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 Personal Statement: I feel that by calling myself a dog trainer, I have an obligation to every student to be the best that I can be. To become a skilled professional dog trainer, one should have a level of interest, education, experience and dedication to the field.I am committed to helping you, the dog owner, understand your dog’s behavior & am dedicated to helping you correct any unwanted behavior, or just keeping you on the right track. My education does not stop with training dogs & training dogs & their owners. Continuing my education on dog behavior, training & teaching skills is also top priority. Besides working with dogs & their owners ( full time since 1998), I will continue to be very familiar with the latest research and knowledge in the field of dog behavior. I am, and will continue to be upfront with my personal experience. Below you will find my personal experience working with both dogs and their owners, my continuing education as it relates to dog behavior & teaching students. Our Philosophy is very specific & we only use & allow positive & fun training techniques. As Toledo Dog Training grows & I slowly add qualified dog trainers to the staff,
you can believe they will be picked with the utmost care.
You will always know who is teaching your class & their personal qualifications. Our current dog training team includes: - Tonya Wilhelm/Self & Founder-Private behavioral dog training, Day Camp,Various Workshops, Group Classes (Puppy, Beginner, Intermediate, Taste Test, Tricks & Games, Agility 4Fun, Canine Good Citizen, Therapy Dog Class, Street Smarts, Freestyle Tricks, Reactive Rovers & Shy Souls)
- Annie Hammer-Various Workshops, Private dog sports instruction, Intermediate, Taste Test, Tricks & Games, Agility 4Fun, Canine Good Citizen, Focus & Attention, Target Class, Freestyle Tricks, Dog Sports, Scent Work & Rally-O.
- Jamie Van Natta-Various Workshops, Tricks Express, Tricks & Games, Freestyle Tricks
- Class Assistants & Volunteers
If you every have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Sincerely~Tonya Wilhelm Founder Toledo Dog Training
Our Training Philosophy: At Toledo Dog Training we are committed to helping each dog training team that walks through our doors. Our slogan " We do more than training; we build relationships," rings true with our training philos  ophy. Toledo Dog Training uses gentle, fun & effective training methods that improve the communication between owner and dog. All of our courses use positive-reinforcement training and educate owners on humane leadership skills, allowing dogs to flourish. We do not use or allow harsh and inhumane punishment-based methods. This type of "training" destroys the relationship between dog and owner, and escalates or creates aggression. Your dog training lessons are meant to be both fun and educational. We believe that a true leader is fair & consistent without using aggressive techniques. We subscribe to the Progressive Reinforcement Training that involves no forms of intimidation, confrontation, violence, reprimands, or domination. We believe owners and dogs should be able to have a mutually enjoyable relationship with one another.  Our dog training services are designed to help you & your dog build a mutually enjoyable relationship with one another. Group courses are designed to teach you how to train & better understand your dog. Enrolling in one of our training programs provides you with the opportunity to practice with your dog while being coached by a professional dog trainer. Working with your dog on a regular basis allows you to interact and bond with your dog, improving your relationship. At Toledo Dog Training, our classes are geared towards the entire family. All of our classes promote healthy & lasting relationships between dog owners & their special canine members. This philosophy holds true even for our most advance classes. Even if you do not intend to compete in dog sports, you are still encouraged to take the classes! All of our classes have a focus on enhancing your relationship & bond with your dog.
 Our Position Statement On Cesar Millan: We support American Humane on their views of Cesar Millan's training techniques: "The training tactics featured on Cesar Millan's 'Dog Whisperer" program are inhumane, outdated and improper, according to a letter sent yesterday to the National Geographic Channel by American Humane the oldest national organization protecting children and animals." Other dog behaviorists & authors that don't agree with his philosophy include: American Veterinary Society Of Animal Behavior, Sophia Yin DVM, 4Paws University, Jean Donaldson, Trish King, Curtis Pesmen, Pat Miller, Mary Harwelik, Nicole Wilde . Here's a video clip on why we do not recommend Cesar. If you would like to watch a good dog training program on tv, check out Toledo Dog Training 2006-Present - Owner/Operator
- Created, implemented & teach dog training classes & lectures
- Positive Dog Training
- Check out students page for photos & comments
Perky Paws Cafe 2004-Current - Owner/Operator
- Online Pet Boutique
- Pet Parties
Toledo Area Pets Publication 2007 - Owner/Operator
- Publisher/Editor
- Marketing
- Sales
Not Just Goldens 2001-2006 - Owner/Operator
- Pet Sitting
- Private Dog Training-Behavior Training
Teamworks Dog Training 2001-December 2003 - Puppy Class Instructor
- Created & Implemented Advanced Puppy Class
- Advanced Puppy Class Instructor
- Therapy Dog Class Instructor-Delta Society
- Assisted in such classes as: Rowdy Rovers Canine Confidence Building Canine Good Citizens
- Instructor Of The Year 2002 Thanks to all my students who voted, and made this honor possible. :)
Wake County Animal Shelter-2004  - Animal Care Technician
- Vaccinating Micro chipping
- In-taking pets
- Started the Train-A-Pup Program
Assistance Dogs Of America 1999-2001 - Over 4,500 hours working and training rescued dogs to become Service Dogs!
