Good Human Dog Training

26/08/2024

No dog in the history of the world has ever pondered the ethics of stealing a sandwich off of a plate or felt guilty about barking at 3 AM. Dogs don’t have a moral compass as we understand it. They simply act on instinct and learned behaviors, and consequences.
�Your dog’s world revolves around, well, your dog. They’re not altruists; they’re looking out for number one. Do they love you? Yes, of course they do. But they’ll take your sandwich. �
Leave food unattended? It’s gone. Door left open? They’re on an adventure. Dogs naturally live by the idea of ‘seize the day’. They don’t worry about tomorrow - they enjoy each moment as it comes. Sounds great until you’re chasing your dog through the neighborhood yards in your skivvies.

Perhaps we love dogs not in spite of these traits, but because of them. They remind us of our own basic instincts and the joy of living simply. They don’t judge us by human standards, and in return, we accept them for who they are – opportunistic, self-centered, and all.
�So the next time your dog barks at 3 AM , remember that your dog is simply being a dog. And isn’t that why we invited them into our lives in the first place?

Rather than assuming your dog is being a jerk to get back at you etc., focus on positive reinforcement for desired behaviors and preventing unwanted behaviors through management and training.
Get in touch!

18/08/2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Here's what one happy client had to say:

"Jen really knows dogs and cares about their well-being. She had tons of helpful strategies that I was able to implement. If you're looking for a trainer, I highly recommend Good Human."

- Alex G.

16/08/2024

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Here's what one happy client had to say:

"I loved working with Good Human Dog Training! They were very responsive to me and my dog's needs. For me, my dog (rescued pit mix) was overwhelmed in the group setting. Our instructor, Jen, was great at providing resources to help understand the behavior. She offered different options to support my dog and her learning. By the end of it, she was able to participate in class fully! I highly recommend their services."

-Jessica J.

14/08/2024

Our redesigned site is live! If you experience any broken links or issues, please let us know.

Expert dog training in Winston-Salem. Certified behaviorist specialist offering service dog, aggression, obedience training using science-based methods.

12/08/2024

Update: The site (https://goodhumandogtraining.com) should be up; however, as we complete the upgrade, you may encounter some dead links.
For those in our online learning programs,
https://teamsintraining.getlearnworlds.com will become your new landing page for online learning materials.
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This morning, we're performing website maintenance. Until complete, you can access our website at https://teamsintraining.getlearnworlds.com

08/08/2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What one happy client had to say:

loved it! was very informative and I got a plan I can continue training with even after the session!

-Jessica M.

02/08/2024

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Here's what one happy client had to say:

"Jennifer was a wealth of information. She really get us some great information and thing to try with our dog to help address the issues we where having. I definitely plan on using her again for some of the other issues we've been having with our fur baby."

-Brandon R.

01/08/2024

This is my dear, sweet, handsome great-nephew dog, Yahtzee.
Do you hear that ridiculous noise he’s making? He’s getting a nice scratch and massage.

What silly noise does your dog make when they relax?

27/07/2024

26/07/2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Here's what one happy client had to say:

"Jen was incredibly helpful in answering some specific questions I had about my new dog. I reached out with a fairly complex question about my dog’s behavior and she promptly gave me tailored advice, resources and next steps. It’s clear that Jen knows dog behavior and is very experienced, I would trust her with any future issues that arise."
-Kelly D.

22/07/2024

Our dogs' behavior is driven by their emotions in the moment, not by an inherent sense of right or wrong. It's us humans who label their behavior as "good" or "bad," often based on our personal ideals and emotional responses.

However, labeling our dogs can limit our ability to understand and address the root cause of their behavior. These labels shape our perceptions and hinder effective training. If your dog is "stubborn," why would you seek to motivate them? Labeling stops good training before it has a chance to make a difference.�

Labeling also misses the function of behavior. When we view our dog as a problem instead of an individual struggling with frustration, stress, over-arousal, or fatigue, we miss valuable information. By recognizing that our dog is having a hard time (rather than giving us a hard time), we become motivated to help them. We become problem solvers.�

Don't let labels hold you back from having a well-behaved dog. Good Human Dog Training will dig a little deeper. We'll help you discover a new way of understanding and communicating with your dog. We’ll work with you to identify the underlying issues and develop a personalized training plan that addresses your dog's unique needs.

Follow us for more tips and insights, and let's start your journey towards a stronger bond with your dog.

17/07/2024

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Here's what one happy client had to say:

"I really appreciate Jen's approach to working with dogs and their humans- I didn't have to buy a big training package and she provided lots of resources, tips, and tricks for me to try out gradually. She was very reassuring, my dogs just needed patience and practice and she empowered me to step up and do the work. Good Human isn't for you if you want your dog to magically change overnight, but it is for you if you want to learn about dog behavior and put in the time and energy (it pays off by giving you a deeper relationship with your pups). This is positive reinforcement-based training.
Jen was also wonderful about following up and continuing to offer assistance, as needed. I feel like I can go back to Jen for more advice/training if we hit another roadblock. I appreciate all Jen has done for me and my dogs!"
-Amy B.

