I believe that all dogs should have purpose, or more plainly, a job.  Obedient and happy dogs aren't bred, they're trained and given a job to do.

I strive to make each dog I work with, first and foremost, a well-mannered companion.  All of my own dogs are family dogs first, working dogs second.

Training

I've taken what I've learned from hundreds of publications and combined it with years of experience (and mistakes) to development custom training plans that can be molded for each and every dog I work with. 

Successful training encompasses many attributes but key to progressing a dog along a training regimen is understanding why the dog reacts the way that he or she does to different stimuli and then improvising to ensure that the dog understands what it is you are trying to teach him or her.

Teach first.  Condition.  Then reinforce.

If your dog responds correctly to a command a few times in a row, it's luck. 10-15 times in a row and he's beginning to understand the command. 50-60 times in a row, he's solid.  I don't suggest that you go out and do anything 50 times in a row, you'd likely be over-working your pup.  But what I am trying to make clear is that many owners see the dog respond to the command, automatically assume that the dog "gets it" and moves on to the next concept.  This is only going to be a setback in the long-run when you learn later on that he didn't get it and now you have to start from square one.  Repetition and maintaining the standard.

I believe that many amateur dog owners/trainers hit roadblocks because they fail to understanding the dog's natural tendencies.  Throughout training there will be times when you are conditioning the dog to work against their instinctual tendencies, other times not.  Read more about when to go to a professional.

Coaching

Training the trainer is not a new concept and today you can watch Animal Planet for two hours and learn that bad habits come from owners not poor breeding.  All engagements that I enter into require cooperation from the owner.  I do field work, on average, every other day (depending on the phase of training) and obedience every day.  And though most cannot continue with that frequency of training, success is contingent on the standard that the owner continues after the dog has left my care.

Positive Reinforcement vs. Force

If I were to apply a value to it, I would say that 80% of my training regimens are based on positive-reinforcement methods.  I do not believe in 100% positive-reinforcement because I do not believe that the average dog-owner can uphold the standard of training necessary to maintain it.

Force is not abuse, it is pressure applied at the crucial time used to reinforce or correct (NOT teach!) a command or concept.

I believe strongly in the merits of e-collar conditioning and their role as a handler's tool in a dog's life.  I use verbal commands first, whistle second, and collar as the last resort.  And if an emergency or dangerous situation were to arise, you bet I'd want that tool in my bag in case I need it.

I strongly encourage force-breaking hunting dogs.  The process has many more benefits than just having a dog that will retrieve.