We at Summit Dog Rescue can't emphasize enough how important working with a positive reinforcement/force free trainer in basic skills classes, and also privately if needed, can benefit you and your dog! A positive reinforcement/force free training class doesn't just teach your dog behaviors that we like -- it teaches your dog how to make good choices, control their impulses and use their brain to manipulate their environment to make good things happen. It is incredible to see the confidence level transform in dogs who do positive training.
SDR approved dog trainers
(If you don't see a trainer listed in your area, email us and we will find you one.)
A good trainer will never use force, startle, pressure or fear. Fear is not training, it is intimidation. What happens if your dog to responds to you out of fear? Fear, pain, startle and pressure all release cortisol in the brain - so force training can easily create fear in your dog, and many unwanted behaviors can emerge due to anxiety and fear - such as aggression. Also, force training doesn't "teach" your dog any behaviors that are desirable, or life skills. It teaches them to be fearful, and that randomly, humans can be mean and dangerous. Dogs don't have the mental capability to know "right" from "wrong"... they don't have a moral compass, instead they understand "safe" and "unsafe." A dog who feels unsafe is not an ideal family dog by any means... so why would we actively teach our dogs to feel unsafe about their world?
Many trainers use either solely dominance techniques or are "balanced" trainers who use both. The field of dog training is not regulated, so it is important to hire a qualified, science-based, ethical, positive reinforcement/force free trainer.
We have screened every trainer on this list below for qualifications, high level of education in learning theory and force-free methods:
Boulder
Gigi Moss - GigiMoss.com
Boulder Humane - BoulderHumane.org
Jamie Flanagan, Training Wheels - TrainingWheels.dog
Mary Angilly - MaryAngilly.com
Arvada/Golden/Lakewood
Jen Ticsay, Dances with Woofs - DancesWithWoofsDogTraining.com
Ginger Corlew - OnePawAtATimeTraining.com
Broomfield
Julie Parker, Rocky Mountain Dog Training - RockyMountainDogTraining.com/
Maureen Stevens, Bee a Good Dog - BeeAGoodDog.com
Colorado Springs
All Breed Rescue and Training - HaveANiceDog.org/train
House of Dog - HouseOfDogTraining.com/
Denver Area
The Noble Beast - NobleBeastDogTraining.com/
Tender Hands Animal Training - TenderHandsAnimalTraining.com
Canis Major - CanisMajorTraining.com/
Denver's Dream Dog - DenverDreamDog.com
Denver Paw School - DenverPawSchool.com/
Bettina Shaden - TrustEvolved.dog
Fort Collins
Amy Creaven, Trust Your Dog - CreavenGoodBehavior.com/
Summit Dog Training - SummitDogTraining.com/
Frederick, Erie, Lafayette, Brighton
Amelia Wieber, Caring Behavior - CaringBehavior.com
Lafayette
Chrissy Messick, The Animal Nature - TheAnimalNature.com
Longmont / Berthoud / Lyons / Hygiene
Kathy Fischer, Pawsitive Approach - PawsitiveApproach.com
Elisheba Fey - ArtAndScience.dog (Elisheba does excellent remote consults via Zoom. She is a certified behavior consult
and SDR uses her for our difficult cases.)
Nederland / Gilpin County
Niamh Coleman - CanineConnectionCO.com
A good trainer will never use force, startle, pressure or fear. Fear is not training, it is intimidation. What happens if your dog to responds to you out of fear? Fear, pain, startle and pressure all release cortisol in the brain - so force training can easily create fear in your dog, and many unwanted behaviors can emerge due to anxiety and fear - such as aggression. Also, force training doesn't "teach" your dog any behaviors that are desirable, or life skills. It teaches them to be fearful, and that randomly, humans can be mean and dangerous. Dogs don't have the mental capability to know "right" from "wrong"... they don't have a moral compass, instead they understand "safe" and "unsafe." A dog who feels unsafe is not an ideal family dog by any means... so why would we actively teach our dogs to feel unsafe about their world?
Many trainers use either solely dominance techniques or are "balanced" trainers who use both. The field of dog training is not regulated, so it is important to hire a qualified, science-based, ethical, positive reinforcement/force free trainer.
