Behavior Modification: Victoria or Cesar?
 

I'm looking online for a trainer in my area that uses techniques more like Victoria Stilwell with postitive reinforcement. The one that I am interested in says they use behavior modification techniques. Would that be more like Cesar Milan's training style or Victoria Stilwell's?

All training is behavior modification. I would call them back and ask them to be more specific. What is your dog doing that has you looking for a trainer?

There is a thread in the Training section with links to articles about how to find a trainer. You should definitely interview trainers until you find one you like and whose philosophy you agree with.

For Victoria, I would ask specifically how they feel about positive reinforcement, and I think buzzwords for Cesar would be "alpha", "dominance / submissive", and "pack leader". You can also ask what kind of collar they recommend - I don't believe VS uses any type of choke collar.

You could also just ask them which trainer they like more!

I haven't actually talked to them yet. I was just reading their website. Maddie is my first dog and I really don't know a lot about training. I really just need her to listen to me. She only comes when called about 1/4 of the time and will only do the "tricks" that I taught her, sit, lay down, etc. when she feels like it. She is a little stinker. Very stubborn. I did some more research on the training facility I was looking at and it said on their website that they only use positive reinforcement for behavior modification. I've met with two trainers so far and the first one was just lazy. She wouldn't even get out of her chair to help. Just sat their and barked directions. The second one I liked at first but then he basically told me that if I don't crate train Maddie than there is pretty much "no hope" in teaching her proper behavior and he would not take me on unless Maddie was crate trained. Maddie has a crate and she goes in it only when she wants to and the door is never shut. When I am not home she is in a x-pen with her crate and some toys. I do not feel comfortable leaving her in a tiny crate. I just won't do it and I want to find a trainer that will be ok with that. I e-mailed this new place tonight and will wait until tomorrow for an email back but if I don't hear from them I will call them. Luckily, all the places I have been have a free consultation :)

Good for you. Stick to your guns and find someone you click with. There are many ways to skin a cat, I mean, train a dog.

I didnt crate train for the same reason. I put the crate in an xpen. I hope you can find a trainer to work with you

Same here. I think confining to an ex-pen works equally as good and isn't as restrictive as crate training.