Dog Training, Coaching, and Education
Serving Hilton Head, Bluffton, Hardeeville, Beaufort, Savannah GA, and the Lowcountry.
About Us
Our
Story
We’re Chase and Marina! For over six years, we’ve been involved in the dog world, both as owners and professionals. In early 2018, we were looking for a better training method for our 5-month-old pitbull mix, Koda, shown above. We wanted her to respond to commands, stop pulling on her leash, and avoid turning our apartment into a playground, all while having fun during training.
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After discovering balanced training, e-collars, and using play as a way to communicate, we applied these methods with Koda, and within weeks, we saw a remarkable change. She remained happy and playful, but now she was obedient, calm, and eager to learn.
Since then, we've welcomed more dogs into our family and continue to learn about dog behavior every day. We love playing with dogs, building strong bonds with them, and helping them become their happiest selves. There's nothing more rewarding than witnessing a dog’s transformation through training!
About
Our Training
Our training focuses on behavior, not just obedience. Many dogs can sit or lie down on command, but struggle with distractions or duration. These same dogs often get overly excited at the slightest stimulus. We use real-world training techniques so your dog can interact with you confidently while looking to you for guidance and leadership. Our goal is to help create obedient dogs who can calm themselves and handle any situation without becoming reactive.
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With our training programs, we aim to boost your confidence as a dog owner. Each program lasts a minimum of six weeks, and we prioritize building a long-term relationship with our clients. We want to educate you on why you're doing what you do because your relationship with your dog is the most important part of training. We’ll provide you with the tools, knowledge, and support you need to become the best dog owner possible. By the end of training, you’ll be able to take your dog anywhere, knowing they are well-behaved and obedient. This will help bring out your dog’s best potential and establish you as the leader they need.
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Remember, these training programs require a lifelong commitment. There’s no “quick fix” in dog training; every behavior, good or bad, has a root cause. We believe in making a complete lifestyle change for both dogs and owners, teaching you how to create the best life for your dog. This results in happy, calm, and focused dogs without anxiety or destructive behaviors.
We can’t promise a perfect dog after six weeks, as training is a lifelong journey. Significant results come from consistent effort over 3-4 months. While you’ll see improvements along the way, building a solid relationship takes time and dedication. Three to four months is just a small investment in the 15+ years you’ll have with your dog!
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As balanced trainers, we focus on rewarding good behaviors while correcting unwanted ones. We incorporate e-collars, prong collars, treats, toys, and play into our training methods.
Tools &
Training Methods
Relationship Building
Our primary training approach is centered on relationship building. We want your dog to see you as a strong, stable leader—someone who provides both fun and clear boundaries. The goal is for your dog to be excited to be with you, to listen, play, and explore the world together. By allowing for fun and play while also guiding your dog to adjust their behavior, you'll enjoy the training process and start seeing real results.
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Philosophies
In dog training, two key theories explain the learning process: classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
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Classical Conditioning: Introduced by Ivan Pavlov in the early 1900s, this method involves creating associations between stimuli. For example, if your dog starts wagging their tail when you grab their leash, and then you ring a bell before doing so, soon your dog will wag their tail in response to the bell. Here, the bell becomes the conditioned stimulus, and the tail-wagging is the conditioned response.
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Operant Conditioning: Founded by B.F. Skinner in 1938, this approach uses rewards and punishments to modify behavior. There are four main types:
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Positive Reinforcement: Adding a stimulus to increase a behavior. For example, giving a treat when your dog obeys a command encourages them to repeat that behavior.
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Negative Reinforcement: Removing a stimulus to increase a behavior. An example is clicking your seatbelt to stop the annoying dinging sound, which encourages you to buckle up.
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Positive Punishment: Adding a stimulus to decrease a behavior. For instance, receiving a speeding ticket discourages fast driving.
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Negative Punishment: Removing a stimulus to decrease a behavior. Taking away a teenager’s phone for sneaking out discourages that behavior.
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Tools and Techniques
During training, we’ll use several tools to communicate and motivate:
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Prong Collar: This collar consists of metal links that tighten slightly when pulled, providing gentle pressure. When fitted correctly, it can be an effective way to communicate and train without causing pain.
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E-Collar: A remote training system that sends signals to your dog, helping with communication, behavior training, and stopping unwanted actions. E-collars are safe and mimic a mother dog's touch, allowing for clear communication even in distracting environments.
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Food Rewards: We often use treats for positive reinforcement. You can use your dog’s daily kibble to avoid overfeeding, and hand feeding can also strengthen your bond. For less food-motivated dogs, high-value treats like chicken or steak can be great alternatives.
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Toys: Toys can serve as powerful motivators, especially for dogs with a strong prey drive. They can be used for fetching, tugging, or chewing, depending on what excites your dog.
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At the start of training, controlling the environment is crucial, so we use a leash. A 6-foot leash is ideal for routine training, while a 15–30-foot leash is great for recall and off-leash training. This helps guide your dog toward desired behaviors.
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We also use a clicker to mark good behaviors, providing immediate feedback.
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The best form of positive reinforcement is simply spending time with you. Building a strong relationship with your dog is vital. Petting, quality time, and engaging in activities they enjoy—like swimming, car rides, or playing with water—can be excellent rewards. These life rewards help motivate and reinforce positive behavior.