We have screened every trainer on this list below for qualifications, high level of education in learning theory and force-free methods:
Boulder
Gigi Moss - GigiMoss.com
Boulder Humane - BoulderHumane.org
Jamie Flanagan, Training Wheels - TrainingWheels.dog
Mary Angilly - MaryAngilly.com
Arvada/Golden/Lakewood
Jen Ticsay, Dances with Woofs - DancesWithWoofsDogTraining.com
Ginger Corlew - OnePawAtATimeTraining.com
Broomfield
Julie Parker, Rocky Mountain Dog Training - RockyMountainDogTraining.com/
Maureen Stevens, Bee a Good Dog - BeeAGoodDog.com
Colorado Springs
All Breed Rescue and Training - HaveANiceDog.org/train
House of Dog - HouseOfDogTraining.com/
Denver Area
The Noble Beast - NobleBeastDogTraining.com/
Tender Hands Animal Training - TenderHandsAnimalTraining.com
Canis Major - CanisMajorTraining.com/
Denver's Dream Dog - DenverDreamDog.com
Denver Paw School - DenverPawSchool.com/
Bettina Shaden - TrustEvolved.dog
Fort Collins
Amy Creaven, Trust Your Dog - CreavenGoodBehavior.com/
Summit Dog Training - SummitDogTraining.com/
Frederick, Erie, Lafayette, Brighton
Amelia Wieber, Caring Behavior - CaringBehavior.com
Lafayette
Chrissy Messick, The Animal Nature - TheAnimalNature.com
Longmont / Berthoud / Lyons / Hygiene
Kathy Fischer, Pawsitive Approach - PawsitiveApproach.com
Elisheba Fey - ArtAndScience.dog (Elisheba does excellent remote consults via Zoom. She is a certified behavior consult
and SDR uses her for our difficult cases.)
Nederland / Gilpin County
Niamh Coleman - CanineConnectionCO.com
VIDEO LINKS TO GREAT TRAINERS ON YOUTUBE
You can subscribe to these trainers and watch all their videos. We can't recommend them enough.
All Dogs Go to Kevin - https://www.youtube.com/user/goodkheyhey
Zak George - Training Revolution https://www.youtube.com/user/zakgeorge21
Kikopup - https://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup
How to use your Freedom Harness - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usJEyq10Mzg
Some great articles on topics we often encounter:
Using a retractable leash? Think again! They are dangerous!
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/06/11/retractable-dog-leash.aspx
Using a retractable leash? Think again! They are dangerous!
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/06/11/retractable-dog-leash.aspx
Do you have a multi-species household?
So often our dogs go to homes with cats and other dogs, and this article is a great source on how to get them all to live peacefully together: http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/16_7/features/get-along-in-multi-species-house_20783-1.html
Additional Resources:
Lots of excellent trainers and behaviorists now have tons of articles on every subject on their websites. For ANY issue check out Patricia McConnell or Sophia Yin:
Patricia McConnell: http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/reading-room
Dr. Sophia Yin: http://drsophiayin.com/resources/dog_behavior
Not all trainers are created equal. Dog training is not a regulated field in general, so anyone can say they are a dog trainer, charge you money and tell you what to do. Look for trainers who are certified by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers - http://www.ccpdt.org. Behavior science has come a long way in the past decade, and so you want a cutting edge, positive reinforcement only dog trainer who can assist you in creating the best relationship with your furry friend.
Thinking about the dog park?
This is a great article about dog park etiquette, and what to look for in dog body language to keep your dog safe. Being social should always be a positive experience, and dog parks can be a sketchy place, even for the most experienced dogs and dog guardians:
http://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/dog-park-etiquette-rules
So often our dogs go to homes with cats and other dogs, and this article is a great source on how to get them all to live peacefully together: http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/16_7/features/get-along-in-multi-species-house_20783-1.html
Additional Resources:
Lots of excellent trainers and behaviorists now have tons of articles on every subject on their websites. For ANY issue check out Patricia McConnell or Sophia Yin:
Patricia McConnell: http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/reading-room
Dr. Sophia Yin: http://drsophiayin.com/resources/dog_behavior
Not all trainers are created equal. Dog training is not a regulated field in general, so anyone can say they are a dog trainer, charge you money and tell you what to do. Look for trainers who are certified by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers - http://www.ccpdt.org. Behavior science has come a long way in the past decade, and so you want a cutting edge, positive reinforcement only dog trainer who can assist you in creating the best relationship with your furry friend.
Thinking about the dog park?
This is a great article about dog park etiquette, and what to look for in dog body language to keep your dog safe. Being social should always be a positive experience, and dog parks can be a sketchy place, even for the most experienced dogs and dog guardians:
http://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/dog-park-etiquette-rules
Having housetraining issues with your puppy or newly adopted dog?
Great tips below by Patricia McConnell:
Great tips below by Patricia McConnell:
