Honest Dog Training Company provides training and boarding solutions for family dogs of all ages and breeds. Check out our services page for a list, but know that it is not comprehensive. If you need any canine-related service that isn’t listed on our website, give us a call or send us an email-- Chances are, we can help.

Dogs are much more adapted to human interactions than their wolf ancestors. However, despite the domestication process, dogs still carry some of the same “wild” instincts as their wolf ancestors. Training helps to utilize learned cognitive processes rather than instincts alone and turn a dog that acts on emotions and adrenaline into a dog that thinks critically before acting. 

A very fair question! There is certainly plenty of information online, but then you have to figure out what techniques to apply, how to apply them, and why they may not be working. In the process, you could further confuse your dog and make it more challenging to train them properly in the future.

Positive Reinforcement is the act of teaching your dog to associate specific behavior with a desirable outcome (e.g. your dog sits and gets a treat). This is usually done by giving a command and marking the behavior, which helps clarify to your dog what is expected of them. Evidence suggests that Positive Reinforcement is generally the most effective way to teach a dog new skills, and Honest Dog Training Company heavily emphasizes this mode of training.

Balanced dog training utilizes all four quadrants of the operant conditioning scale, which includes positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment as needed.* While positive reinforcement is often the most humane and effective mode of teaching new skills, occasionally, dogs don’t respond at all to treats, praise, or toys, and would simply rather behave in a way that we feel is unsafe. Teaching your dog boundaries - that the word “no” has fair and consistent consequences - and eliminating unwanted behavior is important to keep both your dog and the people around you safe, and taking a balanced approach can be both humane and effective at managing behavior when implemented properly. 

*Balanced dog training is NOT simply a 50/50 split between reinforcement and punishment, or positive and negative consequences. A strong Balanced trainer adheres to science-based techniques, appropriate levels of patience, basic decency, and always tries less invasive, minimally aversive (LIMA) techniques first. Positive punishment should be used infrequently and with precision, not brute force.  

Our philosophy at Honest Dog Training Company is that a balanced approach both utilizes scientific, positive reinforcement-based operant conditioning and effectively sets boundaries that keep you and your whole family safe. We also value neutral energy in our everyday lives. In other words, if your dog’s energy level is high and you want your dog to “chill,” the first step is for us to be in a neutral emotional state. Take a deep breath, relax, and consciously decide how you want to shape your dog’s behavior. If we aren’t relaxed, we will still shape our dog’s behavior, just not in the ways we were hoping.

No. While it’s true that wolf and dog packs operate on a hierarchical structure (i.e. established pecking order during feedings), canines are also intelligent social animals capable of understanding more complex social cues and act in ways that benefit the pack, not just themselves. Humans generally do this well, too. “Might is right” may be an effective strategy at getting your dog to reluctantly submit, but trust is how you get your dog to behave and to be happy doing it -- and trust is a two-way road.

For younger puppies, we strongly encourage the use of flat collars and positive reinforcement in virtually all instances. As your dog gets older, we continue to emphasize positive reinforcement and transition to slip leads to help communicate boundaries safely and effectively and incorporate other modes of teaching as needed. In specific circumstances, we may advise the use of e-collars and prong collars, which can be very effective at teaching unique skills to certain working breeds or dogs that don’t respond to positive-only reinforcement.

Prong collars can get a bad rap! Truthfully, there is good reason for this as some people use them to force a dog into submission (see dominant dog training). Seeing people misuse tools in this way can make it difficult not to blame the tool itself, but it’s important to remember that a tool is only as good as the hands holding it.

When your training package is complete, you should expect to have a dog who’s potty trained (Puppy Foundations), knows their basic commands, and whose behavior is more agreeable and more manageable, setting you and your dog up for a lifetime of harmony. You should also expect your dog to have learned new skills in line with their abilities! Additionally, you will have a professional resource you can call whenever needed, and who knows your dog like family.

With that being said, it’s important to manage our expectations. Training is never truly “complete.” A very fearful dog may take a long time before it’s comfortable in new environments, a Basset Hound will likely never be able to go jogging with you, and a large breed, high-drive dog may take consistent exercise to manage their energy levels. Your bond can be built with time, patience, and hard work, but ongoing maintenance is required to keep your relationship healthy! We’re here to help make that happen.

We travel anywhere in the greater Kansas City area. If we can travel to your home by car and come home the same day, we can travel to you. What about Lenexa? St. Joseph? Independence? Lee’s Summit? Smithville? Yes! Depending on location, a travel fee may apply. See our About Us page for service details.

Knowledge of how to perform a behavior does not guarantee compliance. Dogs are more than operant conditioning machines. They have fears and anxieties, instinctual drives, complex social dynamics, and are often guided much more by emotions than by critical thinking. Your dog’s state of mind and environment are key to their behavior, and the strength of your dog’s trust in you is a major factor in obedience in stressful or distracting environments. Guidance from a trained professional and plenty of practice can significantly increase the likelihood that your dog behaves in most or all contexts, not just when it’s convenient for them. For dogs who don’t respect boundaries, a Balanced approach can be the difference between a home that has cozy coexistence and constant conflict.

