Classes
Join Matthew Berry at Boavida Canine Lifestyle Centre, Hillcrest
I have developed a training system that not only teaches you how to maximize your commands but also how to balance core behaviour management and socialization skills in a system that really works.
This is not your average dog training class!
A bit of History on My Training:
Over the last 20 years I have been involved with Dogs and Dog Training on many levels, from behavioral ecology and Ethology ,working with Professors and Trainers from all over the world, to developing my own breed of working Livestock Guardian Dogs from local indigenous dogs, from Training Military Dogs to Hunting dogs and Herding Dogs.
This has given me huge insight into what really makes a dog fit successfully into our lives.
Over the years I have changed from military style training to a predominantly positive reinforcement approach balanced with behaviour management and socialising systems.
There are many reasons for this change to Positive Reinforcement, not only that it is far kinder and more humane but the incidence of psychological problems is far reduced in pet homes as long as it is totally balanced with behaviour management, socialization and Leadership Principles.(If not it is even more disastrous.)
Many of us have our Foundations in the so called OLD SCHOOL METHODS and your past skills and understandings will influence your present training:
Prior to about 2005 most dog training schools in South Africa and worldwide used the negative reinforcement or compulsion training methods. Since then there has been a trend of training schools moving into positive reinforcement.
But what about those of us that trained our dogs successfully this way. The methods are completely ingrained and the psychologies part of our understanding of training dogs. Now we are faced with confusion and frustration as we are told what used to work is no longer acceptable in fact Veterinarians refrain from referring to schools which advocate negative reinforcement training systems.
So this is where I come in.
It was as difficult for me to make the change as it will be for you. Remember I train dogs all day and by 2002 had trained in excess of 1000 dogs personally with negative reinforcement. I have done all the transitions; I understand your concepts as well as your frustrations and can guide you through this process.
So wherever you are with your dog training skills and history, be it Positive Reinforcement, compulsion, negative reinforcement or nothing at all…… I have the ability to teach you and advance you onto the path of a positive relationship with your dog.
What is my New Training Program all about:
After being involved with dogs all over the world and especially in rural Southern Africa I came to the realization that Training and more specifically commands were such a small part of what defined a well behaved dog. Behaviour around people and within the environment decided on the dog’s success as a companion and ultimately realized the dogs “survival” within that environment.
I watched people especially communities where dog training in its formal forms was unheard of and took notice of what worked and what didn’t. I observed the instinctual behaviour of dogs fitting in with Humans obeying a defined but unsaid set of rules within an environment.
These are the tools I want to teach you. How to observe and manage your Behaviour, expectations and Training Skills so that you can have the pet you deserve.
I have developed a new Beginners Training System which I call my “Dynamics” and this system will set a new trend in developing young puppies as well as bringing older dogs under control.
I include a seminar called “Survival Skills for Dog Owners” to give a theoretical foundation for the skills you will need to develop in class.
This seminar really deepens your knowledge and understanding of dogs and allows you to anticipate as well as rectify any behavioural issues.
This is the Ultimate Behaviour Training Seminar from Boavida!
FREE to all the families signed on to any of our Training classes.
Tuesday Evenings at 6pm (tea/coffee served) Booking is essential.
Please note for all my classes:
· If you want your child to train your dog, please make an appointment for me to assess your child and your puppy to ensure they are ready for training and which class we can fit them into.
For More Details on my Courses and Content click on “Courses Offered”
