Dog Training for Human Beings
Hi there! I'm Laura Heyer (pronounced like the word "Higher"), the person behind Heyer Canine Learning. I have loved dogs ever since I can remember. In fact, my earliest (albeit vague) memory is of a puppy. I also find learning, teaching and behavior fascinating. I have a Masters degree in teaching (M.T.) as well as a Masters of Education (M. Ed) degree and spent many years in the classroom teaching young people. In the dog training realm I have earned certification with the Karen Pryor Academy as a dog trainer and am a Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP). I have completed the Separation Anxiety Pro certification through Julie Naismith and am a Certified Separation Anxiety Professional Trainer. In addition, I have earned Companion Animal Practitioner 1 status through Tellington TTouch.
All that experience and learning has reinforced how important it is to consider the well-being of everyone in the human and dog equation.
Helping Both Ends of the Leash
I believe there is something wonderful about the human-dog connection. I have witnessed how dogs can bring comfort, joy and confidence to young people struggling with a variety of issues. I know that some people find their relationship with their dog to be more fulfilling than many of their human relationships. Many of us find joy doing activities with our dogs - or in doing absolutely nothing together with our dogs.
But, lets face it: Having a dog can also be demanding. Puppies are A LOT. They can be both cute and challenging. Dealing with puppy behavior (cue the music: "Ba-by Shark do-do-do-do-do") can be exhausting. It can be overwhelming to look at a new puppy (or think about a new puppy) and think about all the things you need to teach and do to ensure your puppy grows up to be a dog that is nice to live with. This is especially true if you have never raised a puppy or its been quite a while since you had a puppy. Or maybe you have adopted a dog and don't know where to start with training. Rather than traditional Obedience, I believe the early focus should on Life Skills. These are skills that can form the foundation for a lifetime of training and can just make living with your puppy/ dog easier even if you never take another class.
If you have a dog with separation anxiety, then there are additional challenges. It is stressful for the people and for the dog. Separation Anxiety can put a tremendous strain on relationships: human-dog and human-human. Since separation anxiety is often caused by underlying fear, typical reinforcement training is not as effective. The best techniques are similar to the systematic desensitization utilized with people who have phobias. As a Certified Separation Anxiety Pro, I can work with you and your situation remotely, offering guidance and support.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Obviously, everyone is unique. Each dog, each person and each situation is different. It's important that your goals, your lifestyle and your environment are taken into consideration. Its also critical that your dog's individual personality and needs be part of any plan. The focus of training is on building skills that will be useful for you and your dog so you can enjoy each other's company.
Sense of Humor Recommended
I recognize that there are times when its hard to find the humor in a problem, especially when you are dealing with a dog with separation anxiety. This can be an incredibly frustrating and sometimes isolating issue. Having a dog with separation anxiety and working through it with him gives me the ability to truly empathize with others in a similar situation. I know what it is like to miss out on things like meeting friends for coffee because you can't leave your dog home alone, or arranging appointments around daycare or the availability of a trusted dog sitter. That perspective also means I will understand successes and small steps and celebrate them with you. If you haven't lived with a dog with separation anxiety, its hard to understand how exciting it is when you can leave the house for a trip around the block- or down to the lobby of your building for 5 minutes. My goal will be to help you find some joy while you work towards your goals. Some joy for you, some joy for your dog, and some joy in being with your dog.
I believe strongly in the power of laughter and fun. So don't be surprised if there's goofiness, lame jokes and occasional bad singing along the way. Training goals might be serious, but being miserable or solemn is not required! In fact, taking training too seriously can be detrimental to progress. If neither you or your dog are having fun, training is less likely to happen. If both of you are finding some joy in it, then you will look forward to training sessions.
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