At Manners, we believe that the cornerstone of all successful training begins with calmness. A calm dog is a receptive dog, ready to learn and absorb new behaviors. We start by creating an environment that fosters relaxation, teaching your dog that peace and tranquility are the norm. Whether it’s within the home, in the car, or during walks, we reinforce this calm state as the foundation for all further learning. Through consistent reinforcement of calm behavior, your dog learns that staying calm is not just expected, but rewarded. This step lays the groundwork for everything else, ensuring that your dog is in the right mindset to engage with the world in a controlled and confident manner.
Communication is the heartbeat of the relationship between you and your dog. In this step, we establish a clear and consistent language of cues and signals that both you and your dog can understand and rely on. Our focus is on positive reinforcement, using verbal markers, hand signals, and body language that convey your expectations clearly. We help you build a two-way communication system where your dog feels heard and understood, and where you, in turn, can guide your dog effectively. By establishing this mutual understanding, we ensure that your dog not only knows what to do but does so with confidence and trust.
Once calmness and communication are firmly in place, we move on to the next step: controlled movement. This step is about translating everything your dog has learned into the real world, where distractions and challenges are plentiful. Whether it’s walking politely on a leash, staying focused in a busy environment, or responding to cues with precision, controlled movement is where the training becomes practical. We guide your dog through exercises that promote deliberate and thoughtful actions, ensuring that they can navigate the world with grace and composure. This step is about empowering your dog to apply their training in everyday life, maintaining calmness and communication no matter the situation.
The final step in the Manners Method brings all the pieces together—calmness, communication, and controlled movement—to create a lasting bond between you and your dog. This bond is the culmination of your training journey, where you and your dog work in harmony as a team. By integrating the principles of stillness, clear communication, and purposeful movement, you establish a deep connection that goes beyond basic obedience. This bond allows you to take your training to the next level, ensuring that you can communicate effectively with your dog for a lifetime. It’s about building a relationship based on mutual trust, respect, and understanding, making every interaction with your dog meaningful and rewarding.
