Videos of the Week

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Boris wishes you a merry and safe holiday season!

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Mannerly Mutts Philosophy on Dog Training

The two Dobermans are Jackie and Leon, who have
unfortunately passed away.   The training they
recieved allowed them to enjoy their life in this way.

My philosophy on dog training is based on the idea of providing dogs the best and most full lives available in their domesticated situation with humans.   Training is a means to create a communication between two species, which do not share a common language.    Communication in the form of commands, body language, and demeanor are needed to develop through teaching and learning between the canine and canine owner.  It is more effective and efficient to be able to guide the dog what to do in situations, rather than have them guess what you would like them not to do, in my personal opinion. 

In order for dogs to have the most freedom and exercise, commands must be able to be performed reliably in distracting real life situations in which they are likely to accompany their owners.  Therefore it is important to use and design methods that teach the dog and owner in increasingly difficult distraction and situations.  For my dogs and my clients dogs; freedom, activity, fun, and mental work make their lives so much more enjoyable.  Sure dogs enjoy food, and I do sometimes use food rewards, but nothing trumps an adventure.   Being able to bring a dog to as many places as it is possible enriches not only the dog's life but the dog owner's life as well.   It forms a relationship that is a partnership and deep friendship.  As a reward for all involved, nothing trumps that.

These ideas have been developed through my interactions and observations of the International Association of Canine Professional members (professional association), Margot Woods (seminar presenter and training advocate), Martin Deeley (seminar presenter and previous executive director of the IACP), William Koehler (author and trainer who died many years ago. the proper use of the KMODT method using small steps practiced consistently to teach a dog gently and effectively—note you can ignore the last chapter of the book for way outdated methods) and Michael Ellis who stresses training under drive and motivation.  

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How did I get into the dog training business?

Boris, Me, Tommy, and Leon (10/8/2004-9/20/2012) on Long
Sands in York Maine.

I'm often asked how I got into dog training and doing this for a living.  Here are some things that you may not know.

I've always loved animals, and thought I had to be a veterinarian to work with them. No one ever talked to me about animal or dog training as an actual career. My career ended up in finance for about 15 successful years. The last three years I truly hated what I was doing for a living and feeling unfulfilled.




My first attempt at having a dog and my third dog indirectly led me to this career after many years. The first dog I failed as an inexperienced owner with a Rottweiler puppy of 6 months displaying aggressive tendencies towards humans. When I realized we had been working with the wrong trainer, I managed to get him back into the rescue, which had placed him with us. My third dog, Neptune, displayed aggressive tendencies towards dogs. He came from Doberman Rescue Unlimited, who helped us in choosing a way to deal with it successfully. Many years later, I apprenticed at Doberman Rescue Unlimited in the training program for behaviourally challenged Dobermans, while I was at a fork in the road regarding what I wanted to do for a living. I also keep my education current by attending seminars, purchasing DVDs from trainers I am interested in to study from, and reading dog related books that interest me. I've also put three companion dog titles on three dogs, and completed to CGCs on my own dogs. One companion dog was my own, and two companion dogs were my clients. I did the companion dog titling for free in order to further my education in this.



In 2003, I began training dogs by offering free services or really cheap services to anyone who would have me. In 2005, I moved my home and business from Worcester Mass to York Maine (from .10 acres to 4 acres). We changed from an on the road travelling business to being able to use our home and land. Our dog training business has flourished here. We grow an average of 10% a year. Customers who had trained with us in the past refer about half of our business, and half of our new business is from people who find us on Internet searches.



We do specialize in dogs with behavioural problems, and problems with multiple dogs living in the same home. Our business comes from private lessons and residency programs. Out of our previous training clients, a boarding and day-care business has also been developed. This provides lots of real life distractions for training clients when on our property in a safe and predictable way for set ups.  We also do a lot of training on beaches, in the city, and on the back roads here.   Mannerly Mutts is unusual in this approach to training our humans to train their dogs:)

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