Fargo dog training – Pawsitive Vybe

I’m always looking for different ways to train, socialize and exercise my dog. I love bringing him to new places, teaching him new tricks and watching him interact with other dogs. That’s why I brought the mutt along to a frisbee class in July with Pawsitive Vybe of Fargo – we had a blast!

Abby Cline uses positive reinforcement training with her dogs and her clients’ dogs through Pawsitive Vybe in Fargo. When I’m training dogs, I use a combination of rewards and corrections, but I’ve always been impressed by the relationships Abby has with her dogs. They are very focused, and it’s obvious they are having tons of fun.

Ace, by the way, loves Abby! She’s all about treats and throwing things – woooooooo!

My experience with Pawsitive Vybe – Fargo

Abby is an enthusiastic, patient trainer, and I recommend her to anyone who wants to build a better relationship with his or her dog.

My mutt Ace has an extreme obsession with retrieving. He will fixate on one object, totally unable to break his concentration from it. I was hesitant to bring him to a class that involved retrieving because I thought he would be a total lunatic.

Good thing a tennis-ball-obsessed mutt is no problem for Abby!

Whenever Ace became obsessed and fixated on a disc, it immediately became out of play or “dead.” Abby would then distract Ace with a new disc. If he continued to fixate on the original, she would literally wait him out until he happened to glance up at her. When Ace made eye contact, he was rewarded.

I really admired Abby’s willingness to work with my dog on his “issue.” No other trainer has challenged Ace in this way. We are definitely going to consider signing up for some fun classes with Abby in the future!

Positive reinforcement dog training

Positive reinforcement dog training means rewarding the dog for “good” behaviors and ignoring the dog for “bad” behaviors.

A reward could be a treat or just paying attention to the dog. Abby rewards dogs by giving them something they want such as a toy, access to outside, greeting another dog or sniffing a tree.

She also uses consequences for unwanted behaviors.

“If you bite me during play, play stops, game over,” she said. “That is no fun.”

Is positive reinforcement training the best way to train a dog?

Abby believes positive reinforcement dog training is the best option because no pain is involved.

“I don’t feel that I need to inflict pain on my dog to get a desired behavior,” she said. “If I have to hurt my dog to get them to do something, then I don’t think my relationship with them is very healthy.”

She also said that although correcting a dog for unwanted behavior does work for some dogs, behaviors are more reliable when they are taught with positive reinforcement. She said anyone would be able to see this by watching her interact with her dogs and her clients’ dogs.

“Ever since Cesar Millan, everyone thinks they need to ‘dominate’ their dog,” Abby said. “It’s not about that. You and your dog are a team, not the boss and employee. You learn together, and you work out problems together. You can’t fire your dog.”

Abby is a lot more consistent and patient than the average dog owner, though. For most people, it takes months and months to get the desired behavior using strictly positive reinforcement.

During the frisbee class Ace and I attended with Pawsitive Vybe, all the dogs were extremely excited and not always under control. Most of the dogs barked or whined when it was not their turn to work. At one point we had all the dogs tied to trees while we practiced throws without them. Every single dog barked nonstop, including Ace. This bothered me.

Abby encouraged us to ignore the barking. We definitely did not reward our dogs, but if a dog barks and barks without some kind of consequence, the behavior is reinforced because barking is fun!

If a dog barks every time she is tethered, she is conditioned to continue the behavior. I would rather immediately correct my dog for barking or avoid putting him in that situation all together.

Dog sports with Pawsitive Vybe

Abby and I are in the same business – encouraging dog owners to be more active with their dogs.

“Active dogs are healthy dogs!” Abby said. “Dogs that are active live much longer than couch potatoes.”

A huge reason people are getting rid of dogs is because they say they don’t have the time to exercise them, Abby said. “Our dogs ask us for very little, the least we could do is give them a ‘job,’ something to look forward to.”

Since each dog has its own athletic strengths, Abby suggests dog owners assess what those strengths are.

“If your dog loves to run, try agility or lure coursing,” she said. “If your dog is very driven by their nose, try tracking or earth dog. If your dog loves to retrieve, try frisbee or dock diving. There are dog sports for all dogs.”

Training offered with Pawsitive Vybe – Fargo

If you are bored with traditional obedience classes, I hope you will check out Pawsitive Vybe. Abby is full of energy and the dogs just love working with her.

Personal lessons with Pawsitive Vybe are always available by appointment.

Abby also offers six-week group sessions for $75 per session. The fall/winter classes include:

Interaction I and II

The interaction classes help dogs learn how to behave on and off leash in different environments.

K9 Trix

The dog does not have to be an athlete to sign up for K9 Trix. Some of the tricks taught in the class will include targeting objects, object discrimination, leg weaving, backwards scoot, walking backwards, pedestal work, ball work and pretty much any parlor trick you can think of.

Contact Pawsitive Vybe – Fargo:

fargo.pvybe.com

Facebook

YouTube – Here is my favorite video of Abby and her dogs

Email: PawsitiveVybe@gmail.com

 

Have you ever trained with Pawsitive Vybe? Do you prefer positive reinforcement dog training?

This was not a paid review. I did watch and participate in two Pawsitive Vybe classes at no cost.

Two of Abby’s dogs are shown in the photo above. Three of her clients’ dogs are pictured below.