My name is Julie Cantrell, and I have been training dogs as a profession and vocation since 1990. In that time, I have worked with approximately 2000 dogs and their owners, and taught over 800 class hours. Below you can read a bit about my background and qualifications. The photo at left is me with my first dog and first partner in training, Shep - almost 18 years old in this photo - a Sheltie mix with heart and willingness I will never forget.

Philosophy

One of the most important things you can do before engaging a dog trainer is ask about their training philosophy. This isn't because there is only one sound and correct way to train - different trainers will have come from a variety of dog training backgrounds, and each will have their own unique perspective and canine world view. And good trainers, regardless of their preferred way of doing things, generally have a large and varied bag of tricks at their disposal. You, however, as your dog's owner and friend, need to feel comfortable with your trainer's perspective, and both you and your dog need to feel comfortable with what the trainer will ask you to do as you train. Only you can have responsibility for what you allow to happen with your canine companion.

The goal of my work is to increase or restore the harmony between dogs and their human families. I feel strongly that all interactions, training included, should enhance the relationship. It's not difficult to create an interest in the dog in doing the things that we humans find useful or necessary, and I find this to be a confidence-building, relationship-strengthening, essentially very healthy way to teach and learn. My focus is on building and preserving trust between owner and dog, teaching owners to be clear and effective in their communication, creating a clear understanding of the principles and practice of being a fair and reliable leader, and fostering respect for the dog, his needs, his individuality, as well as what he has to teach us. And, I believe in making the training process enjoyable, not daunting, for all parties, dogs and owners alike. My hope in every training effort is that the owners will develop an increased connectedness to their dog, and an understanding of how to recognise their dog's virtues and build upon them, which will take them long beyond our last lesson.

I feel very fortunate to be able to work in this field; I can honestly say that I learn from every human and canine client I work with. Everyone wins when the day-to-day lives of dogs and their families are improved, and I think the positive aspects of these changes follow through into other parts of our lives, continuing to enhance relationships, increase tolerance and understanding, and respect for differences.

Methods

My training focuses on using traditional obedience commands to teach good manners, improve self control, and develop a sound, working relationship between dog and owner. I use proven, motivational ("positive"), non-force methods that teach and build up, not intimidate and tear down, your dog.

My training methods are reward-based, incorporating scientifically established learning theories such as Operant and Classical Conditioning, and the Premack Principle. Operant Conditioning refers to learning that behavior has consequences. Behavior that has a pleasant consequence tends to get repeated. Behavior that has an unpleasant consequence - or is simply not rewarded - tends to happen less often. Simply put, we as trainers reward the dog for choosing the behaviors we want, when we want them. However, it's not always that easy. What is a reward, and what is not, isn't always clear-cut! For instance, if you shout at your dog and push him off, when he jumps up on you as you arrive home, but ignore him when he stays off, will your dog be more or less likely to continue jumping up? Shouting is certainly an unpleasant consequence, but touch and attention are highly rewarding. A dog who is praised and petted for keeping off, but ignored for jumping, is actually more likely to learn polite greeting behavior. Operant conditioning is the primary model for explaining how dogs learn.

In Classical Conditioning, we use the dog's remarkable ability to create associations to teach new behaviors. It is a process of pairing something that has no meaning, or a negative meaning, with something that has a definite (generally positive) meaning, so that the two become associated. The result of the association is that the animal reacts to the previously meaningless or bad thing in a similar way as it did to the positive, meaningful thing. A dog's vociferous response to the sound of a doorbell, or the UPS truck, is an example of Classical Conditioning. Neither the doorbell ring nor the truck sound have particular significance until they become associated with the arrival of intruders. The salivation of Pavolv's dogs is another well-known example of Classical Conditioning (also known as Pavlovian Conditioning). The sound of the bell had no meaning to the dogs in the experiment, until it became associated with the presence of food, effectively signalling that food was on its way. In the experiment, Pavlov's dogs salivated for the sound of a bell, exactly as they would in the presence of food. Classical Conditioning is a powerful tool in behavior modification.

The Premack Principle is another powerful training tool, and one of my personal favorites. This principle states that the opportunity to engage in a particularly enjoyable activity (say, your dog's evening walk at the park) can serve as a reinforcer (reward) to a less desirable or neutral activity (say, sit on command), and that pairing the enjoyable event with the other behavior actually increases the frequency of the less desirable or neutral behavior. In other words, by requiring that our dogs do something for us - sit, lie down, go to their bed, etc - before we do something for them that they really enjoy - take them for a walk, play ball or Frisbee, put their dinner bowl down - we actually make the "work" more enjoyable by association. And our dogs begin performing that behavior more easily and more often. This not only increases the dog's enjoyment of learning and working, as he associates obeying commands with activities he already enjoys, it helps develop a healthy relationship, it builds confidence as the dog realizes he has a measure of control over getting things he likes, and it gets him used to using that clever brain of his in a constructive fashion! And if that weren't enough, a nice by-product is that the dog learns impulse control in the process.

