I've tried many different training methods with my dogs, including heel/jerk, lure/reward, and clicker training (positive reinforcement based training). I've found that by far, positive reinforcement based training gives me the best results. The behaviors I have trained using positive reinforcement are stronger, and are done with so much more enthusiasm than the ones I trained any other way. These experiences make me a much stronger trainer, in that I have had to look hard at the merits of various methods along with their drawbacks.  In doing that, I have needed to make in depth analyses of dogs' behavior, and really learn why dogs do what they do. I've found that when I offer plenty of opportunites for reinforcement for everyone, the whole household is a more pleasant place to be. If I find myself crabbing at the dogs or birds a lot, I can always look and see that they haven't been offered enough opportunities to be told they're good, and fixing that will invariably solve the problem.		NATCH ADCH Sophie This is Sophie, my novice A dog. She's a beagle-harrier mix, who I bought from a pet store. Sophie did a wonderful job playing agility and flyball with me for a few years, until I realized that she was only playing because I wanted her to. I retired her, and now she spends her days lounging in the bed, taunting the boys, and periodically wandering out to have a run around on the equipment.
		SIDNEY RM, PG3, FM, OAC, EGC This is Sidney, a labrador retriever. Sidney has a love of life, and of the fun games we play. He's struggled all his life with lamenesses and illnesses, and last year decided that he didn't care if he played agility anymore.  So he's retired from our team sports, but still gets out and chases a lure around the course once in a while.  Someday he's going to catch that baggie! Photo by In Motion Photos
ADCH Bungee FM JCH SCH Bungee is a border-jack, a cross between a border collie and a jack russell. He is a character! He's full of spunk and energy, and loves to play all sorts of games. You can usually hear him growling and shrieking on the agility course, just having a ball and talking about it the entire way around. Photo by 2MC Design	Agility is an area where you can really see the benefits of using positive reinforcement to train behaviors. Most dogs who have been trained this way are faster and much more enthusiastic than their competition. Most of the behaviors I have trained for agility are begun using a clicker. There are some more complicated behaviors that I don't use a clicker on, but I still use positive reinforcement to teach the dogs what I want to see. The dogs love this training. You can see by their attitudes when we're done that they think they can conquer the world - which is exactly how I want them to feel when they work with me. The dogs beg for their turns, and never want to quit when training time is done. I've worked very hard to learn how to listen to the dogs. Many times, if I am having trouble training a new behavior, there is a very good reason for it, and if I pay close attention, I can find a way to either explain it better to the dog, or else train a different behavior that will still work in agility. I want a working partnership, and in order to get that I must be willing to listen to the other half of the team. I have used my experiences to help other people accomplish the same thing with their dogs.  They are universally happy with the results they see.
Culprit AD, FM Culprit is also a border-jack. He came to me when he was about 2 years old, already a fiend for flyball. He's developed a love of agility and tears up the course. Cully decided that he belongs with Sarah Brooks, so I made the decision to let him be where he wants to be.  He is one spoiled little border-jack now. Photo by In Motion Photos