Does Your Dog     Do This?

Do You Feel
    Like This?

Dog Training Philosophy

We use both classical and operant conditioning techniques to change behavior with our gentle, human, easy, effective dog training method, called 'Tap-N-Tell^sm"

We always begin with positive reinforcement, but we will use all four quadrants of operant conditioning, as needed, to make our desires clear to the animal.

In our professional opinion, clear, concrete, consistent and reliable communication with the dog is the most humane and ethical dog training method.

With the use of our "Tickle-Tingle-Tap and Tell SYSTEM", there is no limit to your ability to communicate with your dog; quickly, in the real world, at a distance and despite distractions.

THE DOG OR THE DOGMA

"If given a choice to believe in the Dogma or the Dog, I'll believe the dog each and every time ".  Ami Moore the Dog Whisperer of Chicago

We call our primary dog training tool the "TAPPER". On occasion we will refer to our tool as a buzzer, clicker, tickler, dog hearing aide, or even the doggy cell phone. 

This dog training tool is modified especially for us, at the factory, and then we add on an extra "dampening" device to further increase the comfort of the dog, and decrease any risks of accidental misuse. Our tools and our methods are unique, novel and humane.

Our "Tickle-Tingle-Tap" is a unique sensation that we use to teach the dog obedience skills. The "Tickle-Tingle-Tap" can be a tone, a beep, a buzz or a tingle; in all cases, less is more.

We believe that we must have a lively, timely and informative two-way conversation with the dog in order to create clear understanding of our human expectations.   The usefulness of our tool is only limited by your imagination. Our "TICKLE-TINGLE-TAP" can be used as:

1. positive reinforcement,
2. negative reinforcement,
3. negative punishment,
4. positive punishment,
5. a conditioned reinforcer cue,
6. a conditioned punisher cue,
7. a keep going signal,
8. an intermediate bridge,
9. a terminal bridge,
10. a do more signal
11. a do it faster signal
12. a do it longer signal
13. a do it harder signal
14. and as a try again signal, and more.

In addition, if several "tappers" are placed on a dog, you can create a "Morse Code" type of communication, where a series of feelings will tell the dog exactly what behavior to do,

• you can use the "TICKLE-TINGLE-TAP" to  make the dog move toward it,

• or use the "TICKLE-TINGLE-TAP" to make the dog move away from it,

• or using multiple e-clickers; each on a different part of the body: you can indicate directional's, place particular parts of the dog's body on targets, or indicate the movement of a body part.

"A really companionable and indispensable dog

is an accident of nature, a freak.

You can't get it by breeding for it, you can't go out looking for it, and you can't buy it with money. This dog just happens along. 

It's a dog, you choose "by heart."

Ami Moore the Chicago Dog Whisperer

We teach our students and clients the Three Universal Dog Training Rules, which when applied consistently can change the behavior of any healthy, sane dog. All behavior modification methods can be distilled down to just two types of input that deliver information to your dog.

A reward is something that your dog likes and a punishment is something that your dog does not like. A reward could be a pat, a hug or a kiss. A punihser can  be the word, "No", a leash correction, a pull on a head halter (Yes! All head halters and harnesses work by the principal of punishment.) or a time out in a crate. 

This training technique is based upon the Scientific Method of Operant Conditioning pioneered by B. F. Skinner. We call this  technique, "The Nice and Nasties". Nice = reward and Nasty = Punishment.

• When you dog does something that you like, then make nice things happen for the dog.

• When your dog does something that you don't like, then make nasty things happen for the dog.

• Never, ever quit until your dog does something that you like and gets it right, and then make nice things happen for the dog.

Like the laws of physics, velocity, mass and gravity, the laws of learning are always in play, every where and all the time; dog behavior is driven by consequences.  

We are experts at using the eternal and unyielding laws of learning to easily, effective and efficiently change dog behavior, in many instances permanently.  Because of this flowing type of communication, we can begin training dogs in distracting environments, such as the real world, immediately.

AMI'S LAW OF DOG DYNAMICS

"An dog in motion will be heading in the wrong direction.

A dog at rest will be in the wrong place.

The energy required to change either one of the states will always be more than you wish to expend,

but never so much as to make the task totally impossible.

Remember, any dog, regardless of its breed, age, sex or

prior training history,

may be expected to perform at any time in a totally unexpected manner for reasons that are either entirely obscure or completely mysterious."
Ami Moore the Chicago Dog Whisperer

Both the dog and the wolf, the dog's fraternal twin, are non-verbal, concrete thinking, opportunistic, impulsive, amoral, predatory, carnivores that are programmed genetically to be risk takers in the pursuit of resources. They are true creatures of the Id; feel -> do!

Dogs are yes or no; black or white; here and now; pain or pleasure; win or lose, soul brother to the wolf. They are not creatures of 'sometimes' or 'maybe' or 'just this time'.

"Never appeal to a dog's better nature. The dog may not have one. Invoking the dog's self-interest gives you more leverage."

Ami Moore the Chicago Dog Whisperer

It is important to note that the basic dog/wolf genetic blueprint can be sharpened or dull by many factors:

• Breed characteristics
• Temperament of sire/dam
• Health of dam
• Puppies health at birth
• Birth order
• Number of puppies in litter
• Quality and quantity of food given to puppies
• The quality of medical care the breeder gives the puppies
• Sexual influences
• Individual drives and sensitivities
• Early learning and socialization

Between gestation, birth and the first five (5) months, your dog will develop 90% of his brain capacity, and permanently internalized 90% of the behavior that he will carry with him for the next 10 to 15 years. In comparison, it takes the human child, three years to develop 90% of his brain capacity and personality.