13/07/2024

Please stop doing the Sniff Test.
It's pretty rude to stuff your hands in someone's face. Especially someone you're meeting for the first time!

Imagine what that's like for a dog who needs a slower introduction.
The Sniff Test forces an interaction that normally requires some time to develop. An extended hand puts a lot of social pressure on the dog, which makes the situation worse!

A better way to meet a new dog:
1. Ask the person. If they look apprehensive, don't push it! If they say yes:
2. Ask the dog. You can do this by turning to the side and patting your leg gently.
* If the dog comes over, cool. They may want some petting!
* If they choose not to come over, let it go. There are other dogs to pet.

I wonder how many snaps and bites have resulted from the Sniff Test.

11/07/2024

So, how did I get here?
It was a dog. Surprise!
A stray puppy wandered into my life in the spring of 2004. He was my Chicken Little, afraid of shadows and anything new in his world. Biscuit was my first teacher and remains my best. I never imagined the ways that a Durham Brown Dog would change my life and set it on a whole new course. Dogs will do that, huh? Anyway, it was goodbye to my office job and hello to muddy jeans and treat-filled pockets!
I can't think of anything I would rather be doing.

Philosophy
My commitment to providing humane, effective behavior modification and improving the quality of life for dogs in homes and shelters has only grown over the years. I also love working with incredible humans who share that commitment, whether for their own dogs or dogs they are helping find their way home.

Dog training isn't just about the dog, it's also about the human. I use a collaborative approach with my clients, because a training plan that isn't practical won't be effective.

Knowledge
My formal education includes multiple certifications, but I credit the dogs and humans I've worked with for teaching me essential behavior and training concepts.

I'm a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) with the IAABC, Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). I graduated with distinction from the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior in 2018, becoming a Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP). I'm committed to continuing my education to ensure that my knowledge of dog behavior and training is up-to-date and that I use the most humane methods.

Experience
Since those first puppy classes with Biscuit, I've gained many years of professional experience, from running a successful pet sitting and dog walking business to volunteering at my local municipal shelter to in-home private dog training and group classes to service dog training. My goal has always been to give people the skills to train the dog they have now so that they may train every dog that ever shares their heart and home.

I look forward to connecting with you and being a part of your journey to create a better relationship with your dog.

10/07/2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Here's what one happy client had to say:

"Jen is amazing! We've made great strides in dealing with our dog's fear of strangers."

-Pamela K

09/07/2024

Dog trainers talk a lot about generalizing behavior. This means you have to switch up how the training environment looks for your dog. A typical training scenario would include getting the behavior in your house first. Once it's a strong behavior, and your dog could do it anywhere in the house (even when they don't see a treat in your hand), you can take it outside to a calm spot like your driveway. Expect to train it all over from scratch because, outside of the house, it's all completely new for your dog. Always begin training in easier locations (in the house) before moving to harder locations (in the driveway).

Train manners where manners matter most.
There are some behaviors you only need in certain situations or environments. For example, if you are teaching your dog to greet politely at the door, you will really want to focus on training this in the context it will be used such as in front of the door where exciting people enter.

Play vs. training locations
If you play fun games with your puppy while you sit in your favorite TV watching chair, your dog will expect to play fun games when you are trying to watch TV. Think about that.

When you train your puppy, you are also training your future dog.
You do not want to train your future dog to harass you for fun games in your wind-down spot.

I see adult dogs with these demand behaviors such as barking and pawing at their owner to play, play, play. Why wouldn't they? They were told that it was ok as a puppy and those lessons stick.

Dogs do what works.
It's us, the humans, who change the rules and expect our dogs to understand. That's not very fair, is it?

How to differentiate play spaces and training spaces:

- Train behaviors you need primarily where and when you need them. For example, sitting politely at the door should be trained at the door more than anywhere else.

- Make your training spaces look different. For example, if you want to play with your dog in the den where you watch TV, sit in a designated chair or on the floor.

- Remember, your puppy is always learning, whether you are actively training or not! Consider what you are teaching them at every interaction.

04/07/2024

🎇 On July 4, many animals become startled or frightened by the noise of fireworks. This may cause them to flee from familiar environments and people, and sadly become lost.

🔖 Ensure they are wearing their tags and that their microchips are current with correct contact information. New technology includes GPS collars and geo location tags.

🙉 Provide safe zones and sound buffers indoors to minimize stress.

🐕‍🦺 If they must go outside, they must be on a leash.

03/07/2024

From aggression and fear to house manners, I help dogs and their humans overcome training and behavior challenges through the use of practical, positive strategies. Certified dog behavior consultant using effective and efficient methods based on the most updated science.

