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Values Based Dog Training

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Values Based Dog Training.

Try this interactive explaination.

About

You selected

The human perspective

You added a dog so life will be better.

What does better mean?

Little girl holding puppy and looking into puppies eyes

How will you know when better happens?

Mature man and his dog

What values will you have more of?

More of is important.

More of what you do want, can reduce what you don't want.

Pet Dog walking nice on leash.jpg
Love box
LOVE check mark

I'll have more Peace...

Pet Dog pulling lunging on leash.jpg

...when my dog stops barking.

Let's ask the question.

From your internal perspective. Pick one value you'd like to increase between you and your dog.

Family on floor with their dog

Love?

Peace?

Respect?

Understanding?

Trust?

Freedom?

Happiness?

Touch your values

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Dog training should give you what you want.

Your choice was...

Some families have said:

When training is complete,

we'll have more...

Love box
LOVE check mark
Peace box
Peace check mark
Respect check box
Respect check mark
Understanding box
Understanding check mark
Trust box
Trust check mark
Freedom box
Freedom check mark
Happiness box
Happiness check mark

​"More Love because she'll let us pet her."

​"More Peace because they'll stop fighting."

"More Respect because he'll stop biting us."​

"More Understanding about what she's telling us."

​"More Trust because she'll come when we call her."

"More Freedom because we can leave her home alone."

"More Happiness because he'll walk by our side."

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Check boxes

What do you say?

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When our dog is trained, we'll have more...

​Love because

​Peace because

Respect because

Understanding because

​Trust because

Freedom because

Happiness because

Write

Good job!

The dogs perspective

Dogs want values too.

Which values do you think can help dogs thrive?

Touch values

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Malinois

Love

snuggles​

Freedom

of choice

Happiness

instead of stress

Respect

my needs

Understanding

about scary things

Trust

veternarians

Peace

relaxation

Which values might a dog want more of?

You may think this question is not one for science, and you're correct from the perspective of traditional psychology. The studies on traditional dog training excluded the dog's perspective. 

 

Said in other words, studies paid no attention to what the dog was "thinking." 

 

It's an understandable oversight. Science measures stuff, and a dog's thoughts could not be measured at that time.

 

Dogs DO think and feel. This exercise gives our brains practice to visualize life from our dogs' world.

​​

Once we have an idea, we can meet those needs without applying dominance, pain, intimidation, force, or deprivation to make it appear as if we've accomplished our goal.

We may have gotten the dog to alter it's actions with those harsh methods, however, we may have also added stress. Dogs adapt, they will change their actions to avoid pain.

Instead of using pain, Values-Based Dog Training increases Understanding and creates new brain pathways for new behaviors while naturally weakening old ones. It allows dogs to enjoy stimulating their brain instead of avoiding things they associate with harsh training. It all works, just depends on who you are and how you choose to treat dogs and the humans around you.

 

I hope we have pets to enrich our lives, not to practice control over others.

Love box
LOVE check mark

​Trixie, a rescued dog, may choose more Love.

To meet that need, her first exercise may be​ a nap on her human's lap.​

Peace box
Peace check mark

Jake, is bouncing off the walls. We think his choice is Peace. His first exercise might be a relaxing massage.​

Respect check box
Respect check mark

Daisy, a former street dog, wants more Respect.​

Her first exercise might be a safe place to eat meals.​

Understanding box
Understanding check mark

Sandy, hates fireworks. She needs Understanding.

She may get to watch a handful of treats, being tossed into the sky and falling on the grass during the day. This simulates fireworks in the air without sound. She may think "Who knew? Dots falling from the sky are not so bad after all". Later we introduce sound and dark and sparkly things. Then, much later, she begins to think about this fun game and wags her tail when she sees real fireworks.​

Trust box
Trust check mark

Fluffy, is afraid of people. She needs more Trust.​

She may get a treat toy while watching people on TV. ​

Freedom box
Freedom check mark

Rex, loves to run. He needs more Freedom.​

He might get to chase his dad around the house.​​

Happiness box
Happiness check mark

Buddy, looks sad. He needs more Happiness.
He may get treats simply for wagging his tail.​​

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See the connections?

By increasing values, we are meeting the dogs needs.

When needs are met, behavior naturally changes. 

It's kindness in action.
 

When we focus, we can understand what our dog's needs are.​

Once we understand and meet those needs, we can teach acceptable communication behaviors.

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They'll no longer have a reason to display the unwanted behavior because their needs will be met, and they'll have a new way to express their ideas.

​

Does this make sense?​

box for checkmark YES
green check mark YES

Yes.

Box for red X NO
red X NO

No.

What about your dog friend?

I want my dog to STOP...

Pick the most important challenge to change in your dog.

Husky challenges_edited.png

Barking?

Jumping?

Chasing?

Marking?

Pulling?

Fighting?

Biting?

Chewing?

Anxiety?

Fearfulness?

Stealing?

Bolting?

Running?

Is it something else?

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Please stop

You selected:

Your dog's perspective.

From your dog's perspective, which of these values may help counteract your dog's biggest challenge? 

There are no wrong answers, and your wants may be different from your dog's needs because you are both individuals.

 

My dog needs more...

​

Husky with paw over the word Understanding

Love?

Peace?

Respect?

Understanding?

Trust?

Freedom?

Happiness?

Touch values

Your choice was...

Your exercises

Text a photo of your dog to get a sample session for your dog who's having a challenge with



You want more      with your dog
Your dog's challenge is
And your dog may need more to change behavior

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Schedule a personalized session.

530 518 6994

Text

Call or Text

530 518 6994

Ask Sherry for a free sample exercise.

Sessions are one-on-one, by phone.

 

You are the person who will learn to recognize and strengthen a calm, cognitive state in your dog in your own home. Start with zero distractions to teach needed skills before going out into the world.

 

From your dog's perspective, you (not a professional trainer) know all the answers to relieve discomfort and guide them toward new behaviors that give dogs what they need and what we want.

​

Slow is fast. Micro-short practice sessions, sometimes just a few seconds, make it more likely for your dog to build pathways of new brain cells without associating old conflicting thoughts. 

 

Doing this alone with your dog in your home focuses on patterns you want to repeat in your home, without a trainer present.

 

By phone, I share my current and always expanding understanding of the complex concepts of behavioral neuroscience. Through simple step-by-step exercises designed for the level of understanding that is comfortable for you, your family and your dog.

 

It's nature, it's intuitive, it's what we want and what dogs need.

Values Based Dog Training

Learn how

...can make life better.

Love helps dogs heal from grief, trauma, and the pain of change by creating a sense of safety and connection
Peace helps dogs relax, regulate, and feel calm in overwhelming or overstimulating environments.
Respect builds trust by listening to the dog’s needs, giving space, and honoring boundaries during learning and daily life.
Understanding helps reduce frustration and confusion by meeting the dog where they are and making communication clear.
Trust gives dogs the confidence to explore, learn, and feel safe knowing their human will protect and guide them gently.
Resilience helps dogs bounce back from challenges by allowing choice, fostering agency, and supporting problem-solving.
Happiness fuels learning and bonds through play, joy, and shared positive experiences.
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