07/07/2022
B A L A N C E D
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: being in a state of balance : having different parts or elements properly or effectively arranged, proportioned, regulated, considered, etc.
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The word balanced has become a weighty, overly complicated term in the dog training space and yet, by definition it’s anything but. When people hear “balanced training,” many immediately equate that to punishment or bonkers or heavy corrections. So why do we think about a balanced method this way? Why don’t we think of balanced as proportionate, considerate, harmonious — the things that actually define balanced?
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If I had to describe our training style, I would compare it to walking on a balance beam. Sometimes leaning more to the right, sometimes a bit to the left but striving to maintain our sense of balance, and how and where we take our next step with each dog.
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We see each dog for who they are and what they need, approaching each interaction and training session in this balanced way. This does not mean we never correct a dog. What this means is that we first teach a dog what is expected of them, providing clear and consistent direction and identifying any lack of clarity before implementing an appropriate correction. All to assist the dog in moving towards their own sense of balance.
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That is balanced training. Training with compassion, cooperation, and a proportionate amount of direction vs correction. Balanced training shouldn’t be something that scares people, it should be something that empowers them and their dogs, something that creates stability — a balanced, happy pack.
Certified Dog Trainer
