CTC's Training Philosophy

- Over 30 Years of Experience
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Does Your Dog Have Issues With Aggression?

If you need a professional to help with your dog's aggression problem in Denver, CO, and surrounding areas, then you can count on me, Suzi Schaefers of Canine Psychology Center LLC, to help you.

I specialize in handling extreme aggression and severe behavior in dogs.

Thoughts on Aggression and Other Unwanted Behavior

Through years of experience, I have learned that aggression problems and other severe behaviors are a state of mind and not a specific breed issue. For instance, a Labrador Retriever can have just as serious of an aggression problem or another unwanted behavior problem as a German Shepherd or other 'dominant' or 'powerful' breed.

However, some breeds are much more powerful than others, mostly the Molosser breeds, and some were ORIGINALLY and specifically bred to fight and kill other dogs. The more powerful the dog, the more dog aggression problems, and the more damage it can inflict if it does choose to utilize aggression as a way to control its world.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT IF YOU OWN A MOLOSSER BREED OF DOG! Be sure to click onto 'Molosser breeds' near the bottom of that page.

Some of the canines with the worst habits and most aggressive, dangerous, and out-of-control behavior we have worked with in 30+ years have been Labrador Retrievers and their mixes. Really! Next are the herding dogs and their mixes, like Australian Shepherds, Cattle Dogs, and Border Collies. And, back in the early 1990's the number one biting breed on record was the Cocker Spaniel! Then, years later it was the Rottweiler. How does that serious statistic move so drastically from the Cocker to the Rottweiler, seemingly overnight? Because EVERY dog knows how to bite! Living inside the human home, EVERY dog has canine bad habits, whether subtle or severe. Yours and mine are no exception.

I have learned that EVERY dog is a product of its environment. A dog that is not trained, not well-behaved, and not under control is not only a very unhappy dog but can become a very dangerous dog, even if biting/aggression is not the problem.

No matter how much money, time, and energy are put into a dog's 'training,' the dog will still feel the need to make its own decisions in times of stress IF the dog doesn't have proper dog training.

Most dogs do NOT make smart decisions in the human world and they often get themselves injured or killed simply because a well-meaning owner didn't learn to effectively communicate basic canine obedience with their cherished pet.

Please remember that if you choose to work with CPC, there is a chance that I would be 'managing' your dog's unwanted behavior instead of 'fixing' the behavior.

Most canine bad habits CAN be broken, but changing a dog's perspective on life, in general, requires a lot of patience and many of us have a very hard time achieving that in our own lives, let alone with our dogs. Humans, in general, are incredibly impatient and inconsistent, which can cause any dog to question our decision and abilities on a daily basis.

I Believe the 'Wolf Pack Theory' Works!

It is great to have a dog trained in basic canine obedience that will sit, lay down, stay, come when it's called, and walk nicely on a leash...but if your dog does not view you as its 'pack leader' or an authority figure, your dog may choose to not obey those commands in times of stress or distraction. You then end up simply restraining your dog, which is not a form of communication.

It is important for dog owners to know that pack leadership starts inside the home. Whatever happens inside your home with your dog will govern what happens outside of your home with your dog, as well as when 'outsiders' enter your home.

Many dogs take life very seriously, especially those with insecure or fearful behavior, and if your dog 'thinks' you are not in control of the outside world, it will more than likely attempt to do so for you.

If you want to change your dog’s unwanted or aggressive behavior, you must first be willing to change your own behavior. There is no way around this fact and anyone who tells you differently does not know how to truly conquer your dog's aggression problems or other severe behavior problem. CPC does know how and we have 30+ years of experience dealing with and rehabilitating aggressive dogs...and we are willing to prove it to you.

In the Animal World, You Must Be a Leader or a Follower

Science has proven that most of today's domestic dogs are 99% gray wolf genetically, and they are hard-wired to think, act, and react like a wolf in a pack...and we are not.

We cannot teach canines to think like humans, so humans need to learn to think like canines. Your dog may have bonded with you and may 'love' you, but still may not respect you. If your dog does not view you as a GENUINE leader, it simply will not trust your judgment, your decision making ability, or your ability to control your surroundings...it will continue to follow instinct instead of your lead and will continue to make its own decisions.