Learning, personality and health begin in the womb. If the mother is stressed, is in poor health or does not receive proper nutrition while she is carrying her pups, the pups will be born with intellectual, emotional or/and physical deficits.

Medical studies with human babies, using MRI's, EEG's and PET's to map brain growth and activity have found similar results.

"You have to love a dog the way it NEEDS to be loved,

not the way you NEED to love it."
Ami Moore the Chicago Dog Whisperer

Infancy lasts from birth to five months of age. All learning at this level of development is permanent. We tell our client's that "the first year lasts forever^sm", and whatever socialization, and training the dog did or didn't get will affect the dog, mentally and emotionally for the rest of his life.

Puppies and dogs from shelters, rescue organizations, puppy mills, retail outlets, and backyard breeders generally do not have the best start in life. Many of these rescue/shelter animals are temperamentally unsuited for life in a home as a pet dog, especially a home with young children.

We advise anyone who selects a pet from one of these outlets to proceed with caution, seek the advice of a professional dog trainer if the dog exhibits any of excessive fearfulness, aggressiveness, nervousness or anxiety.

It is also advisable to enroll the recently adopted dog into an obedience class or in-home private training session immediately.

A bark is like "Aloha". It can mean many things or nothing much at all."

Ami Moore the The Chicago Dog Whisperer

If dog owners consistently act in a manner that from the 'dogs point of view' appears to show subservience, submission, fear or weakness, then over time, the dog will begin to think that he is in fact superior to you.

Some of the social interactions that the majority of dogs will perceive as subservient or submissive are:

• Moving out of the dogs path
• Walking over a resting dog so that it is not disturbed
• Allowing the dog to lead the way on walks
• Allowing the dog to sit, lean or lie upon your body
• Allowing the dog to bite hands, arms, feet, ankles, face, in "play"
• Allowing the dog to pee/poop at will on walks
• Allowing the dog to sit on a sofa/chair at will
• Allowing the dog to sleep in a person's bed
• Feeding the dog from the table
• Feeding the dog on demand
• Playing a game of the dog's choosing on demand
• Terminating activities if the dog protests
• Moving backwards if the dog jumps on them
• Allowing the dog to steal and destroy personal items
• Displaying an inability to catch the dog when it is at liberty

Dogs don't do democracy, you either serve or are served. If you are Alpha, from a dog's point of view, then you have three rights and responsibilities:

1. The right to get what you want, when you want it.
2. The right to prevent others (all family members, as well as any visitors to the house) from doing things that you don't like.
3. The responsibility to maintain peace and harmony, from the Alpha's point of view, by keeping the "lower members" of the pack in line by any means possible. This may include the use of overwhelming force (biting).

Imagine the shock to an owner's ego, when they realize that they are perceived by Little 'Zilla as a "lower member" of the dog pack.

REMEMBER IF YOU TREAT YOUR DOG LIKE A PERSON,

HE HAS THE RIGHT TO TREAT YOU LIKE A DOG.

Problems begin when a dog owner loves a dog as he/she would love a person. Dogs are canines and most closely related to the wolf, and we are Homo Sapiens, mostly closely related to monkeys. Thus while we, man and dog, may share similar experiences, and may even experience similar emotions; we don't speak the same language.

Unfortunately, humans do things that from a "human-primate" point of view that are loving, caring gestures, but from a "wolf-dog" point of view these same gestures are perceived as differential, submissive, subservient, and in some cases, even threatening.

It is of the utmost importance, especially if you own breed that is regarded as "tough", "difficult" or "very intelligent" or if you have young children in your life, that the question of "Whose Alpha" is answered early and decisively in the dog-human relationship.

"When a dog wags her tail and barks at the same time, how do you know which end to believe?  Always believe the end with the teeth!"

- Ami Moore the Dog Whisperer of Chicago

Generally, when the question of "Whose Alpha?" is not answered during a dog's youth, 8 weeks to 5 months of age, aggression problems will begin to appear when the dog has reached emotional and mental maturity, around 2-3 years of age. It is at this time that the dog may begin to make his bid for leadership of the household.

"A dog wags its tail with its heart" - Martin Buxbaum

In the usual scenario, the dog is obedient to the husband about 75% of the time, obedient to the wife 50% of the time, and rarely obedient to the very young or elderly family members. In some cases, the less confident members of the family may feel as if they are hostages in their own home.

Often, the dog has bitten either a member of the family, severely enough to send them to the hospital, on at least three (3) occasions, before the adults can accept that they own a legal liability and finally seek professional assistance.

"The world was conquered through the understanding of dogs; the world exists through the understanding of dogs." - Nietzche

In our classes we have a pledge that all of the student's recite at the beginning of class to help everyone remember that they, the human beings, are in charge. 

This pledge, "Whose Alpha?" helps caring owners understand that love is not enough. Dogs need simple clear consistent rules, comforting routine and meaningful ritual, in order to become safe, sane and enjoyable members of your family.

The Dog  Training ALPHA Pledge

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DOG FACTS

Did You Know...
The Great War Dogs of the Irish Celts created the Great War Hound          (the ancestors of the Irish Wolfhound and the Great Dane).

This dog stayed on the battle field even AFTER it's masters were killed. On it's own this dog fought the Great Legions of Roman, the greatest military force the world has ever seen, to a standstill.

It took the Roman Army a full day to subdue or kill all of the Celtic dog warriors.