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411 University St, Seattle, USA

[email protected]

+1 -800-456-478-23

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Frequently Asked Questions

ARE YOU AN "ALL POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT" TRAINER?
Yes! But we encourage you to ask us more. The animal training field is unregulated and a simple answer isn’t enough to ensure you are working with a qualified professional.

To better understand the methods that we use...
Clever Critters team members take continuous education to ensure the methods that we use will be ethical to the pets and to you, humane in nature, and backed by the most recent research in psychology, biology, ethology, and other important areas of behavior. We are Fear Free certified and focus on choice, cooperation, communication, and positive reinforcement. If you would like to know more about our methodology, please ask!
DO YOU USE PUNISHMENT?
The definition of "punishment" in psychology is the reduction in frequency or intensity of a behavior. "Positive Punishment" is the addition of a stimulus to decrease the frequency of a behavior. "Negative Punishment" is the removal of a stimulus to decrease the frequency of a behavior.

The use of punishment-based methods is the risk of fallout, or unintended side effects, including creating or intensifying fear, anxiety, aggression, reactivity, learned helplessness, avoidance, and more.

We focus on the management (prevention) of unwanted or unsafe behaviors and the triggers associated with these responses. Once good management is in place, we use positive reinforcement to teach alternative and incompatible behaviors, as well as emotional regulation. The use of positive punishment is not backed by science and is risky to the overall well-being of the animal physically and emotionally and to the human-animal bond. We make our behavior care plan very carefully based on the individual animal and circumstances in each case.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON "DOMINANCE-BASED" TRAINING?
We use science-backed and updated research as a guide for animal training. The current literature does not find a "dominance-hierarchy" approach to any animal training to be effective or humane. Also, the definition of "dominance" in the animal behavior literature is quite different from how other pet professionals or pet parents might define dominance. We have found that most of what our clients have heard about dominance is misunderstood, and steeped in myths and misconceptions. When we are working with an animal we focus on the individual, their behavioral history, experiences, environment, and what we can objectively observe to determine an appropriate behavior care plan.Other prominent professionals agree that we need alternatives to dominance-based dog and animal training:
WHAT ARE YOUR CONSULTANTS' QUALIFICATIONS?

You can read more about all of our team members' qualifications on the About Us page!

WHERE DO YOU OFFER SERVICES?

We offer behavior consulting services in your home, on-site, or virtually. Examples of on-site work include working with you and your pet while on a walk, at the park, or at the veterinarian's office.

Our service area ranges across the Hampton Roads and Tidewater areas of Virginia, and some surrounding areas.

Now with virtual consults, we can provide services almost anywhere! Contact us for more information, and please provide your zip code.

For in-home appointments please be aware that some locations may require a travel fee based on the trainer's proximity.

WHAT TYPES OF BEHAVIOR CONCERNS CAN CLEVER CRITTERS ADDRESS?

We believe in problem prevention before problem-solving.

This means our focus is to teach your pets the skills they need to navigate a human-centric world and emotional regulation. We can help with puppies and kittens to create a strong foundation, however, we also know there are many pets and their parents already struggling with behavior concerns.

We treat a variety of behavior concerns for dogs and cats of all ages, seniors included. Some of the behaviors our team can help with are aggression, fearfulness, anxiety, hyperactivity and so much more. In addition, we can help you teach other skills such as basic and advanced behaviors, or "for-fun" activities such as agility and nose works.

WHAT TRAINING METHODS DO YOU USE?

We consider ourselves to have high ethics when it comes to pets, their care, and interactions with pet parents. Therefore, we use humane and science-backed methods. Whether you call it positive reinforcement, force-free, fear free, or choice-based training, we focus on teaching with communication, cooperation, and care for the whole animal - physically and emotionally.

HOW DO I CHOOSE A QUALITY TRAINER FOR MY PET?

The animal training field is not regulated, therefore anyone, regardless of their education, knowledge, or experience, can advertise themselves as a dog trainer. There are important considerations and red flags to be looking for to ensure you're working with someone who has your pet's overall well-being as the main focus.

We highly recommend reviewing How to Choose a Dog Trainer to ensure you set your pet up for success and reduce the risks of fallout or behavior concerns later in life.

Jean Donaldson recommends asking these 3 questions for full transparency before agreeing to hire a dog trainer.
-What exactly will happen to my dog when she gets it right?
-What exactly will happen to her when she gets it wrong?
-Are there any less invasive alternatives to what you propose?

If you don’t get clear, concrete answers or you are at all uncomfortable, keep shopping.

AVSAB Position Statements - The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior

WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?

Client Cancellations and Rescheduling:

We have a cancellation policy for all clients to review when booking services. We require 48 hours' business notice to cancel or reschedule any services provided by Clever Critters.