here’s what behavioral dog training is all about

When meeting with first-time clients, I often get asked, “What exactly is a Natural Animal Behaviorist?”, and, “What’s the difference between an Obedience Dog Trainer and a Behavioral Dog Trainer?”, and my favorite, “Do you really not use any treats or food when training a dog?” I’m breaking it all down for you here so you can recognize when your dog’s training needs go beyond obedience, and why dogs bite the hand that feeds them.

You most likely know obedience dog training as teaching a dog to comply with commands like sit, stay, leave it, come, etc. As a Behavioral Dog Trainer, my mission is to assist dog owners in cultivating a lifelong, low-stress bond. I aim to train, or re-train, a dog’s response to stimuli and other external conditions. Dog owners train with me when their dog exhibits behaviors such as aggressiveness, reactivity, lunging and biting, resource guarding, separation anxiety, etc. If the dog is a puppy, many dog owners don’t understand that the optimal time to train a dog is when they’re young — before they begin to find their own way of doing things and cause their owner much stress!

I also work with a lot of dogs with behavioral issues that have been pulled from animal shelters by rescues. Rescue dogs often need behavioral training if they spend too much time in the shelter or on the streets, relying on their natural protective and survival instincts, or if negative behaviors are reinforced in whatever environment they came from. I can assure you they become incredible dogs, and I proudly say all of my personal dogs have been rescued.

Yes, as a Natural Animal Behaviorist, I don’t use treats to modify behavior. Instead, I use the natural, or instinctive, behavior of the dog to connect and correct their behavior. Before using any food, I look for the dog’s natural potential for learning. Food is a distraction for many dogs because it masks their true behavior and you could unknowingly be feeding, e.g. reinforcing, that undesirable behavior.

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If your dog is resource-guarding you, it’s because it's been trained with only food. Of course this not true for all dogs. Also, food isn’t a motivator for all dogs, but their need to please us and have leadership is in their DNA. It’s been said that dogs are not pack animals or have a hierarchy system. That’s like saying that a human family is not a pack. Even if you are not blood-related you can still be a pack that remains together for safety and resources. Whether we realize it or not we live in a hierarchical society and without a hierarchy, there’s no balance or order, whether that’s human or animal. In other words, there has to be mutual respect and that’s why food is not always the answer in training. The dog has to respect the owner in the way a child respects a parent because the child fears upsetting or disappointing the parent to a certain extent. Dogs are afraid of other dogs in their pack and that’s what keeps the balance whether you believe it or not.

When I observe a dog, I intend to understand what’s behind their non-compliant behavior. I’m looking to understand why the dog is the way it is, and what specifically needs to be modified. I’m looking not just for the subtle cues and signals dogs are always giving us through their body language, but also for their level of behavioral compliance. All dogs, like humans, have different levels of compliance. The problem is when you use food in the beginning of training, it’s a distraction and the dog will almost always take the food because it’s connected to its survival instincts. It’s likely the dog is insecure and feels the need to protect itself by biting The Hand That Feeds it. When all put Together, I have a complete assessment of what the dog’s unique needs are and how to help it come out of those undesirable behavioral patterns.

Sure, we can encourage and motivate dogs with treats. However, it’s been my experience that training with only treats doesn’t hold in times of extreme stress or emergency. This often leads to dire consequences for both the dog and its owner. No one wants or ever imagines themselves in that type of situation and the sad reality is it happens all too often.

It’s not that I never use treats, I certainly treat the dog — that’s why it’s called a treat. It’s more meaningful when not freely given. Treats should not be a part of the foundation of behavioral dog training like they are with obedience training. Using treats for obedience training is also why most dogs will need retraining. Sometimes dogs experience setbacks when exchanging handlers, but that also depends on the personality of the owner. 100% positive reinforcement, e.g. treat training, does not work long-term. I can’t stress enough that all dogs learn at their own pace whether or not food is used. The dog is in total control in that regard and why natural training takes time. 

“I found JRB K-9’s card at a local pet store. Like it was meant to be.

Jesse came to us and not only did he want to help my Pit, he wanted to help my Boxer. He is affordable and accommodating! We saw immediate results and he educated us. I highly recommend Jesse R. Booker. Professional and passionate in what he does. I will utilize his services as long as I am a pet owner.”

Angie L.

Double Oak, TX

A few other differentiations from obedience training are that behavioral dog training can have a much longer timeline. Some obedience training will come out of behavioral dog training, but the goals are different, and the costs tend to be higher for this specialized work. With board & train, decompression is a must for the dog to settle into its new environment and for it to be open to learning — even if it comes from a home. Also, behavioral dog training methods will vary from dog to dog. Some dogs have a harder time relinquishing control to the human and will need a more assertive approach, meaning the handler can’t be a pushover.

Lastly, you’ll often hear people say a dog goes to a behavioral dog trainer for “rehabilitation.” I find that terminology incredibly incorrect. A dog with behavioral issues is likely acting on its natural instincts because it hasn’t been trained in the first place to do otherwise! With JRB K-9, the owner is also trained to change the dynamics when interacting with their dog so that the dog maintains its newly learned behaviors. This is beneficial to both the dog and the owner as it makes the dog understand that their owner is now in the leadership role and that responsibility is no longer on the dog’s shoulders. This ultimately makes the dog more enjoyable to have around. It also helps build trust, which only strengthens the K-9 and human bond.

How do you know if your dog needs Behavioral Dog Training? If you worry about something problematic your dog might do to another dog or human, chances are you need behavioral training for your dog!