Offering in-person in the Winston-Salem area, virtual and on online learning.

03/07/2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What clients are saying about Good Human Dog Training:

"Wow. Jen and I have been working together before I even got my dog. She has been so patient answering questions and making sure I am ready to teach my dog. Jen teaches to ensure understanding and is committed to making sure we are a successful service dog team. Truly so excited for our journey. Insanely impressed with the online curriculum and the quality of the education provided to ensure each team is prepared to be successful."
-Rebecca C.

02/07/2024

Back in 2018, a review paper in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior outlined the reasons why, in their words, "there is no credible scientific evidence to justify e-collar use and the use of spray collars or electronic fences for dogs. On the contrary, there are many reasons to never use these devices. Better training options exist, with proven efficacy and low risk.” If you want to know more, you can read about the study on my blog: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2018/06/study-outlines-reasons-to-ban.html in a post from the archives.

02/07/2024

Summers in the South are pretty miserable for all beasts. No one wants to be out in this heat, even me. And training dogs and their people is my most favorite thing.
Here are 10 dog training tips to help you reach your goals while staying safe in the heat.

This blog provides tips to help dog owners train more easily in the hot summer months, danger signs and protocols if your dog gets overheated

25/06/2024

03/05/2024

Tea towel

25/04/2024

Here’s a PSA on behalf of all dogs.

Stop correcting your dog for sniffing.

Stop it. Please.

How would you like it if I corrected you for looking around a room? Imagine if you raised your head to look around a new place and I popped you or shoved you or said “HEY! PAY ATTENTION” You’d get pretty upset pretty quickly I’d imagine.

Dogs don’t smell because they are ignoring you or being stubborn. We humans primarily depend on sight, but dogs use smell AND sight to assess their surroundings and communicate. People spend more time interpreting visual data than olfactory information. Dogs are just the opposite.

Dogs devote lots of brain power to interpreting smells. They have more than 100 million sensory receptor sites in the nasal cavity as compared to 6 million in people, and the area of the canine brain devoted to analyzing odors is about 40 times larger than the comparable part of the human brain. In fact, it’s been estimated that dogs can smell anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 times better than people.

Scent gives information. Smelling is normal. Smelling is necessary and natural. Smelling is relaxing. Air scenting is HUGE for recovering reactive dogs. LET YOUR DOG SMELL!

Correcting a dog for sniffing is one of the worst things I watch people do. It’s another example of how controlling we try to be in our dogs lives. If you don’t want your dog to smell, teach him to focus on you instead for part of the time, and then give other ample times to smell. If he’s pulling you to smell, use a different tool that inhibits pulling but still allows for some nasal exploration. Even better work on collar pressure work too so your dog learns to smell when there’s less pressure! Walks on a long line on a dirt road or in a field for your dog to zig zag back and forth on to smell is MUCH healthier and more tiring for them as animals than trying to keep them within 6 feet of you on a neighborhood walk.

Please accept that smelling is normal and work WITH your dog on it, rather than just trying to suppress it. Just because that blade of grass or tree isn’t interesting to YOU doesn’t mean your dog deserves a correction. Who cares if you don’t walk the extra block - spend those 5 minutes on that one tree if you need to. Your dog doesn’t complain when you watch YouTube videos of kittens for hours or read the news or binge on Netflix, so let him get his scent binge in to.

Happy smelling pups!

26/03/2024

Behavior medication isn’t failure. It’s treatment and care. It provides a better quality of life and facilitates new learning for dogs who live with anxiety. For humans too!

08/03/2024

📣Realistic Expectations!📣

Me when I give my dogs a stuffed animal: “I’m going to be picking up stuffing for the next week…😏”

Some people: “I can’t find anything that my dog doesn’t wreck.”

Some dogs may carry and toss around stuffed animals, which might mimic how PEOPLE think a dog should treat a stuffy (because that’s what human kids ⛹️‍♀️👶🏽 do with stuffies) BUT a lot of dogs LOVE to shred and chew on them! That’s absolutely normal and still a reason to keep buying them stuffies.

The purpose of the toy is to bring them joy and enrichment….Also an example of AGENCY. If one particular dogs enjoys carrying it around, great! If the next dog sees the toy and is totally stoked about shredding, that’s great as well!

I will tell clients who have dogs who like to shred to hit up garage sales or thrift stores and buy cheap ones and let them shred! Don’t waste your time buying expensive “chew proof,” toys (let’s be real, I’ve never found one for real chewers anyways)!

31/01/2024

19/08/2023

Puppy (name tbd) just loves his snuffle mat. Most dogs do!

15/08/2023

Slow is Fast.
I say this a lot.
I say it to those who are socializing a new puppy, to anyone working with their worried dog, and to all my service dog handlers.
If you’ve spent more than 10 minutes with me, I’ve probably said it to you!

Sharon, thank you! () It’s going to be in heavy rotation. Best shirt ever!