FAQs
What is LIMA?
“LIMA is an acronym for the phrase “Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive”… In the vast majority of cases, desired behavior change can be affected by focusing on the animal’s environment, physical well-being, and operant and classical interventions such as differential reinforcement of an alternative behavior, desensitization, and counter-conditioning.”
Are you CPDT-KA certified?
Yes. The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers® (CCPDT) requires continuing education and is the leading independent certifying organization for the dog training profession:
CPDT-KA® certification provides an independent, scientifically valid measure of an individual’s understanding of the field of dog training, including instruction skills, learning theory, ethology, equipment, and animal husbandry.
CCPDT® requires its certificants to adhere to its Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics and Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) Effective Behavior Intervention policies. Certificants must engage in on-going continuing education to maintain the credential.
How old are the dogs you work with?
I work with all dogs (and their humans), from puppies to senior dogs.
When should I start puppy training?
Day 1! From your puppy’s perspective, they are always training: everything to them is new and potentially exciting or scary. The most important thing you can do for your dog across its lifespan is a few sessions of positive puppy training. Early positive socialization and early identification of any unique needs can pay off in spades later on in your partnership.
What type of puppy training do you recommend?
Until about 16 weeks, puppies are in a special development stage. The most important training you can do in your first months together is to work socialization and bite inhibition with the goals for your dog to:
Gain a positive association with as many people, experiences, and animals as possible
Understand how to bite softly before they learn not to bite at all
If my puppy is scared of something, will they grow out of it?
If you notice that your puppy is concerned, scared, or anxious around something specific, get in touch immediately. With early intervention, you have the best chance at helping your dog feel more confident around this stimulus for the rest of their life. Left unmanaged, there is a higher probability that this stimulus will cause fear or anxiety for the rest of your pup’s life.
My 6-month old pup is doing things they never did before as a younger puppy, is this normal?
Ah, welcome to adolescence! The good news is that a behavior change is normal for your dog as they approach and journey through adolescence. The hard news is that, just like in human adolescence, your pup will test boundaries and experiment with new behaviors. For starters, make sure your pup is getting enough exercise and enrichment.
My dog is always licking my baby. They are best friends, right?
While we love our dog and our baby and wish them as wonderful a relationship as we have, I recommend patience in establishing this relationship. To many dogs, a baby (then toddler, then child) can be quite stressful. Our dogs may show us their stress through small signals like licking, yawning, looking away, or leaving the room. If you’re seeing any of these signs (and even if you’re not), it’s important to makes sure our dogs have space away from our sweet, 2-legged creatures. A lick does not always mean stress, but it often can. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. As a licensed Family Paws educator, working with families with dogs is an important part of my work and mission.