- Monthly dog evaluations
- Assisted in temperament testing dogs
- Conducted foster family classes
- Created & Implemented Beginner Foster Family Curriculum
- Taught Beginner Foster Family Class
- Interviewed potential foster families
- Client team training
- Client follow up
- Coordinated pet home adoption program
- Assisted in certification test
- Volunteer coordinator
 - Fundraising & awareness
South Suburban Animal Hospital 1999 - Receptionist
- Vet tech in training
Capital Area Humane Society 1998-1999 - Kennel technician
- Basic Dog Training
*Inclusion For Success-Practical ways for families & dogs to live together-Presented by Jennifer Shryock* Real Families/Realistic Advice-Seminar on DVD presented by Robin Bennett & Colleen Pelar
* Dogs & Storks-Seminar on DVD presented by Jennifer Shrock
* 2x2 Weave Pole Training-Seminar on DVD presented by Susan Garrett
* To Be Mod or Not to be Mod-Seminar on DVD presented by Pia Silvani
* Treating Dog-Dog Reactivity-Seminar on DVD presented by Patricia McConnell
* Crate Games For Self Control & Motivation-Seminar on DVD presented by Susan Garrett *DOG PLAY-UNDERSTANDING PLAY BETWEEN DOGS AND BETWEEN DOGS AND PEOPLE Seminar DVD-Patricia McConnell *READING BETWEEN THE LINES SEMINAR DVD-Patricia McConnell Canine Freestyle Workshops (monthly) Presented by people such as Bev Blanchard, Linda Blanchard, Gloria Voss, Dawn Sheater
- Freestyle Moves
- Putting Together A Routine
- Picking Music
- Freestyle Costuming
Canine Freestyle Workshop Presented by Linda BlanchardFebruary 2011
- Freestyle Venues
- Training Plan
- Attention & Motivation
- Precision & Flow
- Costuming
- Props
- Moves
- Putting Together A Routine
- Picking Music
- Scoring
Intro To Disc Dogs Presented by Scott & Deanna Jones October 2010
- Drive
- Rollers
- Throwing
- Catching
- Distance
- Recall
Tony Hoard Workshop-April 2010
Homeopathic Remedies and Flower Essences Presented by Kristy Lampe May 2004 Canine First Aid & Emergency Response To Bleeding Presented by Teressa Everts May 2004 - A demonstration in canine first aid and training
- Emergency response to bleeding, choking, poisoning
- Fractures and lacerations
Playing Well With Others Presented by Jenn Merritt May 2004 - Identifying and encouraging proper social behaviors in your dog.
- The Importance of Play
- Canine Body Language
- Common Play Behaviors
- Indications of Inappropriate Play
- Helping Your Dog Play Friendly
- Signs of Stress
Certified Rabies Vaccinator Course March 2004 - Hosts & Range
- Pathogenesis
- Clinical Signs
- Modes of Transmission
- Epidemics by Species Treatment
TTouch Workshop March 2004 TTouch - the Tellington TTouch - is a method based on circular movements of the fingers and hands all over the body. The intent of the TTouch is to activate the function of the cells and awaken cellular intelligence From Pups To Problems presented by Trish King, February 2004 - Are Puppies Really Learning What We Are Teaching Them
- Deadly Puppies, Deadly Dogs
- Dog Meets Dog
- Adolescent Dog Problems
- Abandonment Training
- Anxiety: Different Forms, Different Solutions
- Avoiding Injury in Personal Consultations & Private Training
Advanced Training Theory presented by Pamela Reid, April 2003 - Distinctions between learning, memory, motivation, and cognition
- Open and closed economies
- Different types of feedback
- Intermittent schedules
- Autoshaping
- Superconditioning
- Information coded in the dog's brain
- Dog's memory
- Pavlov's contribution
The Other End of the Leash/Dog to Dog Aggression presented by Dr. Patricia McConnell, November 2002 - What are humans really saying to our dogs through our body language?
