularly barking and lunging, that occurs when a dog is prevented by a barrier from reaching a stimulus. The barrier can be a fence or leash or anything else that blocks the dog from accessing whatever it is that is exciting or arousing him (another dog, for example).

Bite inhibition: A dog’s ability to control the amount of pressure when mouthing an object. Lack of bite inhibition may be an indicator of aggression. Indications of a dog who does not have good control over his bite may include pressure that causes bruising, bleeding or deep punctures; multiple bites in an incident; grabbing and shaking an object; or biting down and refusing to let go.

Capture / Acknowledge: The transaction that occurs when a leader summons a dogs attention (during training, using their name and treat) and the dog acknowledges... by returning to, turning attention to, slight in body language, or stop/ change in current behavior... simultaneously.     

Conditioning: the process of training or accustoming a person or animal to behave in a certain way or to accept certain circumstances.   

Conflicted: When a dog simultaneously wants to do something and is afraid to do it. For example, a dog can be conflicted when approaching someone new: He wants to approach to smell and investigate but is afraid of the person reaching his or her hands out or bending over to pet him.

Correction: A command or action that stops a dog from doing an unwanted behavior. For example, a vocalization or gesture on the leash. Correction ≠ bullying or punishment. Correction = giving a negative response to behavior (i.e., vocal, leash, body language), without yelling or hitting or using using force.

Cue: Signal given to a dog to elicit a desired behavior.

Default behavior: Any behavior a dog does when he is uncertain of what else to do, particularly when he is excited or overstimulated.

Desensitize: Getting a dog used to a trigger/stimuli/scenario that causes him distress by gradually presenting the trigger/stimuli/scenario in a calm manner that concludes with a positive response.

Distraction(s): Sounds, smells, sights and other stimuli that detract from a dog’s ability to remain focused / perform a task.

Dominance: is a desire / naturally occurring leadership to the group as their own and as they see fit.  Dominant behavior in dogs is the natural result of their having no concept of equality. Every member of their social world is seen as being either higher or lower in rank than they are. This social world includes their immediate family (people, other dogs, cats, etc.) and any other dogs they meet casually.

Go to your spot: A dog who is taught to go to his spot (or station) learns to go to a specific area and wait there until he is released. A typical spot is a dog bed, a mat, a crate or a designated space in the home.

Habituate: To become accustomed to a specific situation through repeated exposures. A dog may alert at a noise, for instance, but after hearing the noise repeatedly, he may become indifferent to it and begin to ignore it. This type of learning occurs naturally and doesn’t require a structured training plan. (See also: sensitize.)

Interrupt: To turn a dog’s focus away from an unwanted level of energy or behavior as an intervention to stop the unwanted level of energy or behavior. From there, the dog can be redirected to an acceptable behavior.

Management: Controlling the environment so that the dog doesn’t have an opportunity to rehearse an unwanted behavior. For example, a management strategy for a puppy who chews on furniture is to keep him in a gated, dog-proofed area away from furniture.

Mark: To use a specific signal at the moment a desired behavior occurs to indicate an acceptable behavior. (See also: treat training.)

Motivated: When a dog’s behavior is influenced by something he wants and is willing to work for. A dog who is motivated by games of fetch is both willing to play the game and willing to do what he’s asked in order to get access to the game, such as sit before the ball is thrown.

Negative Response: vocal, withholding treat, leash signal, touch or similar to communicate “incorrect” or “undesired behavior.”

Positive Response: vocal, giving treat, leash signal, touch or similar to communicate “correct” or “desired behavior.”

Premack principle: A less predictable behavior is made more predictable by rewarding it with a behavior of higher desirability. For example, this could mean rewarding a dog for heeling (the less predictable behavior) by releasing him to investigate a smell (the more desirable behavior). The dog learns that in order to be released, he must heel first, which makes that a more predictable behavior.

Prompt: Using extra reminders, such as pointing, treats or bigger gestures, to elicit a desired behavior when the dog fails to respond to the initial cue.

Reactive: Acting out in order to ward off or escape a stimulus, for example, other dogs or people.

Re-Association: to redefine or re-associate what a trigger/stimuli/condition is or means to a dog (typically using positive re-enforcement) based on past experience with that trigger/stimuli/condition.

Redirect: To shift a dog’s focus from an unwanted behavior to a desirable behavior. If a dog is chewing on something forbidden (a shoe or book or sofa cushion), he can be redirected to a proper chew toy. He can then be rewarded for chewing an appropriate toy, which reinforces the acceptable behavior.

Reinforcement, reward(s): A response the dog finds pleasurable and desirable. Reinforcement and rewards are learner dependent; some dogs will do what they are asked in return for a treat, while others may be motivated by a special toy or an extra session of play. Reinforcement and rewards are also contextual; what is reinforcing or rewarding in one situation may not be in another. For instance, a dog may find petting to be rewarding at home but may require a different reward at the dog park.

Resource guarding: When a dog is protective of his valued possessions. Common objects for resource guarding include food bowls or food puzzles and valued toys, but a dog may also guard resting spaces, rooms, people or other items the dog finds that are of value to him. Guarding behavior can progress from warnings of unease, like freezing or snarling, to more aggressive behaviors like snapping or biting.

Response substitution or differential reinforcement of an incompatible behavior: Training that teaches a dog to replace an unacceptable behavior with one that is incompatible with that behavior. As an example, a dog who lunges on leash may be asked to make eye contact with a trainer, because eye contact is incompatible with lunging at another dog.

Scent training: Hiding treats, food or toys inside or outside for the dog to find, then encouraging scenting/ tracking/ finding the food using positive vocal, touch, leash or energy response.

Sensitize: To become more sensitive, alert, fearful or reactive to a specific situation through repeated exposures. For example, a noise may initially cause a dog to startle, but after hearing the noise repeatedly, he may progress to shaking and stress panting when he hears it. (See also: habituate.)

Setting events: Conditions in a dog’s life that make it more likely that the dog will act in a certain manner. For example, a dog who doesn’t get enough exercise may be more wound up and hyper around guests.

Socialization: The process by which a puppy learns about the world. The prime socialization period of a puppy is from about 8 to 12 weeks of age but can extend from about 3 to 16 weeks of age.

Stressors: Stimuli or conditions or events that increase a dog’s stress level and cause him to be more on edge and prone to be reactive or upset.

Stress signals: Behavior and body language indicative of escalating tension and anxiety, such as barking and whining or pacing and panting.

Submission: ready to conform to the authority or will of others; meekly obedient or passive.

Treat-based training: Using something that a dog is willing to follow (most commonly food) to guide the dog into a desired position or behavior or level of energy.

Warning signals: Behaviors used by a dog to communicate discomfort with a situation. These can include freezing, growling, barking or snapping. These signals are used to warn a person or another dog to slow down and back off. It is important not to punish warning signals, because they are indicators of the dog’s discomfort; instead, the situation needs to be addressed in order to prevent a bite or a fight.