GoodHeart Kennel and Training Centre
Breeding and Training Quality Canines
GoodHeart’s Dog Training Centre
Heeling
We all want to live with that special dog. The dog that grows into an outstanding canine citizen, our best friend, and a valued member of the family – and it’s not that difficult.
Intelligent, kind and consistent training makes a good temperament shine and usually overcomes less desirable traits. Behind every well trained dog is an owner who has put in the time and effort to make it happen. But not all of us have the skills and need a helping hand to reach our goals. You will have the opportunity to discuss any and all training problems you are having and learn the techniques that will help to solve them.
To be truly comfortable with your pet you must trust that they will respond calmly and reliably in many different situations. Our training builds this trust by strengthening the bond between you and your pet while reinforcing your position as leader.
Down Stay with Recall
At Goodheart Training Centre, you benefit from years of experience gleaned from years of training a variety of dogs with a huge range of problems. We’ve handled many different canine temperaments and can offer advice and shortcuts that will improve your “doggy” communication and overall effectiveness. You will achieve better results in less time.
While each dog and breed is unique they also share many common characteristic that make them very trainable. But while they are most eager to please and follow their human leader, they are not saints and, given the opportunity, they are delighted do their own thing! They will gladly plough through life dragging you along on the end on their leash and this is definitely not our ideal of man (or woman’s!) best friend. But dogs are not born as perfect human companions, they need to be shown the way.
Agility and Jumping
Proven Training Principles
During class, we will explain our basic training principles and how we use a dog’s nature to assist learning and encourage consistent obedience. Our techniques are practical and we keep the lessons easy and understandable. Everyone makes mistakes, but half the fun is seeing how easily small adjustments can make big improvements.
Our training classes are an interesting, positive and fun way to learn the simple techniques that develop a happy, reliable, obedient dog. Our obedience classes use traditional training basics but we also include balance, jumping, and tracking which help accelerate the development of confidence and trust and are also great fun for dog and owner. These skills build courage and create a bond of confidence that you can trust in an emergency.
Food can be a useful training tool, but it is not a primary reward in our training program. Clear and consistent communication creates an environment in which your verbal praise and a good pat are sufficient reward—and they are always available.
Our objective when working with dogs is to always stay open to new information and better techniques. We are always learning and improving, our dogs never stop teaching us. However, the training principles we use are based on the tried and true rules developed by mother nature. We use the dog’s basic instincts and pack socialization behaviours to help understand and communicate with our dogs. It is fast, effective, and easy.
Dog and wolf pack behaviours have been extensively studied and are well understood. There is a strong social hierarchy that is genetically coded and is reinforced within weeks of birth as the pups interact with their mother and siblings. Negative and positive reinforcement (a good lick and nuzzle is a positive reward, low growl a negative reward) are part of a canine’s life from the day it is born. It is the nature’s way of training to reinforce safe behaviours and avoid dangerous ones. Throughout life dogs require strong leadership and a social order that allow the pack to work as a productive team and to live in harmony with each other.
The alpha male and female in a wolf pack enforce a firm leadership with a set of signals and behaviours that will accelerate to intimidation and finally force, if not respected. Everyone in the pack knows their rank and each rank was established using the same rules of behaviour. This is nature’s way of avoiding constant disagreements. Following pack rules avoids fights and/or being driven from the protection of the pack.
Positive and negative reinforcement evolved over time as a practical and efficient way of learning “Why fool with mother nature”. It is a time proven method that provides a clear distinction between correct and incorrect behaviour. Good behaviour should always be rewarded with positive reinforcement (verbal praise, pats etc.). Incorrect behaviour should also be discouraged with a firm “NO” or for a repeat offender a quick tug on the leash. We all know that this works, it is how we were brought up and it is how we train our children.
However, although we fully understand human behaviour and language people still have miscommunications. It is understandable that you and your canine companion sometimes do not understand each other.. This is where a trainer can really help. In order to be fair and effective you need make sure that the dog understands exactly what was right or wrong. You must send a clear message, usually by responding immediately, and remain kind, firm and consistent. A professional trainer helps you to better understand the messages your dog is sending and can help train the owner to understand when and how to respond correctly to get results.
