Tulsa Dog obedience Training Philosophy
At Downtown Dog in the Country, our dog obedience training philosophy is rooted in science, compassion for regular people, and real-life results. We combine evidence-based methods with a deep respect for each dog’s overall well-being, focusing on clear communication instead of marketing aimed at emotional responses designed to sell a feeling. Here you’ll find thoughtful articles and reflections on Tulsa dog training, behavior, and the human–dog relationship, all designed to help you understand your dog and make more effective, rational choices every day.
Behavioral Ecology
We have years of training in behavioral ecology (with an M.S. in behavioral ecology from the University of Tulsa and decades of independant research) - the science of how the environment shapes animal behavior. This is vital to understanding dog behavior, because when you change the environment, the dog changes their behavior. We know how you need to adapt your management and training practices to produce the results you need because we understand why animals use the strategies they do.
Canine Communication
Dogs are practical animals - they do what works for them. Though they don't speak human language, they have been selected by countless generations of breeding to work symbiotically with people and in a somewhat human manner. We don't discount the owner's perspective on the dog's behavior but we can help you reframe the way you see their behavior so you aren't missing anything and can respond effectively in real time.
Real-World Obedience
We believe that the right techniques are the ones that work for you. We aren't going to guilt you for letting your dog sleep on the bed if it works and there aren't any problems with it. We also won't try and make you feel terrible for using a correction on a dog that is trying to kill your chickens or your cat - we assess the welfare of the dog holistically, instead of getting trapped in restrictive practices that have more to do with grandstanding and virtue signalling. We are here to help you fix the problem, gain the skills, and move on with a more effective and easier life.
Owner Education
Our success depends on your success. We won't promise to program your dog like a computer and send it home in two weeks (for the small fee of five thousand dollars) because we know that's not the best practice. We know that you - the dog owner - must become skilled at dog handling, at reading dogs, and develop a workable, sensible management plan that can be implemented at home. Our programs heavily emphasize owner education - in fact we require it.We teach the concepts and reasons WHY we use the techniques we do, and give you the tools to work through any problems that arise yourself through understanding WHY your dogs are doing what they are doing.
