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Barks specializes in Puppy Obedience & Socialization Classes, Behavioral Consults and Agility Classes (all levels). All classes are presented in a Fun Learning atmosphere focussing on a positive learning experience for dog and Handler.  'Positive Dog Training at Its Best'

Sherwood Barks Dog Training & Agility specializes in Positive Puppy & Agility Training. Sherwood Barks Puppy Obedience & Socialization classes offer a fun learning environment for the puppy and handler. All classes are presented in a ‘solution focused’ training environment. Puppy class training focuses on rewarding positive behaviors offered by the puppies.
Puppy Level 1 Class Content:
1. Recalls – out of Play Breaks during class.
2. Socialization – builds confidence in Play with different breeds & sizes of puppies
3. Manners – a calm quiet sitting puppy earns his rewards
4. Obedience – ‘one command = a rapid response’ Every command is followed by a release.
5. Behavioral consults… re: typical puppy problems, ie. Jumping up, nipping, biting,
6. Loose leash walking – no corrective methods such as, choke or pinch collars are permitted in any Sherwood Barks class
The evolution of Dog Training: Dogs are NOT WOLVES…. They are canines which have been domesticated for years, they are social, they understand and thrive with structure, routine, consistency and lots of positive re-enforcement. They learn easily to respect their humans when the humans learn how to communicate clearly with the dog. The dog needs to be taught what the expectations are of living happily in the human world.
Gone are the days of ‘correcting our children’ and punishing them by physical force. This same awareness of positive parenting is a philosophy that holds true in training a new puppy. Children learn best in a positive happy family with clear rules and boundaries. Puppies also thrive when they know what is expected of them and they are rewarded for their good behavior. Negativity, whining, jumping up are largely ignored or the puppy/dog is given a brief time out. Unwanted behaviors will stop with no reward, ie eye-contact, words, or rapid body movements inadvertently given to re-enforcement behaviors.

Dog Training has many different objectives: creating a great family pet, basic obedience training, specialized areas including law enforcement, military, search and rescue, agility, hunting, working with livestock, assistance to people with disabilities, entertainment, dog sports, detection dogs and protecting people or property.

Searching for a Dog Training School? Do your homework!! Call and talk with the trainer? Ask questions? Do they use harsh techniques? Do they use positive methods, Is the training reward based? Do they use the clicker? What is clicker training? Are the puppies/dogs allowed to socialize? How long has the trainer been training? What is the background of the trainer?
? Will you be told to use harsh corrections on your puppy, ie jerking the dog with a choke collar? Is that a training style you want to use with your young puppy?
Training Choices:
1. Traditional trainers: Typicall encourage the use of punishment, often physically painful punishment, in order to correct dogs.
2.Dominance trainers: Believe all animals have an innate desire to dominate others, and this dominating behavior needs to be punished. Pack Leader Trainers follow this training methodology.
3. Positive Trainers: use the operant conditioning model…. Operant Conditioning is a proven training methodology which focuses on the positive and creates a happy, focused, obedient puppy. It has been proven that is rewarded behavior will be repeated more frequently and become part of the dog’s foundation. (Pavlov’s theory). The dog/puppy is required to ‘think’ and offer the correct behavior. Correct behavior, ie. Sit is reward AFTER the dog offers it.
4. Luring Trainers: This training method is often confused with positive dog training. Steps in Lure Training
1. The food reward is shown first and used as a lure to get a wanted behaviour, ie.sit.
2. Next the dog is given a verbal command.
3. The command is often repeated several times.
4. Reward is given after the behavior is given.

The difference is mostly in the scale, as positive trainers tend to employ more reward based principles first, while traditional and dominance trainers are more likely to punish unwanted behaviors first.

Puppies should attend puppy socialization classes as soon as they have completed their second set of vaccinations, around 3 months. The sooner the better.
In-home Puppy consultations are often a good choice. It is very important that the puppy understands from day one what is expected of him/her. Potty training, doorway training, crate training, automatic sit & recall training, and manners should begin as soon as the puppy joins his/her new human family. Always, ‘THINK BIG’ ask yourself the question…. “Will, I think it is cute when the puppy is big…ie, jumping up! Barking?”

Submitted by Jennifer Scheidt … owner & head trainer at Sherwood Barks Dog Training & Agility.  Edmonton, Sherwood Park & Area. 

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