A professional trainer can also help you evaluate your dog’s own unique personality and advise on the best techniques for his type of personality. For example, the volume and tone of voice appropriate for a happy-go-lucky, dominant, extrovert adult would be scary and intimidating for a non-dominant, shy puppy. The appropriate strength of the positive/negative reinforcement is dependent on a unique mix of many factors, including age, personality, training level and the current attitude and behaviour.
For example when working with a very young pup you highly praise a positive behaviour, such as not pulling on the leash and just stop walking and ignore incorrect behaviour until it has stopped. Then start walking again and praise correct behaviour. On the other hand, with an older dog who already knows the expected behaviour, continued refusal to behave appropriately would warrant a severe NO, and if this did not work, a quick tug on the leash to get his attention.
There are some new training techniques that stress only using positive reinforcement without any type of negative reinforcement or restraint. This is like sending half the message but it is less than half as effective. While it is a commendable idea to want to create a perfect world for your dog where never a harsh word is heard, life doesn’t normally work this way.
It is not practical to exclude restraint and negative reinforcement as a training tool. For the same reason that a parent might restrain and scold a child for fighting, a dog who lunges aggressively at other dogs need to be restrained and needs a clear message that this is wrong, in order to quickly change its behaviour.
In this situation, I teach a quick, strong tug on the lead and a very firm reprimand “Leave it”. When the dog stops pulling and is no longer aggressive, praise with an approving tone of voice saying “good leave it”. Personally, I learn much faster if I get a clear message when I am doing something wrong and a prompt “at a girl” when I get it right. Neither my students nor my dogs find a stern “NO”, or tug on the leash offensive, but they are effective training tools. So if they are not objectionable, and they clearly make training more effective, why eliminate them? Nature’s way of learning is simple and effective, so let’s follow her lead.
That said, no matter how extreme a fad is, somewhere there will be resourceful teams of dogs and owners that will make it work. However, even in these best cases, one-sided reinforcement creates more work for less results, and will simply not work at all for many.
Our physical training methods enriches the learning experience. Together, we will incorporate interesting new skills such as climbing, balance exercises, and tracking. Skills that build courage and create a bond of confidence—a bond that you can trust in an emergency.
Having a well mannered dog does not just happen, it is an ongoing process, a relationship of love, trust and respect. Your pet will give all they have to you and only ask for your companionship and guidance. What a deal!
When does training start?
We believe it is important to start training your family companion from the first day your new pup comes home. Just like us, your dog finds it easier to learn new tasks when they are young. It is also much easier to teach a dog a new behaviour if you first do not have to correct an already learned bad habit. But training is not just a formal class routine. Every interaction is “training”. It is the foundation on which all the training that follows will be built. Because of this, we need to work hard to ensure that even the most routine interactions are based on trust and respect with you, the guiding hand. Start your relationship with your dog the way you want it to be every day.
While teaching your pet to be a good canine citizen is preferable when he/she is young., you can teach an old dog new tricks. Most dogs can be trained or retrained at any age, it just takes a little more time and patience for both of you.
Training Classes
We offer private lessons (1 hour)at your home or at the centre, semi private lessons (1 hour.), and group lessons (1 hour) at the centre. We also will provide a half hour private assessment of your dog. This is an excellent and economical way to receive your own personal evaluation and training recommendations.
Group and Semi private Training Levels
Level 1 – 8 Week course - group lesson.
