ETHICAL
DOG TRAINING
FOR THE
MODERN WORLD
CHANGING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DOG
HELLO
I am so glad you're here!
My name is Sylvia Wes, I have been a certified dog trainer for 7 years. I am currently working as an early developmental and reactivity/ aggression specialist. While I am a certified professional dog trainer, the majority of my cases revolve around behavior consulting and modification.
I have been working with dogs in a professional capacity for over a decade. I got my start in the rescue sector, running a huge no kill center in DTLA with over 200 animals in our care. I forayed into pet care as a special needs and geriatric care specialist before diving into the world of dog training.
I am passionate about science based, positive reinforcement training. I currently hold two certification and am seeking a new certification in behavior consulting. I believe in the power of individual learning, radical consideration and choice based learning models to help propel your relationship with your dog to next level.
Let me help guide you into a new world of better communication, meeting your dog's needs and human animal bonding to last your dog's lifetime. Anything is possible with though the power of love, patience and science.
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FUN
FACTS
11
YEARS WORKING WITH DOGS
700
DOGS TRAINED IN 2022
200+
HOURS CONTINUING EDUCATION
6
YEARS CERTIFIED
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What Are Your Credentials?I am certified through Animal Behavior College (ABCDT) and the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA). You can see both my certification and transcripts here. My ABCDT certification was granted at the end of my Dog Trainer Program through Animal Behavior College. It consisted of both online learning and a live externship. The second certification was received after completed at least 500 hours of training over two years, required I pass a proctored test and requires continuing education to maintain my accreditation. I am also a member of the APDT as well as the IAABC. Both are organizations dedicated to the development and education of dog trainer professionals and ethical learning standards and practices.
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What is your training philosophy?I use the power of positive reinforcement, choice based and free shaping learning models to gently guide dogs into better behavioral choice making and skill building. No punishment, aversive tools (prong, choke or shock collars) or physical corrections will be used. It's well documented that such tools are not necessary to achieve behavior modification for any animal, let alone dogs. Together we will lean into the science of learning to create new skills, behavior and an overall better human-animal bond.
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What will you do if my dog does something wrong?The long and short of it is, nothing. Together we will determine which behaviors we find reinforcing and which behavior we don't and identify opportunities to guide your dog into making a better choice and we can reinforce and reward. You can't build new behavior with a pattern of historically reinforces behavior persisting. We'll examine management tools, opportunities to create better behavioral opportunities and create clear guidelines for your dog to be successful and consistently reinforced.
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What will you do when my dog something right?Reward! Food is a general reinforcer for all dogs. There may be the occasional dog who is more motivated by toys/ play but for the most part a dog's favorite currency is tasty treats. I don't go to work for the praise of a job well done and a pat on the back, and neither does your dog. Typical behavioral fallout happens because the animal lacks proper reinforcement and finds the self rewarding nature of instinctual behavior more rewarding than that of the reward you are offering.