- Comparing dog body language to human body language-space management
- Humans tendency towards aggression & frustration
- Teaching our dogs to be comfortable in the human world
- Educating owners on the dog's world
- Leadership skills
- Vocal tones & what they mean to our dogs-broad bands, pitch
- Dog to dog aggression
- Motivation
- Body Language
- Vocalizations
- Inappropriate Aggression
- Appropriate Aggression
- Resource Guarding
- Leash Aggression
- Same Household Aggression
- High Arousal Aggression
- Fear Based Aggression
- Learned Pain Aggression
- For The Love Of Aggression
- Treating Aggression
- Stress in dogs
- Calming Signals/Appeasement Gestures
- Social Hierarchy
- The Truth About Dominance
Multi-Dog Households Issues and Behavior Modification presented by Dr. Lori Frear, August 2002 - Social organizations in various mammals including wolves, lions, African wild dogs and feral dogs.
- Domestication of the domestic dog focusing on paedomorphosis and the corresponding behavioral changes.
- Common issues that develop in multi-dog households, including proactive & reactive actions.
- Methods for adding a dog to a household with existing dogs.
- Social Organizations-Benefits, functions & social behaviors
- Dog Packs-Domestication, feral dog behavior & owned dog behavior
- Multi-Dog Household Issues-Common concerns, proactive & reactive
- Dog Consultations
- Pack Additions-When, who, why & how
- Displays-Social Signals
Temperament Testing and its Applications presented by Dr. Lori Frear, June 2002 Principles of Operant Conditioning presented by Dr. Lori Frear, May 2002 - Behavioral Ethology
- Learning in animals
- Comparative Psychologists vs Ethologists
- Pavlov vs Skinner
- Classical Conditioning
- Conditioned Reflex
- Operant Conditioning
- Genetics
- Control & Function
- Development
- Survival Value
- Evolution
- Nature vs Nurture
- Animal Behaviorists
Advanced Canine Behavior presented by Dr. Patricia McConnell, April 2001 - Why & how dogs react to certain situations in different ways
- Genetic Influences
- Shyness
- Dominance
- Reactivity & Frustration Tolerance
- How sounds/pitch influence our dogs
- Catching the signs of tension
- Calming/Displacement Signals
- The true meaning of a dog's hackles/piloerection
- Counter conditioning & Operant Conditioning
- Ways to handle Dog Aggression
- Body Blocks & Eye Contact
Alpha Bitch Conference, March 2001 - Feisty Fido-Pia Silvani
- Arousal & Aggression-Sue Sterberg
- Teaching so your students will listen-Donna Duford
- Training Dogs in a Shelter-Sue Sternberg
- Behavior Modification with a practical view-Pia Silvani
- Small/Toy Dog Aggression-Sue Sternberg
- Acquiring A Skill-Pia Silvani
- Clicker Training For Aggression-Donna Duford
- Troubles in the Class Room-Terry Ryan & Sue Sterberg
- Training Techniques-Donna Duford & Pia Silvani
- Dealing with Problem Dogs-Terry Ryan & Sue Sternberg
- Strategies For Handling Disruptive Dogs in Class- Donna Duford, Pia Silvani, Terry Ryan
- Defensive Handling For Trainers & Instructors-Sue Sterberg
- Working With Kids-Donna Duford
- Putting it All Together-Donna Duford, Terry Ryan, Pia Silvani, Sue Sternberg
Assistance Dog Trainers Workshop With Kathy Sdao, October 2000 - Balance Work
- Opening Doors
- How To Teach a New Behavior
- Retrieving
- Greeting a Strange Dog
- Alerting To Sound
- What affects Dog Aggression/Behavior
Training Behavior & Healthy Dog Conference, March 2000 - The Truth About Dominance-Dr. Patricia McConnell
- Throw Away Your Leash-Patricia McConnell
- A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words-Terry Ryan
- Testing Puppy Tests-Patricia McConnell
- A Look at Canine Stress & Related Behaviors-Terry Ryan
- The Silent Language-Roger Abrantes
- Breed Mix Identification-Trish King
- Joyful, Instant, Reliable Recalls-Patricia McConnell
- Communication Problems-Roger Abrantes
Delta Society's Science & Magic: The Human-Animal Bond, October 1999 - Service Dog Training Techniques-Lu Picard
- The Llamas Lead the Learning: ATT & Kids with Autism-Mona Sams
- Montana Medicaid & Service Animals-Richard Rough
- Use of Service Dogs for Dementia Care-Mary Shelkey
- Patient Preference & Measured Interactions-Suzanne La Croix
- From Foundation to Progression: 90 Service Dog Commands-Myra Fourwinds
- Service Dog Education System-Kellie Brooke
Licensed & Insured References Always Available Upon Request
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