About Me

About Me

My name is Danye! (pronounced like Danny)


I have been working professionally, with dogs for over 18 years!


 I started as a veterinary technician and hospital manager before deciding to focus solely on my passion for behavioral health to become a full-time trainer/ behavior consultant.


Did you know that the #1 cause of death for dogs in the U.S. is euthanasia?  Did you know the #1 reason for dogs being left in shelters and then euthanized is behavioral issues? 


This is why I do what I do! My goal is to save as many dogs as I can and the best way to do that is Games Based Concept Training!


One of the most important aspects of canine ( and human) health is mental health! Yet, even in veterinary communities, it is frequently thought of last.


When a dog is being mentally and physically fulfilled,  and working in a trusting relationship with a human, great things happen. When our dogs feel safe, and happy, they have this magical ability to make us feel the same way.


Through games based training, a bond can be formed that will provide countless benefits to both dog and human for a lifetime!


I want to help bring this quality of life to every dog in the world because they deserve it.


Credentials

  • Member International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)
  • Member International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
  • Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP)
  • Member Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT)
  • AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
  • Penn Foster Career College: Dog Obedience and Training Instructor
  • Absolute Dogs Certified Pro Dog Trainer
  • Absolute Dogs Pro Dog Partner
  • 15 year Veterinary Technician with focus on behavior and wellness




I particularly love working with special needs dogs such as deaf, blind, tripod, ect... I love them all!

 

One of my most rewarding experiences was working/training with my SharPei/ Heeler mix Pigye Shea. Pig was born deaf and she was in her second home when I was asked to rescue her. Within 2 weeks, she and I had learned enough from each other that she was trained in basic obedience with hand signals alone. A bond was created that lasted 10 years before she unfortunately passed away. I used to joke that " My deaf dog listens better than any other dog and she can't hear a word I say."


Training Methods

My Rough Transition Into the World of Dog Training


When I first made the transition from veterinary technician to dog trainer, I found it very difficult to connect with other dog trainers who utilized training methods that aligned with everything I knew about animal/canine behavior.


I learned that dog trainers are not a professional group kept under any regulating body or held to any universally accepted standards. Therefore many trainers rely on outdated, harmful and even dangerous training methods!


Many of the trainers that utilize these methods are not educated in canine psychology and they truly think they are doing the right thing because some other mentor trainer convinced them that this was the only way to do things!


I had the unfortunate experience of being hired by a company that was not fully upfront with me, or their clients, about the painful methods they used. Even worse, they insisted on sticking to these outdated methods even after myself and other employees voiced concern.


As soon as I could afford to financially break off on my own, I did!


I returned to my roots as a veterinary technician and sought guidance from the veterinary medicine community.

I am 100% committed to utilizing training methods supported by the veterinary behaviorist community!


All of my programs have been created by Veterinarians and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists! click on the names below to learn more about my biggest influences.


Dr. Sophia Yin

Dr. Ian Dunbar

Dr. Patricia McConnell

and of course, Dr. Tom Mitchell .


Dr. Tom is a best selling author, veterinary behaviorist and world renowned dog trainer, who founded Absolute Dogs, and Behavet over a decade ago.


His newest projects are the Help My Dog Hub and Help My Dog Podcast that are transforming the lives of reactive dogs and owners all over the world!


 I adhere to the Humane Hierarchy and the position statements set forth by the International Association of Canine Professionals and American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, when creating a training plan for each individual dog. 


American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior Position Statement


 

Hierarchy of Procedures for Humane and Effective Practice

  1. Health, nutritional, and physical factors: Ensure that any indicators for possible medical, nutritional, or health factors are addressed by a licensed veterinarian. The consultant should also address potential factors in the physical environment.

2. Antecedents: Redesign setting events, change motivations, and add or remove stimuli (cues) for the problem behavior.

3. Positive Reinforcement: Employ approaches that contingently deliver a consequence to increase the probability that the desired behavior will  occur.

4. Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior: Reinforce an acceptable replacement behavior and remove the maintaining reinforcer for the problem behavior.

5.Negative Punishment, Negative Reinforcement, or Extinction (these are not listed in any order of preference):

a)Negative Punishment – Contingently withdraw a positive reinforcer to reduce the probability that the problem behavior will occur.

b)Negative Reinforcement – Contingently withdraw an aversive antecedent stimulus to increase the probability that the right behavior will occur.

c)Extinction – Permanently remove the maintaining reinforcer to suppress the behavior or reduce it to baseline levels.

6.Positive Punishment: Contingently deliver an aversive consequence to reduce the probability that the problem behavior will occur.


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