philosophy

Working with dog owners and their canine companions is not just my job - its my passion. I have a serious hunger for learning everything I can about all available training techniques and their potential to provide practical solutions for the everyday dog owner.  All training methods can bring about changes in your dog's behavior. What method you use depends on how you view your dog and how you want your dog to view you. 

Here are some of MY criteria for interacting with my 2 dogs and cat:
  • I want to be able to communicate my expectations to my pets without the need for physical force, intimidation, or coercion.
  • I want training to feel like playing, not chores.
  • If I expect my pet to learn English, I need to learn his language.
  • I want to use methods that are backed by scientific evidence. Experience and opinion aren't good enough.​
  • I want to be in control of my pets, but I don't want to be controlling.
  • I want my pets to work with me, not for me. We are all on the same team.
  • I want training that puts practicality before perfection.
The way I see things...
  • I may be called a "dog trainer," but I believe a more accurate term for my endeavors would be "Dog Owner Educator."
  • Training should be rewarding for both the owner and the dog. If you don't feel good when training your dog, your dog most likely isn't having a good time either.
  • Training methods should be made easy to understand and easy to use in the life of the typical dog owner.
  • Training plans should be adapted to each case by taking into consideration the dog's temperament, the dog's drives, and the family's lifestyle.
  • A great dog trainer should strive to learn all that can be learned about working with dogs and their humans, even if it doesn't align with their current philosophy.
  • I believe a great dog trainer should be willing to accept that dog training is a science that is constantly evolving.
  • I believe a great dog trainer should be able to discuss, not criticize, the basics behind all of the training methods that have been used in professional dog training since it's beginning in WWI.
Trainer Tess defines "punishment" as anything that a dog dislikes and would want avoid. You can tell if your dog considers something as punishment if he presents any signs of stress or discomfort.

Punishment taints the learning process. Once a dog has experienced punishment, that's it. You can't take it back. It doesn't matter how much you reward and praise the dog afterwards. His responses will be more hesitant because good things might happen, but bad things can happen, too.

Punishment only communicates what you don't want. You are left punishing your dog every single time he doesn't meet your expectations. If you take the time to teach your dog what you do want and reinforce it so it becomes a habit from the very beginning, there wouldn't be any need for punishment.

​You don't have control over the association that your dog makes with the punishment. If you don't have perfect timing and total control over the environment, your dog 1) won't make the connection between his crime and the punishment, and 2) he could connect the punishment with something else entirely. 

Punishment only works when the punisher is around. The dog doesn't learn to stop the behavior because of the punishment. He learns to stop the behavior because of the punisher. If the punisher isn't around to punish, the behavior is still practiced.

If punishment worked, it would only have to be used once or twice. Your dog's sensitivity and the strength of the punishment needs to be gauged exactly right for it to be effective and not considered emotionally or physically abusive. If you find yourself punishing your dog over and over, upping the ante just to get your point across could be borderline abuse.
Tess Windhauser FFCAT, KPA CTP, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, ABCDT
Mobile Dog Training for DFW
817.600.3311 ~ dogownertrainingwithtess@gmail.com