Many, if not most dog trainers and behaviorists these days will tell you that the 'wolf pack theory' is outdated, 'old-school,' or harsh. Sadly, most of the trainers who say that do not have the experience, knowledge, or desire to fully rehabilitate an aggressive dog.

They will often tell you your dog needs more and more obedience training. They will often tell you to have your aggressive dog placed on mind-altering drugs or even euthanized. They will often tell you to stay away from trainers and facilities that still practice 'natural' training methods. Often times, if they do take on an aggressive dog, many of those trainers will have their clients use food or other positive methods in an attempt to 'redirect' the dog's aggression.

These trainers are one of the main reasons CPC is in business. Dog owners need a trainer out there who can truly change the way a dog looks at humans in general without the use of food, clickers, bribery, and hours and hours of practice. Suzi Schaefers is that trainer. CPC does not teach obedience training - CPC teaches appropriate pack behavior in dogs and pack leadership in owners.

If you search the internet you will find a LOT of information out there that will tell you the 'alpha dog' theory AKA 'wolf pack theory' has been officially debunked…that it just does not work. Just like abortion, religion, gun control and other hot-button issues, there is huge debate. Animal trainers, animal behaviorists, animal psychologists, animal communicators, and even dog lovers will debate the 'wolf pack theory' until the day they die. Each one will 'swear on a stack of holy bibles' that THEIR way is the best way and that the 'wolf pack theory' simply does not work and is not necessary. However, I would really like to meet those people, and their AGGRESSIVE dogs, and see how far they have really come. Are they still just 'managing' their dog's aggression or has the aggression ceased...?

Many of these 'debunkers' seem to think those of us who DO believe in the WPT are too aggressive or rough with dogs in order to train them to no longer be aggressive. CPC also does not believe in being abusive or aggressive toward any dog, unless the dog is actively attacking the handler. Even then, a necessary leash correction is short, sweet, to-the-point, and rarely needs to be repeated. Whereas, the 'debunkers' will tell their clients to 'redirect' the AGGRESSIVE dog with food, clickers, lots of babbling, lots of body language, and lots of unnecessary and nagging work. These methods may seem to work at the time of the training session, but do they REALLY change an AGGRESSIVE dog's outlook on other dogs, people or situations? Probably not.

If you have an aggressive dog, how many trainers have you worked with so far? CPC feels that aggression rehabilitation is extremely simple! Plenty of references available!

With all of that said, thousands of desperate dog owners who will NOT euthanize or give away their dangerously aggressive dog still need somewhere to go for help! Contact CPC!

A Personal and Frustrated Note From the Head Trainer

I would LOVE to meet all of the people out there who think that today's domestic dog is NOT 99% gray wolf genetically and that learning to communicate with a dog using its own language is NOT effective. What the…? It is a scientifically proven fact that they are and it is! I have also been living proof of that for the last 33 years!

Ugh…..I would LOVE to meet even one of the 'debunkers' who will even take on a dangerously handler-aggressive Pit Bull, Rottweiler or German Shepherd. I would LOVE to meet a 'debunker' who can rehabilitate that type of dog and then return it to the owner and teach the owner how to maintain real, reliable, and safe control of that dog for the rest of its life.

If my life's work has been 'debunked', 'is a joke,' and 'doesn't work,' then how come I keep receiving deeply heartfelt thank you's from almost every client who thought there was no hope with their aggressive dog after working with multiple trainers? Then why am in business and have a 99% success rate?

Most of the trainers who do not believe in the 'wolf pack theory' (WPT) will tell an owner to euthanize or drug their dog, or they simply won't work with that type of dog. It's funny how many hundreds of calls and emails I get every year from people who have already tried working with those other trainers (you know who you are!) who don't believe in or utilize the 'wolf pack theory'…or, who will take on a client, take their money, promise to help with aggression, but then show fear of the aggressive dog, won't handle the aggressive dog, or give dangerous misinformation, and the owner never gets a 'finished product.'

I hear the same basic complaint from EVERY one of those dog owners: "I paid a trainer(s) to help me with my aggressive dog and while they did teach me some things, my dog is still aggressive and getting worse! Please help!"

Thank you for listening to the head trainer's frustration and her continued hope for a 'village' someday with which to raise our 'children.'