Of all the things that dogs want and need in life, #1 at the top of that list is almost invariably attention. Regardless of the form it takes - talking to your dog, feeding your dog, petting your dog, throwing a ball, taking them on a walk, etc. - dogs want, strive for, and need attention. It is this trait, that enables dogs to not only enter into our homes, but more importantly, become members of our families. After all, who wants a boring dog who lays by itself all day and wants nothing to do with you?
Unfortunately, that need and desire for attention is also the #1 cause of misbehavior in dogs. Time and again, I have seen owners frustrated, annoyed and confused as to why their dog continues to repeat the same bad behaviors over and over again, when the answer is usually pretty simple - ATTENTION. I say this because unfortunately, the things that dogs do that annoy, frustrate and confuse their owners most, are frequently the things that lead to the MOST attention. And as a result become the things that the dogs do over and over again when faced with similar circumstances.
At Destination Dog Training, we aim to simply help you better communicate with your dog, and provide them with attention in a way that leads to positive behaviors and experiences. In learning how to clearly and effectively explain to your dog the choices that they can make to get your attention, he or she will begin to rapidly reshape their behavior patterns to achieve the same results as before - attention. Only this time, it is done in a way that is functional for everyone, not just your dog!
Even more, your ability to have an effective conversation with your dog travels everywhere. In your home, out on walks, at the park, in a pet store, and more. You will have the ability to enter any situation - new and old - with the ability to explain to your dog how you expect them to behave, and how to go about getting that all important thing - ATTENTION.
Andrew Steinkohl
If you are contacting me for help with your dog, you should know that I have very likely been in your shoes. Having not grown up in a dog training family, I didn’t live with or around a lot of dogs. We had one dog growing up - a poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel - who would not walk on a leash, wasn’t allowed upstairs (he would poop or pee every time he found himself up there) and who ran away all the time. I was also bitten by several dogs growing up, because I did not understand dogs at all. I did not attend an expensive dog training school - instead I learned to train dogs by doing it. Initially, I needed help with my own dogs and from there, I developed the love and passion for helping others build positive relationships with their dogs.
Having worked with many dogs of different breeds, ages, sizes, and backgrounds, as well as all the different owners they come with, I have been able to identify the patterns, habits, and behavioral traps that cause misbehavior and frustration with how dogs behave in certain situations. Equally as important, though, I have come to find that the solutions to the problems are often not very complicated. In fact, I tell people all the time - dog training is not magic, it’s just a matter of you being able to effectively explain to your dog how you want them to behave in different situations.
Therefore, my goal for every dog and family that I work with is to help bring clarity and cohesion to the relationship. Utilizing my background in teaching (seven years of Math and Psychology), I will guide you through a common sense approach to training. This will enable you to better explain to your dog how to successfully navigate the many different situations they will encounter in the course of their life. With this ability, anything and everything becomes possible for you and your dog.
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