What is Holistic Training?

Holistic training and behaviour therapy is teaching and treating the 'whole dog.' The whole dog includes the dog's mind, its environment, family and health. Holistic methods do not simply teach the dog a command or treat the symptom of a behaviour problem, but use the study of behaviour and canine evolution to understand why the dog behaves the way it does.

Holistic methods then try to change and shape the dog's behaviour to better fit human culture, without damaging the dog's well-being.

Group Training Classes

Training classes focus on basic obedience skills and manners, as well as on understanding dog behaviour and facilitating communication between dog and owner. Classes also provide the owner with tools to better adapt their canine companion into human culture.

Flying Dog also provides information on natural, species-specific nutrition and alternative healthcare. Information is provided during training classes on homemade diets, vitamins and supplements, as well as natural remedies for things like diarrhea, flea control, and much more.

Holistic Behaviour Problem Solving

To illustrate how a behaviour problem is solved holistically we will use the example of excessive or disruptive barking:

A conventional trainer would teach the dog to be quiet by training him to respond to a command or put an anti-bark collar on the dog to eliminate the symptom of barking.

Holistic training first asks the question "Why is the dog barking?" The question is answered by looking at the dog's environment, his family relationships and his health and well-being:

Environment

• Perhaps the dog is barking at the window at passing people. If this were the case we would change the dog's attitude toward the people from antagonistic to friendly with the methods of desensitization and counter-conditioning.

Family Relationships

• The dog may be suffering from separation distress and barks when he is alone do to anxiety.
• If so, we would teach the dog to become more independent, and to enjoy being alone through changing his interactions with the family and desensitizing the dog to cues that make him anxious.
• We may also employ herbs or flower remedies to reduce his anxiety from the inside.

The Dog Himself

• Excess energy and boredom are often causes of excessive barking.
• The dog may not be getting enough exercise and is releasing pent-up energy by barking. In this case we would increase the dog's daily exercise regiment.
• The dog could also be bored and need to be more stimulated. More interesting toys could be given to the dog to keep him occupied.

Nutrition

• There is an important link between behaviour and nutrition. Processed foods and treats high in corn, preservatives, dyes and sugars have been known to cause aggression, hyperactivity and other behaviour problems in dogs.
• A switch to a natural diet is always recommended when treating any behavioral problem.

On top of looking at all of these aspects we will also give the owner tools to control the behaviour as it is being treated, namely commands to get the dog to be quiet when barking.

When you look at all the different aspects of the dog and his life, you get a clearer picture of why the dog is acting the way he is. Dogs do not live in a vacuum, therefore we should not treat only the symptoms of a problem.