Auntie Al’s Dog Training Services
A Gentle Touch - Outstanding Results
604-868-0341
Alix Balfour - Trainer
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Auntie Al’s Dog Training Services A Gentle Touch - Outstanding Results 604-868-0341 Alix Balfour - Trainer
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I only want to do one thing: Help you and your dog.
People ask me if there is a trick to dog training and the answer is yes – you. Conflicting communication is the number one reason why humans and dogs struggle so much. Each side is saying something but neither side is receiving and responding appropriately. If you learn how to handle a dog properly, the training process will be successful. Auntie Al's motto: Don't talk - communicate. Learn how to speak dog and you'll make it far easier for your dog to understand human. The first step you need to learn is to not speak vocally but instead use body language. It's hard, I'll admit, we humans are a chatty bunch, but the talking does no good at all. Conversational talk is busy and often over-stimulated. The dog feeds off that and the next thing you know, you're both struggling. Stop talking, relax. Communicate. When you do talk, let it be a command for the purpose of educating and remember to praise your dog while working together. See that cute doggie in the photo? That's my Chico. He used to be one of my dog walking clients. He was one wound-up little dude. His owner loved him madly but didn't understand about all the things you inadvertently tell your dog when you do things like share food off a plate, sleep together, let the dog walk through doors first, etc. In Chico's mind, Chico was in charge of everything, he had been told he was in charge of everything. Chico never was educated or exercised properly but he didn't know that. Chico only knew what he had been taught. Chico was adopted as an abused and abandoned pup from the pound and in the seven years following, Chico and his owner did everything and went everywhere together. They were almost never apart. One day the owner asked me to board Chico so he could go on a holiday. While on holiday the owner died of a heart attack. No way to explain that to Chico. All Chico knew was, for the first time in those seven years, his master walked out the door without him and never came back. Chico was distraught, beside himself, frantic. He began to self-mutilate, stripping a good three inches of flesh and fur off his back and chewing on his paws. He shredded five feet of carpeting in the front hallway of my home. He barked ALL the time, he howled, he cried, he moaned, nose-whistled, jumped, hyper-ventilated. In the car he would honk the horn if I was elsewhere. It wasn't good. And the truth was, anxious behavior was his standard state. He had never been taught how to relax. A friend of Chico's owner said Chico had never napped, was always awake and on guard. I knew what she was talking about. At every moment of the day, every single moment, Chico's eyes were on me. I would wake up at three in the morning to see Chico staring at me, his eyes wide, dark and glassy. Poor guy, he was exhausted from all the stress but unable to sleep. Yes, of course he slept, but lightly, bolting upright at the slightest activity.
The picture to the left is Chico before I adopted him.
See how underdeveloped his body is, how tight and tense his face is? He's not smiling - he's panting with short, rapid breaths.
It proved to be a turning point for me. My name is Alix Balfour and I'm a dog trainer. As a child I grew up in a farming community working with livestock as well as having family pets. I spent a summer as a veterinarian's assistant and have taken a pet first aid seminar. In 2001 I began working for a dog walking company. The owner of the company was a Master Trainer who offered courses to people who were interested in becoming dog trainers. I knew it was right for me. In taking the course, I came to learn that I already knew about the communication of body language, the animals throughout my life had taught me. I just didn't realize it was a skill that I possessed and that I could teach others. I became certified in general dog obedience and have since earned a second certification. I specialize in the family pet and started my own dog training business in 2004. But I didn't own a dog. Sometimes when teaching a class I would look at the faces of the dog owners, all listening to my words, accepting them, and I'd find myself thinking, wow, what a responsibility. These folks are depending on me to fix things with their dogs, to make their problems go away. I knew that I knew what I was talking about. But sometimes with the extreme cases, with dogs that were never socialized properly, or not exercised enough and driven mad with boredom, even though I knew the problems and what to do, would my suggestions really work? Did my words convey the proper information? Sure, I can talk to the animals but it's not always as natural at first for new pet owners. The real problem dogs I had dealt with in the past weren't my dogs. Problems never seem as difficult to handle when you don't live with them. Was I a sham? Well, Chico took care of my problem. His permanent arrival into my world, for surely I could not send him back to the pound after his unexpected orphanage, left me with no choice but to fix his problems. Which meant I had to put my money where my mouth is. Today I come and go from my home and Chico comes with me or stays behind. There is no crying, mutilating or distressed behavior; Chico rests comfortably on his bed, knowing that his days will continue to be filled with walks and company, human and dog. If this is where you'd like to be with your dog, write or give me a call.
Happy Trails
Alix --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fees $30/Hour $150/Six 0ne-hour sessions - once a week for six weeks* $180/Six one-hour sessions - twice a week for six weeks - One in-home*, one Saturday park walk per week *Choice of Tues, Wed or Thurs - 7:00 pm - pending availability Two dogs 2nd dog half-price ($15, $75 & $90) Weekend Walk $10/dog and handler Are you wanting an opportunity to have a training session without the high cost course that requires a commitment to a six or eight week stretch? Are you wanting to be more comfortable when walking your dog in public? Take this opportunity to have an experienced trainer help you and your dog in a small outdoor group class setting. Group walks are now available with a maximum four dogs per walk, $10 per dog and owner. Walks will be in local off-leash parks for one hour and dogs will be kept on leash until they prove themselves able to follow basic commands. Owners will be given instruction to help improve their pet's etiquette and socialization skills by learning how to read and speak dog body language and what to do next. Write to: info@auntiealsdogtrainingservices.com to reserve your spot. See you at the park!
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Auntie Al's Dog Training Services 604-868-0341 Serving Vancouver since 2004
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This is Chico now. Healthy and
relaxed.