Helen Taylor
Dog Training & Behaviour
BSc (hons) Zoology, ADipCBM,
Member APBC, Member APDT (881)

North Dorset-based behaviourist and trainer


HOME
WHY PUNISHMENT DOESN'T WORK
PUPPY CLASSES
CLASSES FOR OLDER DOGS
PRIVATE SESSIONS
AREAS COVERED
TESTIMONIALS
FAQs
ABOUT US
CONTACT US
COURSE START DATES & BOOKING FORMS
PHOTO GALLERY
NEWS
 

Home

Based in North Dorset, Helen Taylor Dog Training & Behaviour offers home visits throughout Dorset, South Somerset and South Wiltshire. She also runs classes in North Dorset.

Helen helps dog owners to train their dogs and solve behaviour problems using positive methods of dog training and behaviour modification. Reward-based dog training and solving dog behaviour problems relies on the scientifically proven fact that rewarding the right behaviour and making the wrong behaviour unrewarding is more effective than using punishment, and is far less likely to cause other, even more undesirable behaviours to surface (a common problem with more punitive methods).

Many owners believe that "showing your dog who's boss" will bring an end to their dog's behaviour or training problems. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case. Dominance-theory - alongside choke chains - was at the forefront of dog training several decades ago when dog behaviour was largely compared to the behaviour of wolves and punishment for the wrong behaviour was used as a training method. This has been largely replaced in the last decade by more scientifically proven reward-based methods.

Most dominance-theory came from a single study of wild wolves in captivity. The theories that came out of this study have - in the last decade - been shown to be seriously flawed when applied to today's domestic dog. Dogs originally domesticated themselves by learning to hang around human rubbish dumps and, later, humans themselves, to scavenge. A pack existence offers no advantage to a scavenger and the wolves that domesticated themselves and ultimately became dogs were those that had a predisposition towards a scavenging lifestyle, without the support of the pack, and those that were the least timid of people. Thousands of years later, some parallels can, of course, be drawn against the dog's closest living relative. However, great care must be taken not to take this too far. While we must, indeed, be "good leaders" to our dogs, and be someone who protects them, and that they can look up to and respect, this is not achieved through old-fashioned dominance theory. Most behaviour problems are NOT caused by owners allowing their dogs to be the pack leader and, as such, cannot be fixed merely by appying a dominance-reducing programme. There are some exceptions to this, of course, but in the relatively few problems where "dominance" DOES play a part in a dog's behaviour problems, there are far more effective and less dangerous methods of lowering a dog's status than dramatic, violent methods often seen on TV including "alpha rolls", chocking or physical corrections. Most types of aggression problems in dogs are caused by fear, not by "dominance".

For more information on this subject, see an article from Welfare in Dog Training: What's Wrong with Using ‘Dominance’ to Explain the Behaviour of Dogs?

Latest information: Important multi-organisation (APBC, APDT, RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross and many others) press release concerning Cesar Millan's forthcoming UK tour***
dated 15 December 2009

Good dog behaviour can be achieved using reward-based methods, without the associated risks, and has actually been shown in scientific studies to be more effective and much safer than punishment-based methods. Punishment and harsh, forceful methods can cause a whole host of behavioural problems - often much more serious than the original problem - even if used accurately, and can and very often do damage the bond between dog and owner.

Our aim is to help owners to achieve a well-behaved, well-mannered and obedient dog using kind, effective, safe methods. Reward-based methods have been shown by scientific studies to be more effective and less likely to give rise to aggressive behaviour than harsher methods. Using intimidation or pain to train your dog is often surprisingly ineffective and highly dangerous. Some dogs will back down if challenged aggressively, but a great many (as would a great many people) become fearful and, with it, more aggressive.

A dog that jumps up, pulls on the lead, runs away on walks, doesn't come back when called or has no manners with people or other dogs is hard work, can be an embarrassment and is no fun to own! While having a well-mannered, happy and obedient dog that can accompany you almost everywhere can be one of life's great pleasures!

Training classes offer good, all-round introduction to reward-based training and are ideal for clients wanting a class environment, and for those wishing to learn a variety of different commands and to improve their dog's general training and obedience. For clients wanting more focused help on one or two problem areas, a private one-to-one training session is sometimes more appropriate. For dogs with behavioural problems, such as aggression towards other dogs or people, separation anxiety or phobias, a behavioural consultation may be required.

Helen Taylor Dog Training & Behaviour operates throughout Dorset, South Somerset, North Hampshire and West Wiltshire. Training classes are currently held in Shillingstone, which is easily accessible from the following towns: Blandford Forum, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, and Wimborne. Other services are available throughout the region, including the following areas: Blandford Forum, Castle Cary, Dorchester, Ferndown, Frome, Gillingham, Martock, Mere, Poole, Ringwood, Salisbury, Shaftesbury, Shepton Mallet, Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Warminster, Wilton, Wimborne,

Don't put up with a disobedient or bad-mannered dog, contact us today! Good dog behaviour is achievable for all!

A member of both the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (www.apbc.org.uk) and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (881) (www.apdt.co.uk), Helen Taylor is the only fully-qualified reward-based trainer and behaviourist in North Dorset.

..Helping your best friend to be even better..

 

©Helen Taylor 2009

Home visits available in and around the following areas: Blandford Forum, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Crewkerne, Dorchester, Ferndown, Gillingham, Martock, Mere, Poole, Ringwood, Salisbury, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Warminster, Weymouth, Wilton, Wimborne, Yeovil.