Alpha Dog Training MY Family Method               HOME                     ABOUT HENRY                    HENRY'S FAMILY METHOD                    RATES                   CONTACT                     DOG WALKING        Free Dog Training Tips (This section is still under construction, so please check back often.) Communication (Your Dog's Vocabulary) Crime & "Punishment" (Timing Is Everything) "No Bite, No Teeth Crate Training Weaning Off Treats (My "Jack Pot" Method") The Rescue Dog Best Training Collars (And How To Use Them) My Dog Training Ebooks Most Important Basics (Come, Sit, Down, Stay) Walking: (Heel vs Loose Leash) Running Out the Door (Modifying This Most Dangerous Behaviour) Jumping Barking Digging "Gerrr It's mine!" House Training Separation Anxiety Dog Dominance ABOUT HENRY My background with animals is extensive: I am the Former Associate Publisher of Dog Fancy Magazine Former Associate Publisher of Cat Fancy Magazine Publisher of Trade-A-Horse Magazine Owner/Manager of Alpha Dog Walking Service How I Became a Dog Trainer: For some years I operated a horse training, boarding and breeding operation in Southern California while my youngest daughter rode Hunter Jumpers. As the publisher of Trade-A-Horse (a monthly publication distributed to horse breeders), I visited a lot of horse breeding farms and training operations throughout Southern California. There were always lots of dogs hanging around these ranches and farms. Many lived outside the home, in dog houses, kennels, or just roamed "free". Most of these dogs were obedient--I won't say well trained--but obedient. After all, anyone in the horse business is going to know somethings about training animals. But too often, these horse people applied the same "negative reinforcment" training techinques to dogs that they used to train horses. Many--I wont say most--but many of these dogs--who often ran free across these ranches--would not have been suited as pets living as part of a family in a house or apartment in an urban community. Instinct somehow told me that the techniques we used on horses was just not suited to training a dog--not if you wanted a dog as a companion, living in your home and as a member of the family. The "negative reinforcement" techiniques work on dumb horses. And it works on smart dogs, too if obedience is the only interest you have in your dog. Most of those dogs abayed their owners. But than, a slave obays its owner. I came to realize that a dog is too smart, and too emotionally sensitive, and far more mentially complex than a horse for these trechniques to result in a truly family oriented dog. In those days, as they still do today, my dogs lived in the house with my family and were part of my family. At that time, I had not yet made a formal study of dog training, but it became clear to me that there were some basic difference in the way I--without much formal study other than with horses--had instinctively trained my dogs. Curious, I embarked on a formal study of dog training and read everything could I lay my hands on, attended lextures and seminars and began training other peoples' dogs. Over time I developed what my clients came to refer to as: "Henry's Family Method" My knowledge of dogs and dog training was further enhanced when I became the Associate Publisher of Dog Fancy Magazine where I had the opportunity to study the training methods used by some the best dog trainers in the world. After I sold my horse operation and retired from the magazine I began concentrating all of my efforts on dogs, and still do. "Don't blame the dog for what's on the other end of the leash."