Our Training Methods

Women's Animal Center is committed to using humane training methods that help to foster the human-animal bond. Our classes are designed to teach you how to motivate your pet to do what you would like him or her to do, as well as how to discourage and decrease unwanted behaviors, all while promoting fun and enjoyment for both you and your pet.  

Our trainers utilize rewards-based methods that are rooted in the sciences of animal learning and behavior to help you and your pet live a happy and harmonious life together. Our training methods never use force, fear or pain to accomplish this ultimate goal. 

Food is a very powerful and effective motivator for both cats and dogs, so we use food generously in our classes. Another advantage of food is that you can use it to target an animal into position. Food therefore has two roles: as lure and as reward. Training with positive reinforcement allows the animal to relax and learn, while strengthening the bond between you. 

For dogs specifically, sitting on cue, coming when called, walking nicely on-leash and waiting at doorways are all examples of important skills that do not come naturally to them. We use food to build desired behaviors that, once learned, can be maintained through the use of alternative "life rewards" - or motivators - for your dog. Everyday things such as play, sniffing, door opening, car rides and access to other dogs can also be used to reward established behavior.

Occasionally we find that there may be a dog who is not particularly food-motivated, in which case our trainers will work with an owner to find the right reward for his or her dog.  Women's Animal Center and other training professionals prefer food because it is one of the most powerful motivators in animal training. The reality is that you don't have to use any particular tool or motivator to train your dog, but you will attain more strongly conditioned behavior if you do not limit yourself to praise alone.