My dog training business is just me - Claire Apple. I have always been interested in training dogs - my first dog I trained could pull a cart, herd poultry, and could act as a guide dog - and that's the dog I trained when I was 8 yrs old! By now I have about 8 yrs of experience in basic family dog obedience training, and 7 in herding, tracking, carting and a smattering of other sports. I have worked with a wide variety of breeds, of all sizes and temperaments, and I enjoy the variety of dogs. I've participated in a variety of dog sports, including freestyle, agility, obedience, tracking, carting/draftwork, and herding. I prefer my personal dogs to be polite and capable of being obedient both at home and at the local coffee shop.
My methods?
I use a variety of methods, with positive reinforcement being my preference for most situations. Purely positive doesn't work for me in all situations, and I am open to that fact, and will use light corrections if necessary for that case. I really do enjoy seeing a dog think out and solve a problem using their brain, and positive methods encourage dogs to test out creative problem solving skills. This is especially important in herding, where the dog is often the one in the right. I use the same methods with clients dogs that I use with my animals, including the livestock.