The Perfect Dog training system - Don Sullivan, The DogFather

03/27/2024

Just a girl and her dogs. So thankful for our relationship with my dogs. Thanks to Don Sullivan’s training for making this picture possible. His training has made all the difference in incorporating my daughter into our pack and having my dogs accept her without question because they respect my leadership 100% and the fact that Everley my daughter is now part of the pack. Absolutely so in love, my heart is full.
- Albany Smith, Washington

02/21/2024

The ultimate goal of "Freedom Obedience" (whereby the dog chooses to obey rules and boundaries of its own accord despite the freedom to do otherwise) should *not* be an optional advanced-level training choice. Rather, this kind of training is essential for everyday trust, harmony, and especially safety.

Goofy situations like this (in the attached video) can easily turn into disasters. A dog owner does not have to dread scenarios like this. Those who are proactive and start preventative training when their puppy is very young (even as young as 9 weeks old) – and/or as soon as their adopted dog first comes into its new home environment – can have confidence and peace of mind that even in the most unexpected circumstances, their dogs will default to doing the right thing.



LINK:

In this heartwarming video, watch as a joyful dog brings laughter and delight to all those around. This furry friend couldn't resist the allure of a public f...

01/06/2024

This is very sad and disturbing ignorance... Dog owners who encourage their dogs to become aggressively dominant in the family are creating ticking time bombs. They think it's "funny" to watch the dog go into protective mode, sometimes with a false romantic vision of the dog one day protecting the children from some bad person.

However, what happens too often, tragically, is that the dog turns on its own family members to (in the dog's mind) keep their "pack" in line. The people never see it coming, and heartbreak strikes in an instant. Then, post-tragedy claims are made such as, "It happened out of the blue – s/he has always been such a wonderful dog, and we just don't understand!" without considering the true cause of the dog attack.

YouTube Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/7AaipA6L7is?si=NXq0HoPuYQY7R5mO

12/17/2023

Too funny!! Good clean humor!

11/29/2023

Awesome training refresher! Albany has done such a great job with Annie — very solid, long lasting results!! She says…

“Stopped by the park for a bit of exercise and training refresher and my Annie did fantastic. This was after she helped me through my dentist appointment earlier. Such an amazing dog and no leash or training lines needed for her. She even ignored a reactive dog and a squirrel that darted right in front of her and then across the road.” — Albany Smith

11/08/2023

“I found this awesome 1947 issue of LIFE magazine at a thrift store while browsing the shelves with my daughter. Needless to say that it’s now going to be a feature on my coffee table!” - Don Sullivan

11/01/2023

“I hope to tell you my stinker puppy had a mind of her own and really did know she WAS Alfa dog. In a matter of 3 days of persistence on my part she no longer has the attitude and it's amazing!”

Laura O. — Grand Rapids, Michigan

Photo courtesy of: www.freepik.com

10/18/2023

This info could save your dog’s life one day. Very important to know!

09/29/2023

“It’s crazy how many times I come across videos like this. Thankfully, this poor sweetheart of a dog was waiting patiently for someone to rescue him. But, I have seen many other videos that are just plain heartbreaking . . .”

- Don Sullivan, “The DogFather”

Dog stuck in elevator door video link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/koCtx02ymBY

Fernando had gone down to the mail room of his apartment to check on his mail when the doors of the elevator opened and he saw an owner with their dog carryi...

09/13/2023

Got to love good clean humor! This is very clever! “A merry heart does good like a medicine.” (Prov 17:22)

08/29/2023

THIS “IS” BEAUTIFUL, IN MANY WAYS!!

“I just had to share some of the beautiful pictures I took with my little family today and how well my 3 dogs did for the photo shoot. Your training has absolutely changed my life and I am so thankful for that. I love my dogs so much and my daughter has fit in so well with them. Thanks to your training and I guess a bit to good breeding and getting sound dogs genetic wise I had absolutely no worries bringing home my daughter Everley. Thank you for everything you do.”
— Albany Smith

08/16/2023

Dogs don’t die just during heat waves. Even mildly warm weather can kill dogs left in cars — even if the windows are cracked open! The images attached to this post are excellent reminders. Please share with anyone who you think might need reminding. . .