This course is for ”puppies” and “beginners”, it locks in the obedience framework for owning a remarkable dog. The cost of the course is $260.00 Some of the things you will learn are:
Level 1 - puppies and beginner older dogs
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Learning good manners
Walk on leash without pulling
Learning the basics of “Come”, “Sit”, “Down”, “ heeling” “leave it”
Dealing with problem behavior(chewing, housetraining, biting, jumping up)
Start agility and tracking
Level 2 – 8 Weeks course - group lesson,
This course perfects commands learned in Level 1, so that the dog responds quickly and reliably. Some of the things you will learn are:
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Improved “Heel”
Coming under distractions
A “Stay” for longer periods and owner out of sight
Agility and tracking,
Introduction of new commands, “Under”, “Over”, “Through”, “Jump”
Level 3 – 4 weeks course - group lesson,
This course is more personalized for each group. Your canine companion and you are now a team with two personalities. It hones in on individual strengths and weaknesses and you will receive individual training tips to make all your daily interactions more effective. The course will focus on real life issues as examples to extend your understanding of training concepts and to demonstrate their application. You will improve and extend overall aspects of your training technique, your dog’s behaviour, and agility. You’ll create specialty commands to accommodate modern lifestyles such as travelling; getting in and out of a car, or staying “on the mat” when visiting another home. Learning about your dog is a lifetime of discovery and this course can be taken several times to improve and extend your partnership and to address specific issues.
Lesson schedule
Level 1 - Puppies and beginners: Saturdays 11:30, Saturday 1:pm, Sunday at 12 noon, Tuesday at 6:30 pm, Wednesday 6:00 pm
Level 2 - Intermediate: Saturday at 2:30pm, Wednesday at 7 pm
Level 3 - Advanced: Please contact Jackie for further information
Please contact us for additional new dates and times for group lessons.
Make up class: Open to all levels who have missed a class and want to catch up and this is also an opportunity to come and ask me about any question you had that were not addressed during your lessons.This class will be held Tuesday evening at 7:30pm.
New courses commencing in January and thoughout the year, please contact us for additional starting dates. E mail Jackie@goodheart.ca or call 905 304-4284
Semi-Private
If you have more than one dog or you wish to come with a friend to train for general obedience and/or specific behaviours, semi-private lessons can be arranged with a curriculum tailored to address your and your dog specific training needs.Flexable appointment times.These lesson can be arranged at the kennel or in your home
Private Lessons
Private lesson can be arranged, evening, weekdays or weekends at the kennel or in your home.The lesson are tailored to your specific training needs, general obedience and/or problem behaviours such as pulling when walked on a leash, jumping up on people, nipping, house training , excessive barking, ect.
Private evaluation at the kennel- (1/2 hour)- $40.00
All private lessons are 1 hour
One private lesson at the kennel - $75.00
3 private lessons at the kennel - $210.00
One private lessons in your home - $110.00
3 private lesson in your home - $300.00
Class Guidelines
Please email or call for addition training times or any further information. The lessons are done in the great outdoors when possable; therefore students should dress for weather conditions.If the weather do not permit doing the lessons outside then they will be done inside in the loft of the barn. All owners receive individual assistance that accommodates the different strengths and personality of each dog.
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Owners with dogs that have had some training and do not wish to enter into the beginning class will require a private evaluation to establish which lesson group would be best suit their level of training.
Group lessons include a maximum of 8 dogs.
Semi-private lessons include a maximum of 3 dogs or less.
All dogs are required to have current vaccination and to be in good health.
Dogs with known dog aggression issues will have to be privately assessed to ensure they can safely participate in a group lessons.
Dogs that are people aggressive will not be able to participate in group lessons(fees may vary depending on the degree of the aggression)
Please contact us for further information on current group lessons or to schedule private lessons at the kennel or in your home.
The sit stay. If your dog will sit and stay where it is more difficult, he will do so easily under normal conditions. Changing the sitting surface helps to keep the dogs attention and interestNotices
Dog and puppy obedience training for all breeds, sizes and ages of dogs. We offer group obedience class or private dog lessons for obedience training and/or problem behaviour, in your home or on site at the kennel. Plese email or call (905)304-4284 to make an appointment
The next level 1 group classes will be starting ; Sat. Sept. 18 at 12noon. and Wed.Sept. 22 at 6pm, Sat. Oct. 16 at 1:30 and Thursday Oct. 21 at 6pm ; Please contact us for addition course starting dates in July and Aug.