​What is my “fitness and Training” philosophy??

I often get asked what my “fitness and training” philosophy is.   My standard response is:
 
“Using a variety of methods, I train strength and body awareness exercises that activate more muscles in the dog’s movement, while moving the dog equally on both sides and in all directions, which inspires efficient movement with less effort and decreases the chance of injury” Bobbie Lyons, CCFT, FP-MTI, Cert C.F
 
Just thought I would share my philosophy. I can’t speak to other philosophies, I can only tell you mine.
 
I use a variety of training methods: shaping, luring, targeting, molding, capturing – all methods that positively reward the dog with food or toys for the desired behavior.   I have students that use one or many of the methods mentioned and I support them all in my classes. I may show a behavior using hand targeting, by showing the steps with shaping or by luring a behavior – but that does not mean that each student has to use the method I use.   Again, I support the methods mentioned above and will do my best to help you achieve the desired position or exercise using the method that works best for you and your dog.  That said, if you are willing, I may open your mind to other training methods such as the advantages of shaping, luring or targeting while helping to decrease the amount of food used so that your dog’s pays closer attention to their body and movement.
 
We all learn in different ways, have different goals, or training methods.   Finding a method and trainer that works for you and your dog’s and/or your clients is important.   Also, understand that there is always something to learn.  Entertaining different perspectives can help you grow in your knowledge, give you more training tools, and give you food for thought.

NOTE:   I strive to shape behaviors and movements, put the behaviors on a verbal cue and encourage independent movement.  That said, not all fitness exercises can be trained as a "trick" because sometimes the position may be hard or impossible to obtain as an independent behavior, in the correct position, when targeting a specific muscle group.  
 
I just thought I would share my philosophy, due to requests for this information:)  
 
Here are a few options for learning more about K9 Fitness.
 
Online consult with Bobbie Lyons, CCFT, FP-MTI, CERT CF – via LIVE training via Skype/Facetime/Join.me or other service.  During live lessons, I can guide you in real time, adjust your training to get the desired behavior and design a strength program specific to your dog.  A written recap of the lesson will be sent to you along with a recording of the live lesson.  
 
MT/CCFT program – designed to teach you to evaluate your own dog or client’s dogs for fitness activities and to design targeted exercises programs for your dog using FitPAWS equipment. 
 
Take an online Class  - of course I would love for you to take my classes but there are many out there to choose from.  My NEW Fitness on the Flat (no equipment needed) and Warm UP/Cool Down/Flexibility class enrolls 2/1/2017