Philosophy

The question

Do you love your dog? Most people say yes.

Does your dog love you?

Try this small test. Do these things describe your dog?

• When something new or hard happens, the dog turns to you.
• Before doing a new thing, the dog checks with you.
• The dog wants you, not just food from you. Your praise means more than a treat.

If the answers are not yes, the dog may follow you only for food, walks, or play. The dog may follow what you give, not who you are.

We want a different relationship.

The problem with treat-based training

Most training teaches a dog to do things for treats. This works for tricks. It does not always build a bond.

When the treats are gone, the dog may stop listening. The dog may listen to anyone who has food. We start to wonder: does the dog follow me, or the food?

We do not want that.

The goal

Your dog loves you the way you love your dog.

Love means different things for people and dogs. We define it like this: the person, by themselves, is a reward to the dog. Not the food the person gives. The person.

Think of your family or partner. They do not have to give you something. Being with them is good. You trust them. You respect them. You want their attention.

This is the kind of bond we want between you and your dog.

How we get there

We use one idea from learning science. Then we apply it to daily life.

The idea: there are two kinds of rewards.

• A primary reward does not need to be learned. Food, water, safety, comfort, play.
• A secondary reward is learned. It only has value because it leads to primary rewards.

Money is a secondary reward for people. Paper money is not food. But people work for it because money buys food, shelter, and care.

For most dogs, the owner is a weak secondary reward. The dog learns that the owner brings food, walks, and play. So the dog pays some attention.

Our work is to make the owner a strong secondary reward. As strong as money is for people.

When the owner is that strong, the dog turns to the owner first. In a new place. In a hard moment. When excited. When tired.

This is what we mean by "your dog loves you."

Why this is a lifestyle, not a training program

A training program ends. A lifestyle does not.

You eat every day. You walk every day. You sleep every day. The dog does too.

If we change how these daily things happen, the bond grows every day.

If we only do training sessions, the bond grows only in those sessions.

So this method is built into meals, walks, play, grooming, and rest. Not into a 15-minute drill.

What you will find on this site

1. Principles — three rules to follow in daily life.
2. Framework — how the parts fit together.
3. The 10-stage test — how to measure where you are.
4. Method — six daily activities, with steps for each.
5. Glossary — short definitions.

Read in this order on the first visit.