RESOURCES

Pawsitive Partners –

Community Dog Training Program

ADOPTION CENTER: OPEN MONDAY - SUNDAY 12:30-4:00pm 

The Pawsitive Partners Training Program aims to provide accessible training resources to dog owners in our community, ensuring a harmonious relationship between pets and their families. Each dog is an individual, and their training will be personalized and unique to the owners’ goals for the pet. This program is designed to accommodate all dogs and owners, regardless of their background, training experience, or current behavior, promoting responsible pet ownership and reducing surrender rates.

Mandatory Owner Involvement

  • Consistency: Owners should practice basic skills and behaviors regularly at home.
  • Positive Reinforcement: Use treats, praise, and rewards to reinforce good behavior.
  • Homework: Owners will be required to work on skills and tasks at home. The focus is on training the human to effectively communicate and train their dog.

Locations Offered By Appointment ONLY:

  • Yreka Resource Center (YRC) – 109 N. Broadway St, Yreka, CA. – ON WEDNESDAYS
  • Siskiyou Humane Society Adoption Center (SHS) – 1208 N. Mt Shasta Blvd, Mount Shasta, CA. – ON SATURDAYS

Requirements

  • Vaccinations: Rabies vaccination is mandatory for all dogs; Bordetella and DAPP vaccinations will be required for group classes.

  • Appointments: Training sessions are by appointment only. Walk-ins will not be accepted to ensure personalized attention and maintain class quality.

  • Initial Consultation: The first appointment will be a 30 minute consultation to assess the dog’s needs and determine the best training plan. This consultation can be done with or without the dog.

  • Owner Commitment: Owners must be willing to learn, adapt, and work on the skills and techniques taught in class at home to achieve the best results.

Pawsitive Partners Training Philosophy

  1. Fear Free Approach

We prioritize a Fear Free training environment, where the goal is to build trust and a positive bond with our pets. We avoid using intimidation or fear as motivators. Instead, we focus on:

  • Safety: Ensuring pets’ safety in various situations, such as preventing them from dashing out the door, running from their handler, and responding reliably to commands even with significant distractions like wildlife.
  • Enrichment: Providing engaging and mentally stimulating activities. Enrichment involves more than just physical exercise; it includes using their brains to solve problems and explore their environment, which is often overlooked by owners.
  • Freedom: Allowing pets to explore the world around them safely and confidently. This includes feeling secure and comfortable in their surroundings and with their handler while having the freedom to interact with their environment in a controlled manner.
  1. Positive Reinforcement

In Positive Reinforcement training, we reward the behaviors we want to see in our pets rather than punishing unwanted behaviors. Key points include:

  • Praise and Rewards: Using verbal praise, treats, or toys to reinforce desired behaviors. For example, if a dog sits on command, they receive a treat and enthusiastic praise.
  • Not Just Food: While treats are an effective reward, Positive Reinforcement is not solely about giving food. It’s also about offering praise, playtime, or other forms of encouragement that the pet values.
  • Avoiding Negative Reinforcement: Unlike negative reinforcement (e.g., scolding or punishment), which aims to reduce undesirable behaviors by adding a negative consequence, Positive Reinforcement focuses on encouraging positive behaviors through rewards and encouragement.
  1. Gradual Training

Training should be adapted to each dog’s individual needs and learning pace. This means:

  • Assessing Learning Styles: Some dogs quickly grasp new commands, while others require more time and practice.
  • Breaking Down Commands: If a dog struggles with a command, we might break the task into smaller steps, using luring and shaping methods and extending training.