Laura Patricia Miller

Laura has been training dogs for over 17 years and is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers.

Training Philosophy
Laura strongly believes that it’s never too late to change a pet’s behavior.

Services

• Private Dog Training
  In-home training programs at your residence and in the community with you and your dog designed for your specific needs.
• Adult Dog Private In home Program
  We work together with you to stop your dog from jumping on your house guests, barking, except when to alert you that someone is on your property, embarrassing you on walks by lunging and barking at other dogs, sneaking food off the kitchen counters, pulling you down the street on a "walk", begging for your food every time you eat, digging holes in your yard, stealing your socks, destroying your furniture, freaking out when you leave, pottying everywhere but outside, , etc. and replace them with new behaviors and a new way of living that makes the whole family happy! This program is mostly accomplished in the pet parent’s home but may include lessons in the community.
• New Puppy Private In Home Program
  Potty training, crate training, sit, down, stay, come when called, place, walking on a leash, biting and nipping prevention, replacing unwanted behaviors with new behaviors, proper desensitization to noises, positive socialization to people, places, dogs, etc., teaching boundaries and manners, separation anxiety prevention, early exposure to grooming processes, This program is accomplished in the pet parent’s home, involving the pet parent’s family, in order to teach the family lifetime dog training and handling skills for a happy, enjoyable life to raise a well- balanced, psychologically sound dog. Program may include a session in the community.

Certifications
Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers

Specializations
Puppy Training
Adult Dog Training
In-home training

The Dog Tutor LLC is a licensed member of Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training, specializing in clicker training (positive reinforcement). Group classes are conducted at Dogma Dog Care in Smyrna, GA (www.dogmadogcare.com).

The trainer uses head halters such as Gentle Leaders, Halti, New Trix, and no-pull harnesses as training tools, avoiding choke or pinch collars. The training philosophy revolves around clicker and lure-reward methods, avoiding leash corrections and pain, thus creating a 'thinking dog' that learns voluntary good behavior and is rewarded for doing it right, rather than punished for doing it wrong.

The trainer serves clients in Atlanta, Georgia, including Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Roswell, Smyrna, and Buckhead, among others. The trainer also specializes in training deaf dogs. Clients are expected to commit to positive training.

Clicker training is a technique that uses positive reinforcement and has gained popularity over the last two decades. It is based on the principles of operant conditioning and behavior modification, derived from psychologist B.F. Skinner. The process involves using a clicker or verbal marker to mark the desired behavior, followed by a reward. The trainer elicits or observes the behavior, marks it with a clicker or verbal marker, and then reinforces it with a treat. If the animal offers the wrong behavior or no behavior, there is no click, no reward, and no correction.

The clicker is effective because it is neutral and sounds the same to the dog regardless of who is using it. For those interested in learning more about clicker training, the trainer recommends visiting another clicker trainer's website - Emily Larlham (kikopup): www.dogmantics.com.

Clicker training is an effective and enjoyable way to train dogs. For inquiries about training, please include phone contacts when emailing the trainer.