Our Backstory: Crafting the Renaissance Dog
Hello there, I'm Trainer Drew
I've lived with dogs since before I can remember. But I got obsessed with training from teaching my pup Luna, my first dog of my own and the stunning beauty on our home page, how to behave. In 2013, dog training became my vocation as I moved to Charlotte to pursue an apprenticeship training with The Dog Knowledge. In 2015 I went on to train dogs on Invisible Fence Brand perimeter systems. A couple years later I started my first company, Old North Dog Training. I've learned (and changed!) so much in my time helping families through the pains and pleasures of dog ownership. The accumulation of that knowledge finally led me to create Renaissance Dog Training, LLC in an effort to combine my love for dogs, coaching, and storytelling.
I share my life with three dogs: Ginger, Witcher and Snapdragon. Thanks for stopping by!
CERTIFICATIONS & CONTINUED EDUCATION
- Canine Cognition with Dr. Brian Hare, Duke University
- Advanced Socialization Solutions for Difficult Dogs with Chad Mackin, DePaw Canine Campus
- Operant Canine Nepopo® Workshop with Pat Stuart
- Working Spot at Jay Jack's "Play is the Way" Seminar
- Attended "The Dog Training Workshop" Tour Featuring Larry Krohn, Jay Jack, and Joel Silverman
- Deadpool Decoy Basic and Advanced Foundational Decoy School with Shawn Edwards
- Professional Member of International Association of Canine Professionals
- PSA Upper Level Workshop with Mike McMahon
- Helper Engineering Garage with Joeri Veth
- Certifed PSA Trial Decoy
So Why Renaissance?
I want to help you make your dog a Masterpiece.
Many people come to me looking for a "fix," but what we truly achieve is a rebirth of your relationship with your dog.
Over the many years that I have worked with owners and their dogs, I’ve felt less of a need for robotic obedience. Obedience is a useful tool, of course, but only part of the picture. My philosophy instead has turned to creating the Renaissance Dog: a companion defined not only by how well they follow commands, but by their composure, situational awareness, and partnership with their owner.
True mastery isn't about having a dog that performs for a biscuit. It’s about having a dog with the reliability and trust to navigate the real world by your side. We don't just train behaviors; we level up the bond, transforming frustration into attunement. Legendary companions aren't micromanaged... they are crafted!
How do we get there?
Well, through you! I will coach you how to get what you really want from your dog."Sit" is nice, but it's probably more along the lines of "come here" or "Leave that alone!" The key to creating or stopping any behavior, both good and bad, is attention. Fancy dog trainers, like myself, call this engagement. I'll show you how to get it!
I will teach you how to read your dog and fulfill its needs, and in turn make your own wishes crystal clear to your dog. Your dog won't be listening to you because it has to or only for a treat, but because your dog sees the good sense in doing so.
1-on-1 lessons are the best way to help you get there. This way it is you teaching your dog what you want. The dog learns your tone, idiosyncrasies, and style while you learn your dog's motivations, language, and needs. You're the trainer; I'm the Guide.
Teach your dog how to A.C.T.
Real dog transformation boils down to three components: Activities, Communication, and Trust
❖ ACTIVITIES
We love dogs for the way they interact with us. Whether we are snuggling together for a binge of the Lord of the Rings Extended Editions or hiking all the way to Mordor, the interactions we share with our dogs formulate how they view us as compatriots in a relationship. At Renaissance Dog Training, we thrive on expanding a dog's repertoire of activities so that they can get out and do more things with their human. We have found that no matter what breed of dog you have, they are always happy to explore the world with you; we just have to find what activities you BOTH enjoy, and can do so on a regular basis. However, we have to teach them a few necessary skills to be a responsible furry member of society. For that we have to practice our fluency of communication. In turn we help the dog apply these skills in any given activity, assuring that they get invited to do more with you.
❖ COMMUNICATION
Dogs have been bred for generations to communicate with humans. People are pretty good at understanding dogs too. However, like any thorough relationship, fluent communication takes a bit of work. Luckily for the dog/human relationship, once the ball gets rolling, communication is easy. We get that ball rolling by introducing a vocabulary that allows each dog to navigate a human-run environment. At the same time, we instruct owners on how best to understand their dog as an individual of a different, but eloquent, species.
❖ TRUST
For communication to work and for you to want to bring your dog along on field trips, the relationship needs a substantial amount of trust. For a dog to act in a cohesive way reliably (a.k.a. LISTEN), they need to trust how you are going to respond to their behavior. This means you have to be consistent with your answers, whether they be a reward or a punishment. Dogs love when their predictions of your next move are correct. You also need to trust how your dog is going to respond to the stimuli that comes at them. This way, you can avoid putting them in a situation that they are not ready for. Or you can set them up for something highly rewarding. We can help you build that trust, that predictability, between you and your dog.