Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Proper Pooch

The Proper Pooch Dog Training is located on beautiful Worthley Pond in Peru, Maine. My name is Jane McCarthy and I am the owner/trainer.  The doors opened in fall of 2007.  I have had a passion for dogs my whole life and finally decided to follow my dream three years ago and attended the Triple Crown Academy for Dog Training in Hutto, TX.  After an intense eight week course became a certified canine training specialist.

The mission at The Proper Pooch is to establish the groundwork to create a life long  relationship between dog and his person.  

Just as children need to go to school and require guidance and direction to become productive, well adjusted members of society so do dogs.  Positive reinforcement is the method I use; if a dog is rewarded for doing the right thing than he is far more likely to repeat that behavior. The method of positive reinforcement works far greater than waiting for the dog to do something undesirable and then trying to correct it. For this reason the best time to begin training is early, before bad habits develop. I start puppies as young as eight weeks. The younger the dogs start the better they do in the long run.

Another important aspect of training is socialization.  I always allow time for my dogs to interact and "be dogs." This is so important. Dogs learn proper interaction when they play appropriately with other well socialized dogs. Puppy classes are very focused on social skills, with other dogs and with people. 

Private lessons are also available for dogs with more specific issues or if the owner isn't able to attend group classes. Some training facilities will offer classes that have unlimited numbers of dogs.  I prefer to keep my classes small, never more than four dogs.  I find the dogs do far better in the smaller groups and I can give more individual attention. 

There is no such thing as "you can't teach an old dog new tricks," but it is true the younger you start the better. I have worked with dogs as old as eleven years.  

If you are looking for a rewarding experience with your dog and would like to improve the relationship you have even more call The Proper Pooch @ 207-562-4765

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