About Good Paws, Shelly and The Kids
My message:
You've heard the phrase "Couples that play together, stay together?" Well, this applies to many relationships...even the one between you and your dog. That's why my core philosophy is to start with fun, games, and "play" training.
Good Paws came about from my desire to help others understand their dog's language so that a better relationship could be built. I guess you could say I'm a cross-species counselor of sorts. (I say this loosely, as I have no PhD, but I am working towards my Masters ;-)). I use primarily marker training, because research shows it is the most humane and scientifically sound form of training. I balance this with a holistic approach that takes the total animal - mind, body, and spirit - into consideration. My goal is to help every client find a little more peace, a little stronger bond, and a closer friend in their dog.
My dogs are my kids. This doesn't mean that they are spoiled (well, sometimes they are) or that I allow them to misbehave. Much like any child, they receive a lot of love, the securities of life, and guidance when needed. I think it is important to balance training the "animal" with loving the "dog." After all, that bond is why most of us get a dog in the first place.
Dogs are my passion, and I believe it is our obligation to learn to speak their language so we can help them learn to understand ours. This is why I opened Good Paws, llc...to help others reach that level of understanding with their dogs.
My Bio:
Shelly Volsche is the owner and head trainer at Good Paws, llc. She has close to 5 years of professional training experience. In addition, she grew up around dogs, horses and livestock, and has spent the past 7 years working in daycares, assisting other trainers, and obtaining advanced study in canine behavior and nutrition through seminars, web courses, and self-study. She is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Truly Dog Friendly, an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, and holds a Certificate in Canine Nutrition. In addition, she completed an Associate of Arts with a Psychology emphasis, and is currently completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Her long term goal is to obtain a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling so she can help bridge the gap existing in so many human-canine relationships.
Known in the industry as a “cross-over trainer,” Shelly has experience in traditional, corrective training methods, but through examining research and personal experience, she has chosen to train with a kinder, gentler method. Shelly's goal is to apply scientifically sound, humane training techniques supported by a range of total care therapies taking into consideration your dog's mind, body and spirit. She prefers to work in conjunction with your vet, groomer, or other pet care professionals. She strongly believes that no training approach can be completely effective if your dog is not in a whole, healthy state of being. Her objective is to help you and your dog build a strong, healthy relationship without the use fear or pain.
