Welcome to OC Canine Coaching! I established this venture in 2010, driven by an unwavering passion for dogs that has grown even stronger with time. I consistently immerse myself in education, refining my approach to center on relationship-based training as opposed to more traditional methods. Holding a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) certification from IAABC, I’ve constructed my expertise on empathy, understanding, and evidence-based training methods.
In Orange County, only a few other behavior consultants hold this esteemed CDBC certification. I chose this certificate due to its rigorous nature, allowing my clients to trust the advice and behavioral suggestions I provide. As dog training remains unregulated, and without proper experience or understanding, anyone can claim to be a ‘dog trainer’ or ‘behaviorist.’ This highlights the paramount importance of entrusting your dogs to capable hands.
My holistic approach thoughtfully considers each dog’s health, medical history, environment, learned behaviors, and emotions when devising a training or treatment plan. This perspective shapes my view of training as a journey that nurtures the bond between human and canine. I’ve evolved beyond outdated traditional methods, embracing relationship-based techniques that prioritize positive reinforcement over punishment.
Above all, I prioritize honesty, kindness, and accountability in my professional relationships. I look forward to being of assistance to you and your furry companions in the near future.
When I started my career, dog training was rapidly changing and the positive reinforcement movement was on the rise. I was very much into this new philosophy and found it made a huge impact on learning for my students. I won’t kid you though, as a novice trainer, I still wanted to use a mixed bag of tools and tricks that I had learned from others. I’ll admit I used prong collars and even shock collars from time to time because I felt that they worked better for some more challenging dogs. What I wasn’t fully aware of was while punishment like this can work to change behavior, the emotional fallout of these tools and methods is all too common, even in the hands of trainers with impeccable timing like myself. What’s worse is these tactics often cause further behavior issues, don’t offer lasting behavior change, don’t address the actual cause of behavior problems and damage the trust you have built already with your dog.
Let’s look at it this way. Anyone can force your dog to do what they want and so can you. You are the dominant figure in your household. You essentially control everything in your dog’s world and they need your help to understand the rules of your human world. The issues dog owners face are mostly the result of unrealistic expectations, misunderstandings, poor management, limited instruction on what is wanted from dogs, and a lack of attention and rewards for doing so. Add on too many corrective measures because you don’t know what else to do and no wonder there is conflict. There is a lot to consider and I can help you put the pieces together for a more harmonious relationship.
Scaring and intimidating our dogs is not sustainable if we want peace of mind. Our dogs are not wolves, nor are they pack animals like we have thought they were previously. Being the alpha and dominating your dog is an outdated and problematic approach that only leads to confusion and further turmoil for your dog. Fortunately, after years of continuing education, formal certification, and collaboration with numerous and more esteemed dog trainers, and veterinary professionals, I designed my programs to address both the dog and the owner’s needs while keeping things as light-hearted and fun as possible for each to learn at their optimum level.