Yes! The source of separation anxiety can vary, but we know what to look for and how to treat it. Sometimes it requires controlled separation training, other times a few small lifestyle changes.

Dogs pull on their leash for many different reasons, and all of it can be stopped! Some dogs are more willful and forceful than others, and meeting your dog’s enrichment needs, setting reasonable expectations and safe boundaries, and being an ever-aware owner are all parts of our regimen to prevent leash pulling! We teach the basics of a good, consistent heel in our Basic Obedience and Canine Leadership packages, along with guiding owners on how to strengthen the bond with their canine companion and set the foundation for a dog that wants to be by your side.

First, let’s define “aggression.” In short, if your dog reacts to perceived threats by growls, barks, and even nips, then no. These types of behaviors are better described by being reactive and can be addressed with Behavior Modification. A truly aggressive dog believes it has the right to be dominant over another dog or human, and intends to do harm in a proactive way without necessarily feeling threatened. This type of aggression can be caused by genetics or a chemical imbalance and is approached with different medical and training methods.

 If you believe your dog is exhibiting sudden changes of behavior, seek advice from a Veterinary Behaviorist (a vet who has become board-certified in animal behavior) as the cause may be more physiological rather than purely psychological.

First and foremost, make sure your DOG is safe around your CHILDREN. Be an advocate for your dog and make sure your children respect your dog’s personal space. Second, we can educate ourselves about our dog’s body language. Lip-licking, whale eye, ears pinned back, and guarding can be subtle signs that your dog is uncomfortable. If we know our dog is uncomfortable, we can take proactive steps in avoiding conflict and redirect our dog and children. Importantly, we also emphasize safe boundaries and always oversee interactions. We can teach our dogs and children that being “gentle,” giving personal space, and showing respect are both rewarded and non-negotiable. 

Once you’ve appropriately trained your children and conditioned your puppies, if your dog still acts inappropriately, that’s when we work on boundaries and redirection. Honest Dog Training Company’s Balanced training offers practical, efficient methods in addressing behavior that puts family members at risk. If we have a basic understanding of our dog’s triggers and keep a close eye on their behavioral cues (ears pinned back, lip-licking, etc.), we can prevent conflict before it arises. A big part of our training programs is teaching owners how to read their dog’s body language, and there isn’t a more important example for this skill than when our dogs and children interact. 

Yes! It’s possible, but it can be more challenging. When dogs are young, they are more energetic, eager to please, and impressionable. Young dogs learn more rapidly, and for better or worse, the things they learn as pups tend to stick around for a while. Older dogs can be just as intelligent, but tend to be much less eager and energetic. Their brains are fully developed and their ability to process new information is slower. Still want to teach your old dog new tricks? We do, too! A good way to create new skills is to build off existing skills, like teaching a dog who knows “shake” to learn “high five.” If you’re ready to put in the effort, so are we.

We feed our dogs a combination of dry kibble from a reputable, safe manufacturer (in our case, Hill’s Science Diet) along with various animal products, fresh fruits, grains, and veggies — all dog-safe, of course.* Generally speaking, quality kibble provides the safest and most cost-effective way to make sure your dog receives most or all their vital nutrients. Fresh, gently cooked meats and raw or cooked fruits and veggies provide additional nutrients often lost in the heating process with kibble. Plus, it’s easy and dogs truly love it!

Some other diets include “Fresh” meals (e.g. Farmer’s Dog) and raw diets. There are some benefits to these diets like less processing (lower levels of heavy metals and pesticides) and it preserves more complex nutrients found in unprocessed foods like certain fatty acids, vitamins, and natural probiotics. But these diets are also more likely to contain bacterial, fungal, or parasite contamination, which can be deadly.

High moisture content + time = pathogen growth.

This is why I choose shelf-stable, dry kibble, combined with fresh, homemade, dog-safe plant and animal products.

*Always consult a vet before changing your pet’s diet.

Your dog has evolved in many ways that make it better adapted for life with humans. Some of these adaptations include changes to facial muscles and mannerisms that make your dog appear to feel guilty after misbehaving. What’s more likely is that dogs have mastered the art of submissive displays. Your dog knows it’s in trouble, and acts in a way that says, “please don’t hurt me!” Even if we never dream of hurting our dogs, if we yell or are otherwise acting in a heightened emotional state, it makes them believe that punishment is more likely. They then act in a way that appears less threatening, thus eliciting a less aggressive response from the handler. It’s not guilt, but rather a form of submission in response to perceived anger. 

So if they fear punishment, why do they keep misbehaving? Well, your dog may fear punishment when you catch them, but they didn’t necessarily worry about any consequences during the initial act (e.g. chewing on furniture while you were at work). It’s unlikely that they are making the connection between their past actions and your current response. This is why it’s important to test boundaries and train behavior while you are home and attentive so that those lessons are remembered while you’re away.