About Gentle Touch Dog Training, LLC

Who runs it

The site is a blog, "Gentle Touch Dog Training on Settlement Drive", and its author byline is jeaninerenzoni. The About page heads itself "About Gentle Touch Dog Training, LLC" and ends with a direct invitation: "if you want to improve the relationship you have with your dog, come see me." An email address and phone number are printed at the foot of that page.

Method, in her words

She states the approach and the guarantee that goes with it in one line: "Reward-based, science, behavioral-based training approaches – you don't have to worry that I'll suggest doing training method painful to your dog … won't happen." She describes having changed camps over a long career: "I've trained a lot of people and a lot of dogs, evaluated lots of pups and dogs, transitioned from traditional methods that were taught in the 70s & 80s to clicker and reward-based, positive training methods." She answers the usual objection head-on: "POSITIVE is not permissive, but it takes alert attention and quick rewarding of behaviors that are preferred."

What she teaches, in her own framing

The About page lists what she says an owner takes away: "clearer observation skills", "understanding of the parts of behaviors (first steps)", "knowledge of what and when to reward", "identifying what your dog really likes", and "communication instead of one-way broadcasts." She is firm that the owner should be the one doing the training: "The owner/handler needs to connect with their dog, trust their dog, and enjoy working with their dog. Teaching yourself and your dog is key to getting the connection and understanding and trust." Posts refer to "posters and outlines of key behaviors on the walls of my training building", to her students, and to classes she teaches including trick training classes. The blog itself covers housetraining, fear of noises, recall, retrieve problems and training structure in real depth, which is a fair sample of how she thinks.

Credentials the site claims

The About page lists "AKC Good Citizenship Evaluator, AKC Trick Dog Evaluator, AKC Fit Dog level 1, AKC Retrieve It Judge" and adds that she is "Insured through Rural Insurance." Her profile blurb also describes ongoing study with a named training mentor's programs.

What to ask

Ask about current classes, the schedule and prices. Contact her directly to find out what is currently running.