The Wolf Moon Philosophy
We believe every dog is an individual — with their own genetics, instincts, and personality. Some dogs have big prey drives, some are natural guardians, and others are just happy-go-lucky companions. Our job isn’t to change who they are, but to honor and understand what makes them unique.
We follow the LIMA approach (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive), which means we always start with positive reinforcement — using food, toys, and play to create positive experiences and clear communication. Enrichment, both physical and mental, always comes first. We make sure dogs are comfortable and fulfilled before we ever add corrections or structure.
When corrections are needed for extreme cases, we keep them fair and clear. The goal is never punishment — it’s communication. We prioritize muzzles and positive experiences before corrections and management techniques so often seen in the dog industry. Dogs thrive when they understand what we’re asking for, and we make that process as kind and transparent as possible.
Social dogs get the chance to bond and learn through pack experiences, while more independent or sensitive dogs have their own safe spaces where they can relax without pressure. We always respect boundaries and meet each dog where they’re at.
At the end of the day, we believe this is more than training — it’s a journey of connection. We think our dogs choose us for a reason, and that partnership deserves care, patience, and a little bit of spiritual appreciation.
We’re constantly learning, staying up to date with science and modern methods, because we want what’s best for dogs — their safety, their happiness, and the well-being of the communities they live in.
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According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 70% of all households in the U.S. (90.5 million) own a pet as of 2022. Almost 48.5 million own dogs which averages to 1.6 dogs in every household. There are more dogs and people on this planet than ever before which means there are much more dog professionals needed than ever before.
It is my mission to, one by one, create a collective of trained dogs and dog owners so that people and dogs can safely associate and bond as a community.
This is why group classes and lifetime classes are essential my training: providing guidance in public areas, real world situations with other people and dogs.
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Research is finding the human-dog relationship is functionally analogous to the human-infant bond which highly attunes the dogs to the owners emotional, behavioral, and communicative cues. “Inappropriate bonding, coupled with a lack of obedience and exercise can lead to the development of psychological problems like separation anxiety, reactivity, aggression, and destructive behavior,” which we see an abundance of today. Today's society is ridden with physical and mental health issues due to our demanding lifestyles and patterns which have been showing a large impact on the behavioral climate of today's dogs. This training is not only created to train your dog, but to strengthen your relationship with yourself and the outdoors. You’ll find that the outdoor regular activities your dog so desperately needed, you actually did too!
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The philosophy follows the LIMA approach with an emphasis in exercise and environmental enrichment, maximizing the dogs choice, comfort and respect. We believe in the effectiveness of reward training using foods, toys, movement, freedom, play and structured affection to positively reinforce their desirable traits while building a strong bond. The training program is rooted in the expansive scientifically documented benefits of positive reinforcement, behavior modification, up-to-date equipment, desensitization, and proper socialization, while also using aversive tools (prong or e-collar) for specific operant behaviors IF needed (with the owners consent).
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1-Per Jensen. The Ethology of Domestic Animals: An Introductory Text, 3rd Edition
2-Bulmer B. The Complete Dog Owner's Manual: How to Raise a Happy, Healthy Dog. Can Vet J. 1998 Oct;39(10):659–60. PMCID: PMC1539455.
3-https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/reports-statistics/us-pet-ownership-statistics
4-Aloff, Brenda. Canine Body Language- A Photographic Guide Interpreting the Native Language of the Domestic Dog. September 2005
Why the wolf moon?
The wolf represents the wild side, the importance of protecting community (“the pack”) and fierce leadership.
The moon represents intuition, empathy, body regulation and awareness.
This is the balance we are striving to create in our trainings. Soft fierceness to curate confident and perceptive dog owners.