08/03/2023

Watch out! Summer walks can quickly lead to burned and blistered paws. This picture I came across is a very strong visual — note the importance of properly testing the ground (whether pavement, bricks, tile, etc.) with the *back* of your hand before venturing out with your canine pal.

07/29/2023

What a joy! Albany Smith sent me this. She has used my system with all of her dogs and achieved great success. She has been so dedicated to maximizing freedom and quality of life for her dogs, and they are all reaping more rewards with a little one now part of the happy family. Albany wrote, “At the park with my lab off leash watching over my daughter while she’s swinging.” That’s the Perfect Dog life! 😃
— Don Sullivan, “The DogFather”

07/20/2023

“Night and day difference…” This is a very awesome success story!

06/27/2023

Another one…! Pet safety should be a part of driver education - not just for the sake of the driver and passenger pet(s), but for the sake of other drivers, too.

06/15/2023

“I adore this fella! His name is Rudy the GSP, and me and my family often see him having a ball (figuratively and literally!) playing fetch over and over (and over…) at one of our local parks. He never runs off and is super friendly with everyone.

It brings such joy to my heart to see owners and their canine pals enjoying this level of freedom. It’s priceless, yet it’s so very attainable with the right tools and techniques.

Rudy looks tired out in this photo, yet he is always hankering for just one more throw… 😉”

- Don Sullivan, “The DogFather”

05/29/2023

BEWARE! This dog toy is dangerous. Great to read that the company has expressed willingness to re-design their product, but in the meantime, any dog owner with the current toy should seriously consider the potential consequences of continued use…

05/15/2023

Emergency Health & Safety Tips: This is great information to identify and help a choking dog!

First, wherever possible, exercise preventative measures such as abstaining from giving your dog cooked meat bones (especially chicken bones), and doing thorough research on safe chew toys prior to purchase.

Nevertheless, sometimes accidents happen, and knowing what to do could save your dog’s life.

05/02/2023

“I wholeheartedly concur with this post! I came across it this morning, and in the comments section, someone mentioned they actually saw a dog fall out of a car window in the very same kind of scenario - yet the dog also had a leash on at the time!

Look closely at the photo… The sadly ironic thing is that there’s an “I love my dog” sticker on the back of the vehicle. Yet, truly loving your dog is doing what is best for your dog’s health and safety — not what is best for your emotional pleasure and comfort…”

— Don Sullivan, “The DogFather”

04/20/2023

Adopted dogs CAN be transformed! This is a great success story, posted by a fan…

04/11/2023

I didn’t train this dog, but this is awesome! I spied this duo on a bike ride the other morning. This is a perfect example of the kind of “freedom obedience” I encourage all dog owners to train toward.

You’ll see me refer to it as the “Trust Zone” in my Perfect Dog system, and it results in such a fulfilling life for both owner and four-legged friend!

Even if some places have restrictions, there are all kinds of other fun outing destinations where you and your well trained dog can be happy… and be free!

— Don Sullivan, “The DogFather”

03/31/2023

Losing Your Head Over Emotion!!

I enjoyed reading this under one of my Facebook product ads. She posted in response to someone else’s critical comment.

The critic was pushing treat training and strongly criticizing the use of training collars (based on the style of training that the critic claims all ‘educated trainers’ now use).

I would also contribute to the strength of the statement below about “there’s no such thing as purely positive” by highlighting the fact that many bribery-style trainers tell their clients to make sure their dogs are hungry before coming to class! Now, in my mind, there’s a huge negative right there…

I hope the poster’s comments had a positive affect on the critic. From experience, though, when it comes to the world of dog training, I find that a critic’s emotion-based convictions are difficult to reason with…

— Don Sullivan, “The DogFather”

Re-posted in part below:
. . The "educated" trainers you are referencing are anything but. They are simply selling a pipe dream that doesn't get results, in the real world, at all. They are trying to tell people that one quadrant, out of four, will work. It doesn't!

