Why Virtual Lessons?

I always knew virtual lessons were an amazing tool…

but it took doing virtual lessons full time for me to see the incredible transformative power they have.
With the world slowly opening up again many have asked me when I’ll be doing in person lessons again. Short answer, for the foreseeable future I’m not. Yes I will be doing 2 Saturday’s a month at parks In SLC where we can meet in person. But as much as I selfishly want to see all your dogs in person, knowing what I know now, I cannot go back to full time in person lessons. Why?

1-When I walk into a home dog behavior changes. They don’t know me, and truth be told I have a different presence, and your dog knows that I’m different. “This lady smells like dogs and communicates differently”. Behaviors are softened and in most cases the dog doesn’t act out. But with virtual lessons I get the amazing opportunity to see your dog as you see them. I get to see the slight mannerisms that your dog wouldn’t have done before. This helps me not have to guess what your dog is like when I’m not there but gives you tools to communicate most effectively back to them.

2-Dog Training isn’t a reprogramming of your dog, it is a journey. A journey that you have to be a part of in order for the new behaviors to become habits. Sure, I can teach them anything, but it is up to YOU to guide and hold your dog accountable. With Virtual Lessons I don’t become a crutch (“they do it for the trainer but as soon as she leaves they don’t listen”).

3-In virtual lessons I guide you step by step in what to do, why to do it, what your dog is saying to you, and how you can respond. Things like “your dog is holding tension so take a deep exhale”, or “your dog is laying down because you’re bending over, put your shoulders back and relax”. Through virtual lessons, I get to learn how you communicate with your dog, and teach you in a way where you won’t need a translator. I want you to have to tools to further problem solve and build on your foundation.

4-When you train your dog, your dog sees you as the source of confidence, partnership, and knowledge. No amount of treats and toys can even come close to building the strong bond that learning with your dog can. Instead of your dog seeing someone else as the source of information, and then leaving you to manage it, your dog will learn first hand from you what the packs expectations are. They will learn how you communicate and you will learn how they communicate, what their stress signals are, their learning style, how the process information and how they release.

Do Virtual Lessons require more hands on participation from you? Sure. It’s like learning a new language. A language that unites humans and dogs in the most amazing way.