that are supposed to work were useless.  He pulled so hard on the leash he wasn't vertical, had no recall, barked incessantly, was a fear biter, etc. He challenged me beyond anything I had ever experienced. He drove me to discover the cause of his misbehavior in order to modify the unwanted behavior, rather than trying to address symptoms. 

​

In my opinion, energy is everything and I employ "dog whisperer" methods in my training. I instruct my animals primarily using energy, sound, and if necessary, touch with my hand. I use the mildest tool the dog will respond to. I prefer positive reinforcement; however, my personal experience has been not every dog will respond to only positive reinforcement. There were not enough treats to convince my Basenji mix dog, Hunter, to come back when called.

​

I continue to work with and learn from dogs. In addition, I continue furthering my education through reading, watching videos, attending classes, etc. Here is a list of some of the materials I have studied: Through a Dog's Eyes, How to Speak Dog, How to Raise the Perfect Dog, Be the Pack Leader, Jelly Bean versus Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, How Dogs Learn, The Secret Language of Dogs, Cesar Millan's Lessons From the Pack, Canine Behavior A Photo Illustrated Handbook, and Essentials of Dog Behavior Socialization. This list does not include the many videos I have also viewed.