I've been in this game for almost 50 years, and I know bullcrap when I see it. The last 30 I have done almost nothing but problem dogs.

You want to know how to tell it's bull? It's easy. One, you never see it in nature. When you tell me nature is wrong, I have my doubts.

Two, there is no such thing as purely positive, or force free. Never has been. It's simply a sales pitch.

Ask your "educated professionals" what negative reinforcement there is from giving treats? Because there is one!

I work are least a couple dogs a month, that are total messes, that have had one or two YEARS of your "educated" training.

Show me YOUR well trained dog! I'll wait.

03/11/2023

Well said, from first hand experience with Don Sullivan’s Perfect Dog system!

03/02/2023

*THIS* is why ‘freedom obedience’ is the core of Don Sullivan’s training system!! (See video link pasted below.)

Train your dogs to be fully trusted off leash, and times like this will fill their lives with utter joy, satisfaction, and physical and mental health. There is no better gift that we can give our four-legged friends . . .

Video link: https://youtube.com/shorts/ch545bL3oWk?feature=share

02/23/2023

ONE DAY AWAY from being medicated for life!!

I met this beautiful dog and his lovely owner at an outdoor event last weekend. The dog was barking like crazy outside a coffee shop, so I approached to help. The poor lady was trying to stuff him with treats to distract him, yet the dog was only silent for a few seconds each time, when he was chewing on his food.

The owner was very receptive to everything I had to share, revealing that she was just about to fulfill a prescription for Va**um type medication for her dog (which her vet had provided as the best solution for her dog’s problematic behavior!).

The owner was so relieved to know that her dog’s issues would be a relatively simple and quick fix, using the right training tools and techniques.

Unfortunately, owners of problem dogs like this regularly turn to medical professionals who don’t always have a strong handle on how to rehabilitate behavioural issues. They are incredibly talented when it comes to a dog’s physical health, but very often they can’t be relied upon for sound training advice.

It’s heartbreakingly sad to consider the multitudes of dogs that are being dumbed down and harmed by unnecessary medication in order to curb behavioural problems that are simply an “effective training” issue . . .

- Don Sullivan, “The DogFather”

02/14/2023

Once you know how, you’re set for the rest of your life as a dog owner…!

This is such an inspiring success story. Penny transformed her crazy wild heeler that everyone hated, and now her two new German shepherds are great dogs because Penny simply knew what to do with them from Day #1, using the same tools and techniques in Don Sullivan’s system.

02/02/2023

Find this article and more on Don Sullivan’s additional “Training Tips” section, located at the bottom of his Home page on www.TheDogFather.com

01/24/2023

Great reviews, and great advice!! - Yes, it’s always advisable to watch the most relevant training lessons more than once. Sometimes, on the second time around, you’re better able to grasp the finer details of Don Sullivan’s theory and techniques. Applying these will help you to achieve even stronger, long lasting results!

01/13/2023

This is a misleading article suggesting that people won't have aggression issues if they buy these particular breeds. Rather, safety depends on pro-active, solid, effective training that incorporates anti-aggression techniques and, wherever possible, begins from when the puppy is about 8-9 weeks old.

From over 35 years of first-hand professional experience, Don Sullivan can recall myriad accounts of aggression from clients' dogs - dogs that would have initially fit within this article's “Top Ten” profile.

Yes, various breeds are definitely more challenging, with some being genetically more pre-disposed to dominant behavior. This dictates the "level" at which you need to train them, but as The DogFather shares in his system, the techniques remain consistent, and...
..it is your efforts in applying these techniques that will determine whether or not you, your family, and your dog end up living a life of harmony and safety, and mutual respect and fulfilment. It is NOT the breed of dog that determines this outcome...

ARTICLE: https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/safest-dogs-2023-here-are-the-10-breeds-of-adorable-dog-least-likely-to-bite-and-snap-including-the-loving-labrador-3706612