Relationship Centered Training

Do you wonder where your once wonderful puppy went? And why has he turned into a sometimes maddening, unpredictable, maybe even out of control adolescent? Relax — you’re not alone. More than a few puppy class stars have gone on to be champion buttheads as teenagers!

For many dog owners, the 18-24 month period of adolescence is problematic. Even with a great start in puppyhood, many dogs hit adolescence and become frustrating, unruly, and simply maddening in some ways. While puzzling to many owners, this is a natural but poorly understood stage of development.

Did you know that adolescence begins around 20 weeks of age?

That a year old dog is roughly the equivalent of a 14 year human?

That adulthood in the dog begins at 2-4 years of age?

That the most annoying teenage dogs are often geniuses?

The Relationship Centered Training (RCT) approach focuses on three areas of the teenage dog’s life:

• Relationship with handler
• Social life (other people, dogs & animals)
• Life skills (self control, basic manners, coping skills)

This recorded webinar will address:

• The teenage brain – risk, reward and relationships
• The handler’s role as the teenage dog’s guide to life
• Balancing the relationship
• Cooperation as a lifestyle
• Permission and parameters
• “Even though” empathy & expectations
• Potholes, loopholes and missing bricks in the dog’s skill sets

When you understand your adolescent dog better, you can settle into the work and joys of helping them grow into a wonderful adult dog. The kind of adult dog that makes people say, “Oh, I wish I had a dog just like that!” while you smile and wonder if they knew him as a teenager.