The Inner Dog
- Long Branch, NJ 07740 (map)
- (732) 963-7101
Credentials (view details)
- DOJ Smart Search verified
- Address verified
- Email verified
- Thumbtack reviewed
- Thumbtack Elite member
- Bronze member
Dog Trainer & Behavior Specialist
Request a quote
The Inner Dog • Long Branch, NJ
- You'll be asked a few quick questions that will help describe your needs.
- You'll be asked to provide your contact information so that Sam Wike will be able to get in touch with you.
- You'll have the option to get competing quotes from other qualified service professionals, saving you time and money.
I am a nationally-certified professional dog trainer and behavior specialist.
I use only positive reinforcement tools and techniques. I am a handpicked member of the Victoria Stilwell Positive Dog Training network, a Best Friends Animal Society Community training partner, certified through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, a behavior consultant for the Monmouth County SPCA, as well as 5 local rescue groups.
Question and answer
Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.
A. I predominantly handle behavior issues ranging from nuisance behaviors (jumping on people, incesand barking, lack of obedience training) to dogs with severe reactivity to dogs or humans, OCD issues and dogs with bite histories.
Q. Describe three recent jobs you've completed.
A. I will only speak of this in general terms as I believe in the confidentiality of my clinets. I'm working with shadow & light chasers (OCD), a fearful dog (was used as a bait dog for dogfighting), puppy mill survivors, abused dogs and neglected dogs
Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A. Use sites like www.ccpdt.org, www.apdt.org and www.positively.com to find a reputable positive reinforcement trainer and behavior specialist in your area. Positive reinforcement techniques are scientifically proven to provide the best, most reliable and longest lasting results and create a great relationship for you and your dog.
Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?
A. Length of time training dogs
Did they have a mentor and if so, who?
Are they certified by the CCPDT?
Do they use ONLY positive reinforcement methods
Ask for references
Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?
A. In most behavior cases, time, practice and patience in conjunction with positive reinforcement techniques are what will be most critical in seeing a change for the better in their dog. Whether human or canine, there are no guarantees when dealing with behavior. Most behaviors can be changed, some even overcome but many times there are complex causes to behavior and these may never be extinguished
Q. What do you like most about your job?
A. Every dog, like every person is different. The challenge is in finding the trigger to the behavior, the thing that motiovates the dog the most and the coming together of these two factors to create change.
Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?
A. Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer. The profesion in NOT regulated. There are still far more trainers using old school, outdated, unfounded and misinformed techniques that may suppres a behavior but they don't actually change it. In order to change behavior, you must teach an appropriate alternate behavior.
