Dog Training Philosophy

At Camano Island Kennels, our training methods are based on the "pack" hierarchal instinct with which all dogs are born. Dogs are pack animals, and all seek to belong to a pack, even if its other members are human.

Every pack, including yours, contains leaders and followers. We are here to teach you how best to become your pack's leader, and how to communicate that leadership not only with verbal commands but with your energy and body language.

When humans stop enforcing rules and boundaries, they relinquish their role as "pack leader," and their dog assumes that position. You may believe that you already are the leader to your dog in your household, but if you are having behavioral problems that are not resolving, we can assure you your dog doesn’t view you the same way you view yourself. Most dogs, once taught, receive great satisfaction from pleasing their owner or handler. As we become a true leader to our dog, we build our relationship with the dog based on mutual respect and trust.

A majority of people understand the importance of balanced, healthy diet and exercise for their dogs, but many underestimate the power and benefit of mental stimulation in producing a happy, healthy, mentally sound dog. At Camano Island Kennels, we understand and respect that principle, and employ it to the benefit of both dogs and their owners. We choose to refrain from using food incentive or toys as our currency for rewarding adult dogs, because bribery is not a tool that dogs use in dealing with one another.

Our dog training method uses techniques based on the interaction that dogs naturally use with each other. Puppies learn from their mothers the principle of cause and effect even before their eyes open. At Camano Island Kennels, we reward by using verbal and physical praise. Our dog training is based on positive motivation and reinforcement. Our methods invoke "operant conditioning," which creates an association between a behavior and a consequence in extinguishing undesirable behaviors. We use "instinctual corrections," and correct only to the level that is necessary for the individual dog. Five principals to remember in dog training: Praise, Practice, Patience, Correction, Consistency.

We would like to take a moment also to speak to what may be the single greatest reason for dissatisfaction with their pets among many dog owners. The reason is anthropomorphism. It exists when a person believes that a dog possesses human traits and emotions and assumes that a dog is motivated by the same things that motivate humans. For example, some people talk to a dog if it fails to respond instantly to a command, reminding it that it knows the command and should have complied. The conversation is, of course, pointless to the dog. If it had understood the command and respected the command-giver as its leader, it would have complied.

At Camano Island Kennels Dog Training and Boarding, we help dogs by training people. One of the ways we do that is by helping people develop a better understanding of dog psychology. When people understand the real reasons their dogs behave the way they do, they are better able to correct and resolve poor behavior.