Preston VanLoon, Ed.D., CDT-C, AKC CGC Evaluator
Dr. Preston VanLoon has a passion for making a difference in the lives of people. Dogs have been a part of his life since he was a young boy. He loves training dogs and helping dog owners to have meaningful relationships with their canine friends.
In addition to being a Certified Dog Trainer and an AKC CGC Evaluator, Preston is also the owner and handler of Rocky, a Certified Therapy Dog at the Supreme level with the American Kennel Club. Dr. VanLoon’s education includes two Master’s degrees and a Doctorate in Educational Psychology.
He is the author of four books; Advice from a Therapy Dog: Barking Up the Right Tree and Finding Happiness in Life, and three children’s books; Rocky Becomes a Therapy Dog, Rocky Goes to School, and Rocky Learns to Read. He has also authored three books on the topic of forgiveness: My Journey to Forgiveness, The Path to Forgiveness, and The Path to Forgiveness Study Guide.
Dr. VanLoon has spoken extensively, both domestically and internationally, on a variety of educational topics. He lives with his wife, Mary, and Rocky, their Golden Retriever, in Mandan, ND. You can contact him at RSDT4U@gmail.com.
A Message from Preston
One of the benefits of being a dog trainer is meeting so many wonderful dog owners. I not only have the opportunity to help them train their dogs but also get to develop some great friendships. Dogs are a big part of a person’s life, they are family. Effective dog training involves building a relationship with both the dog and its owner. I believe that people don’t care how much you know unless they know how much you care. I am honored that people would put their confidence in me as a trainer to help strengthen the bond between them and their canine friend.
Philosophy of Dog Training
I have a passion for dogs, and dog training. Ever since I was a child, I can remember having a dog. They were my best friend. Dogs love us unconditionally. They are forgiving, do not hold grudges, and bring excitement and joy to our lives. My desire to train dogs initially began as a hobby and gradually evolved into a passion and something I wanted to do professionally.
Dogs want to learn and have a meaningful relationship with their owners. Such relationships should be built on mutual respect and trust. The more time you spend in training with your pet, the stronger your bond will become and the deeper your relationship will be with each other. Therefore, I believe that training should be fun for both the dog and its owner.
Effective dog training is based on investing the necessary time, effort, and patience to build a healthy relationship and teach your dog how to be happy and function in a human world. My doctoral studies in educational psychology taught me that this is best accomplished by creating a friendly environment where both the dog and owner can thrive as they learn about one another and bond as a team. Therefore, I primarily use a positive reinforcement and rewards-based approach to my training.
Training should also be dog-friendly and build on the dog’s natural tendency to seek rewards (treats, toys, praise, touching, etc.) for their behavior. So, when you give a dog attention for doing something (whether the behavior is good or bad), it will most likely be repeated. Dogs also learn through repetition and repeating behaviors that are reinforced positively. When this happens, the dog is excited and motivated to train and understands more quickly what is being taught.