A dog's need is one that is both physical and emotional. When a dog performs a certain deed it should be rewarded by physical contact (petting, holding or verbal phrase). Dogs thrive on this type of acknowledgment.
Remember when you were a child and completed a project or got an "A" on a test and the teacher gave you a gold star? You got home and your mom gave you a kiss for your achievement or your dad picked you up and held you and said "You did a swell job. I'm proud of you" How did you feel? You felt great didn't you? The same concept works with dogs and this approach builds a deeper bond between dog and owner. For this reason we do not reward a dog using treats, rather give praise to the dog for its accomplishments. Treats can be given any time during the day out of love rather than as a reward for good behavior. This is much the same as you treating yourself to a chocolate chip cookie just because.
We do not believe in punishing dogs for making a mistake. There is a proper and humane way to correct them for misbehavior or defiance. We teach all of our clients the proper methods to employ.
