Meet John

John is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and currently resides in Fort Mill, South Carolina. He retired from the Charlotte Fire Department after 28 years of distinguished service. John is the proud owner of two bloodhounds, Sturgill and Loretta Lynn, whom he personally trained and now utilizes for Search and Rescue operations.

John attended the Highland K9 School for Dog Trainers in Harmony, North Carolina, where he earned his Master Dog Trainer Certificate. He is an active member of the International Association of Canine Professionals. He is certified in Canine First Aid and CPR. Having had to apply this training in real-world situations, John is confident in his ability to ensure the safety and well-being of your pet at all times.

While John has a deep passion for training and handling working dogs, he also finds great satisfaction in helping dogs develop confidence through obedience training, ultimately bringing joy to their owners. He is a strong advocate of balanced training methods and is eager to assist you and your dog in achieving your training goals.

Balanced Training

Balanced dog training is an approach that combines various training methods and techniques to achieve a well-behaved, well-rounded dog. It focuses on using positive reinforcement, such as praise and treats, along with correctional methods when needed, to help the dog understand what is expected of them. The goal is to create a balanced, healthy relationship between the dog and the handler, rather than relying solely on one training method, like positive reinforcement or punishment.

Key aspects of balanced dog training include:

1. Positive Reinforcement: Rewarding desired behaviors with treats, praise, or play to encourage the dog to repeat those behaviors.
2. Corrections: Using gentle, fair corrections when the dog exhibits undesirable behaviors, such as ignoring commands or acting aggressively. The correction should be appropriate to the situation and not overly harsh.
3. Consistency: Consistency is crucial in balanced training. The dog needs clear, consistent communication from its owner so that it knows what behaviors are acceptable and which ones are not.
4. Understanding of the Dog's Needs: A balanced trainer takes into account the dog’s temperament, breed, and individual needs, tailoring training to the dog’s specific situation.
5. Training Tools: Balanced dog trainers use a variety of training tools, including clickers, treats, leashes, collars, or even e-collars (these are not shock collars and do not hurt the dog). These tools are used to guide the dog’s behavior, not to cause pain or fear.

The idea behind balanced training is that dogs learn best when both positive rewards and reasonable corrections are used in conjunction to shape their behavior in a fair, humane way.

Required Vaccines

Proof of vaccinations must be emailed prior to training

Rabies (Titer testing not accepted)

DHLLP

Bordetella

We also suggest a Lyme vaccine if you want to participate in Man Trailing. These dogs will be put in heavily wooded areas known to have ticks.

E - Collars

This IS NOT A SHOCK COLLAR

E collar stands for electric collar and uses and electrical stimulation (like a tens unit system), not a shock. The e collar has 100 levels on it whereas a shock collar only has a few levels and it is actually shocking your dog.  Remember, your dog is a touch learner first which is what the e collar provides for you. It is the best tool to communicate to your dog at low levels in the timing that they learn best, it stops unwanted behaviors, it acts as an invisible leash, it provides safety and a better relationship with your dog.

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to introduce an e collar to your dog properly so that it has a positive association. If you don’t know how to introduce an e collar to your dog properly,  do not hesitate to reach out to us for help.