ALL ABOUT US
Head Trainer: Sierra Ghironzi
Hello! I am the head trainer and founder of K9 Communication LLC. I have been working with dogs for over 6 years now, but my mom would say that I’ve been training dogs my whole life. When I was in first grade, I taught my black lab a whole dance routine that we could perform and when I was ten, we got a border collie for Christmas. She was incredibly insecure and reactive, but as a kid, I couldn’t figure out what was causing other dogs to come at her the way that they did. This sprung a long lasting hyper fixation on dogs: their body language, different breeds, drives, training methods, psychology, evolution, etc. I never dreamed that someday I would combine my love of teaching with my passion for understanding dogs. Now, my goal is to help establish clear communication between dogs and their families so that they can live their most fulfilling lives together!
The Four Phases of Learning
Acquisition
Forming a new behavior/skill using marker words and reinforcement before pairing with the new cue
Fluency
Improving precision, speed, and response time with intermittent reinforcement until the skill is perfect 90% of the time
Generalization
Slowly adding duration, distance, and distraction so that the new skill can be performed anywhere, not just in your home
Maintenance
Incorporating the skill into your every day life so that it is ready and waiting for you when you need it
Methodology
K9 Communication LLC firmly believes in using the LIMA principle in our training. LIMA stands for Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive, which means that trainers should always look for the least invasive and most positive way to teach an obedience skill/modify a behavior instead of immediately resorting to training tools or harsher tactics. Positive reinforcement training, which is a cornerstone of LIMA, is based on rewarding dogs for desirable behaviors and thus encouraging them to perform those behaviors on their own. The use of positive reinforcement training has proven to be highly effective in promoting long term behavior changes in dogs. However, sometimes simply knowing what choices lead to treats is not enough for a dog. In this case, we move through the Humane Hierarchy to determine the best method of enforcing boundaries for your specific dog. Training tools will be used only in the most humane ways possible after fully explaining the risks of their use and training you to use the tools properly. As the dog becomes proficient in their alternative behaviors, training tools should be phased out over time, though a few pups may need them long term. The ultimate goal is to allow you and your pup to live a safe and fulfilling life together.
Contact us if you have any questions!
Email
sierra@k9communicationllc.com
Phone
1 (919) 352-9805
Address
126 S Franklin Dr, Sanford, NC 27330