Ultimately, however, the most important aspect of my teaching methods is not any learning theory or principle, but the dogs themselves. Learning theories are an excellent foundation for training - when built upon actual training experience, observation, and an openness to learn from and listen to our partners in the learning process: our dogs.

Degrees and Certifications

1992: Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology, with special interest in animal behavior and natural history, from the University of Washington in Seattle.

February 2006: Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

December 2006: Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT), through the Certification Council For Professional Dog Trainers.

October 2008: AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator

Training Background

April 1990-1996: Full time trainer for a large capacity Board and Train program at a large board and train facility in western Washington state. This is an in-house program, generally one month long, where pet owners send their dogs to get a very thorough grounding in basic obedience and well-mannered behavior. About 5 hours a day were spent training dogs directly, the rest of the day was spent teaching owners to work with their dogs, and conducting on-site and in- home follow-ups, as well as behavioral consultations and puppy training lessons. During this time, I also taught obedience classes at the basic, advanced, off-leash, and novice competition levels, as well as tricks and non-competitive agility classes, and basic obedience classes for adopted shelter dogs for a local humane shelter. From 1993-1996, I developed an apprenticeship program for individuals wishing to learn dog training. I Interviewed and helped select candidates for the 16 week program, coordinated program structure and oversaw apprentices' progress and training. From mid 1994-1996, I was Head Trainer at this facility.

1996-Present: Private Trainer, offering private lessons, behavior consultations, group classes, and occasionally board and train, in Washington, Pennsylvania, Montana, and West Virginia.

Personal Training Interests

My personal training interests are varied. I started out becoming involved in competitive obedience with my adopted German Shepherd, Taiga. My main attraction to it was that it gave me some structure and goals to work toward with a fearful, kennel shy, yet extremely intelligent dog. Since then, I have also become involved in training my dogs in therapy and demo work. Therapy work involves training to visit the ill and elderly at local hospitals, nursing homes, and rehab centers. With demos, generally a group of trained dogs perform obedience and tricks, again to people who are confined due to illness or disability. I also train and show in conformation, and particularly enjoy teaching tricks, and exploring Frisbee (disc dog) work. Lately we have also begun training for competitive agility and tracking.

Titles I have attained with my dogs include Canine Good Citizen awards, AKC and UKC Companion Dog titles, AKC Rally Obedience titles, Herding Instinct Certificates, Therapy Dogs Incorporated certifications, and an AKC breed Championship.

While I have worked with most breeds, I have generally lived with herding breeds, including a Rough Collie, a Shetland Sheepdog mix, a German Shepherd and, currently, Belgian Sheepdogs.

Special Interests and Experience

Flower Essence Therapy: from 1994 to present, studied and employed Bach Flower therapy as an aid to a behavior modification in dogs. Also conducted Bach Flower formulation classes for a Seattle-based health food co-op.

Nutrition: from 1994 to 1999, produced and retailed a custom frozen, whole-foods diet for pets, and lectured and consulted on canine diets and nutrition.

Professional Development

November 2009 - Dr Raymond Coppinger, Wolf Park, Battle Ground, IN: "Evolution and Natural History of Dogs"
December 2007 - Veronica Boutelle (telecourse): "Curriculum Development: Building Better Classes"
April 2007 - Int'l Assoc. of Animal Behavior Consultants Annual Conference, Cleveland, OH: Multiple Presentations

• Karen Overall, MA, VMD, PhD, DACVB: "From Leashes To Neurons: How Dogs Think, Why This Matters, and What We Can Learn About Becoming More Humane"
• Karen Overall: Psychopharmacology
• Lynn Hoover, MSW, CDBC: Expanding the Possibilities: Use of Self With Families
• Carey Williams, PhD: The Basics of Equine Behavior
• Steve Dale: Kitten Socialization Classes
• Sue Kapla, PhD: A Functional Reconceptualization of Aggressive Behavior in Dogs
• Terance Cranendock: Application of Psychoanalytic Principles to Dog Behavior Consulting
• Dani Weinberg, PhD, CDBC: Celebrating Differences
• Lee Livingood, CDBC: Growing Your Animal Behavior Consulting Business
• Chris Bach, CDBC: Reinforcement - Knowing and Using Its Power With Dogs
• Ken McCort: Motor Patterns and Their Influence on Breed-Specific Behavior Problems
• Niki Lampropolos, MA, CDBC: Taking a History
• Beth Aldeman, MSJ, CABC; Brenda Aloff, CDBC; Debbie Strother, MS, BCBA, CABC; Liz Wilson, CVT, CABC: Panel Discussion on Bite Case Studies

Professional Affiliations

Professional Member: Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT #67160)
Professional Dog Trainer: Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers (CPDT #3061229)
Certified Member: International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC #260)
Practitioner Member: Flower Essence Society