A TRAINING EXPERIENCE

with Jane Trains

Gerard provided a training session for my dog, Dennis, so that I could see a demonstration of how her method works. Dennis is a 95-pound, 8-year-old lab/shepherd mix who pulls to get at other dogs while on a leash; something Gerard calls “leash reactivity.” Gerard quickly sees that he is fearful, not aggressive towards other dogs or people. She walks by Dennis again and again, which would normally make him very nervous, but she praises him and instructs me to do the same and reward his increasingly calm behavior with his favorite treats. Soon, Dennis is less reactive to her and then she reappears with 1 1/2-year-old dog Magpie. We repeat the exercise with Gerard and her dog Magpie passing closer and closer. Dennis gradually lays down and yawns – signs he is relaxing, and he is rewarded with more praise and treats. By the time the training session is over, Dennis is noticeably calmer and more relaxed, and almost certainly has a highly positive association with this training session, thus opening the door to more learning in the future. For more information, visit janetrains.com and find her on Facebook, or call (575) 758-4430.