The Petco Positive Dog Training program offers fun, educational classes in a safe setting that teaches pet parents how dogs think, learn and communicate. They also provide advice on how to encourage and reward your dog’s polite manners in real world situations such as walking through a busy crowd, encountering other leashed dogs during walks and meeting new people. This positive, voluntary and reward-based method promotes a relationship of mutual respect and trust between pet and pet parent.

Petco Dog Trainers undergo an intense 16-week training program that is updated yearly with the most cutting-edge training methods, ideas and training principles. Classes utilize proven, science-based training principles based on research conducted by internationally renowned psychologist and behaviorist, B.F. Skinner. This includes teaching reward-based, positive reinforcement for good behavior and how to redirect or ignore unwanted behaviors.

To help dogs retain what behavior has been rewarded, classes keep a dog’s mind engaged and in a constant state of learning while trainers closely observe how pets are responding to pet parents to optimize the positive reinforcement approach. This includes:

• Dog-friendly Communication – Rewarding good behavior and ignoring inappropriate behavior.
• Instruction – Guidance from a Petco Dog Trainer on how to teach a behavior and cater to a dog’s specific needs such as switching to a high value treat that a dog loves or noticing a dog loves when their pet parent claps (so the dog’s reward becomes the pet parent clapping).
• Enrichment – Keeping a dog’s mind engaged and learning by promoting a dog to identify what behavior is rewarded.
• Environmental Management – Setting dogs up for success, such as keeping a dog on leash in a park until the dog understands the cue “come”.
• Compassion to strengthen the bond between pet parent and dog.

Loose Leash Walking

Loose leash walking is a common training challenge of many pet parents; however, it is fairly simple to teach. If your dog pulls, stop walking. When your dog stops pulling, walk forward. This is just like a game of “Red Light, Green Light.” Dogs can also be rewarded with treats when they do not pull. Treats can be viewed as your dog’s paycheck. Most people would not pull on a leash if they received $100!

Loose Leash Walking Video:

Safely Approaching and Interacting with Dogs

The first thing people need to understand is how to properly greet a dog. To approach a dog walking on a leash with their pet parent, Petco Certified Dog Trainers recommend that people follow the “SAFE” method:

• S – Stop, stand still, and turn sideways before getting close to the dog.
• A – Ask the pet parent for permission to pet the dog first.
• F – Fist, offer a closed fist for the dog to sniff while standing still. Allow the dog to approach you. If the dog is friendly, pet the dog under its chin.
• E – Exit slowly away from the dog by backing up, then walking away.

To avoid startling dogs, people should not run up to any unfamiliar dog or pet the animal on the top of the head or face. Using the “SAFE” method ensures that a dog has a moment to meet a person and approach him/her if they feel comfortable.

If a loose dog approaches a person, they should “make like a tree” by standing as still as possible, keeping their hands by their sides or behind them, looking down at the ground and staying quiet. Dogs will most likely lose interest and walk away, but people should stay in this position until they can no longer see the dog. It’s important to remember to never try and pet a dog that is running loose without a pet parent nearby.

Petco Dog Trainers undergo an intense 16-week training program which includes 12 weeks of hands-on training in actual dog training classes. The Petco Dog Training Class Curricula and Petco Dog Training Apprentice Program were created by Fanna Easter, reviewed by an independent Boarded Certified Veterinarian Behaviorist and updated annually so Petco Dog Trainers learn the most updated training methods, ideas and training principles. Easter is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT- KA), Graduate of Karen Pryor Academy (KPA CTP), Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (ACDBC) and Graduate of Purdue DOGS course.

Key attributes of the program:

• Strong focus on learning and interpreting dog’s body language to set a dog up to succeed.
• Encourages positive reinforcement for pet parents.
• Uses positive reinforcement training based on learning theory.