Frequently Asked Questions

In 2014/2015 I completed a 2-year apprenticeship as Dog Educational Consultant in Switzerland (www.triple-s.ch, Hundeerziehungsberater). This apprenticeship is based on Natural Dogmanship developed by Jan Nijboer. Natural Dogmanship bases the education of a dog on meeting its natural needs.

The topics of this apprenticeship are:

• Stages of development of the dog
• Dog education: learning and educating
• Interspecific and intraspecific communication of the dog
• Domestication and specialisation of different breeds of dogs
• Methodical diagnosis of behavioral problems in dogs 
• Conversation, customer coaching and retention
• Canis familiaris sociology (sociogram)
• ‌Methodical therapy of behavioral and relationship problems in the human-dog relationship
• Neuropedagogy of the dog theory and practice
• Basics of anatomy & physiology and first Aid for dogs 
• Project work on a job-specific topics in the field of dog training: Presentation of the specialized   work 
• Animal welfare, animal rights and nutrition of the dog
• Practice-oriented communication
• Ethogram in wolves and domestic dogs
• Observation & interpretation of dog-human interactions based on video analysis 

I continue to educate myself. 

At first we give your dog time to settle down with us, this could take 2 hours or two days, depending on your dog. 

Next we assess whether and with whom your dog would like to be in contact. These valuable social interactions are always supervised!

Dog body language was a very large part of my apprenticeship and is still extremely important in my work with dogs. This is why a dog is never bullied or left to its own devices at Muddy Paws! 

I am deeply convinced that dogs should never have to take care of themselves or handle difficult situations on their own! I am always there accompany them.

If it fits, we like to let the dogs play with each other. We ensure that it is fun for both of them, as play is seldom "just" a game, it is communication and there is always a motivation.

My apprenticeship / Philosophy is not based on a method; it is a relationship-oriented view of the dog, based on the latest scientific behavioral research on the social structures and natural basic needs of our dogs. Therefore I would never use pain-inducing training methods! In Switzerland, where I come from, Shock or Prong collars are not allowed!

Since my education is relationship-oriented I don't use classic or operant conditioning; I wouldn't do that to my children either;) 

We offer activities that meet your dog's natural needs. For example, social walks, nose work and massages.