The techniques employed are those of the proven and humane psychological methods of behavior modification, operant conditioning and classical conditioning.  Training is off lead, positive and reward based, reinforcers are used to encourage desirable behavior and the methods of extinction and reinforcement of incompatible behaviors and are used to eliminate undesirable behavior.  Training is an active learning process on the part of the dog as well as the client.  Physical prompting and punishers are NEVER used.

Ms. Shusterich has found that her understanding and knowledge of human psychology and treatment for human psychological disorders very valuable in her treatment of behavior problems in dogs as many of the behavior disturbances of dogs are framed and understood in human psychological terms, as well as treated by the same psychological methods.  For example, obsessive-compulsive disorder is diagnosed in dogs as well as humans; the treatment for separation anxiety disorder in dogs is systematic desensitization, the same technique used for treating humans with severe phobias.