Certified Dog Trainer
Hi my name is Barbra Ristow. I use positive reinforcement in all my training – “Reward the behavior you want to see repeated”. Finding what motivates your dog is a crucial first step. Motivation can come from food like hot dogs, treats, and cheese, or toys like a tennis ball or tug toy. Once motivated, we teach our dogs “Impulse Control”. Impulse control is the ability to resist temptation and delay gratification. It’s an important skill for dogs to learn, as it can help them avoid dangerous situations, such as running into traffic or eating harmful objects. By adding the three training D’s, Duration, Distraction, and Distance into basic cues like sit, and down we strengthen impulse control. Adding a release word such as “free” or “release” at the end of the cue helps your dog understand when they’re done. Your dog will wait for this word and in turn, develop a very reliable sit and down cue.