Angel practices the weave poles , one of the toughest obstacles for agility dogs to master .
Agility tires are fun and help dogs train for jumps in competition . treats , toys and favorite games rather than force .
“ Scientific studies are proving lure-reward methods combined with clicker training vastly speed up training results ,” she says .
All businesses require investments , and with dog
Chihuahua Maggie leaps for a treat . trainers , that comes through steps taken for certification .
Lacette is a charter member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers ( APDT ), which offers certificate courses . The association was founded in 1993 by renowned animal behaviorist , dog trainer and veterinarian Dr . Ian Dunbar .
“ I have been a longtime volunteer at APDT and at other educational conferences , including several of the first clicker training programs . We have the longest-running Dunbar-style puppy sessions in Florida and the longest-running group clicker classes in at least the southeast U . S .,” Lacette says .
Businesses also need to let folks know about their products and services , and for Best Paw Forward , it ’ s a mix of word-ofmouth and technology .
“ Since we focus on in-person training , our best resource continues to be our students , both for referrals and coming back with generations of dogs ,” says Lacette . “ We get a lot of veterinary referrals , too , because I ’ ve done a lot of in-person cold call visits over the decades .
“ Facebook advertising has also been helpful in recent years to help target nearby markets , and I am learning more every day about how to better use technology .”
Best Paw Forward also maintains a robust website with a comprehensive list of offerings . It ’ s all been a formula for success . “ I got my first Lab in 2001 and had no idea how much it would take to get a loving , trained dog to match my working lifestyle ,” says Karen Burmeister of Longwood .
“ I found the Best Paw puppy class , and they helped me through the adjustment from Shelties 20 years before to the strong , driven retriever . Casey was with me for 12 years , and the one puppy series made all the difference .” Burmeister has since returned to Best Paw Forward with other dogs .
Another longtime customer is Jacki Skelton of Orlando ,
owner of Blue , a female Flat-Coasted Retriever . “ I have been learning and training my dogs at Best Paw Forward for many years ,” says Skelton . “ PJ has taught me , and my dogs , obedience , conformation - showing purebred dogs - rally , scent-work and agility . She has a vast knowledge of dogs and dog training , knows the latest methods of positive-reinforcement training techniques and explains why we do things , not just what to do .”
Lacette says the keystone of the business is offering gentle , positive , affordable training with experienced dog trainers .
“ We pride ourselves on offering a very inclusive program and provide work-study and barter options to ensure that Central Florida residents can develop well-behaved dogs ,” says Lacette . “ It is a bonus to get them also introduced to the fun of dog shows , obedience and rally competition , agility trials and many other dog events .”
Patrick Evans-Hylton is an award-winning journalist , having covering a wide variety of topics in broadcast , electronic and print media since 1995 .
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