She doesn’t use lots of dog treats, for example. Instead, she says her successful methods center more around developing a better leadership relationship between owners and their dogs. For Winters, it’s not about following commands, it’s about setting a tone. She explains, “Dogs already know how to read us. They watch our behavior very closely and they quickly assess whether we are respectful leaders, or not. If not, they generally do one of two things. They either step up to be the leader… or they become very insecure and fearful.” Winters adds, “In a dog’s mind, there must be a leader or the whole pack (family) is in danger.”

And so, if you’re trying to figure out how to manage an unruly canine, here are the three giant mistakes she sees the most in owners.
“Most dog owners want to be a leader to their dog but don’t know how or, mistakenly, think leadership means being harsh.” Winters advocates firm structure and clear “yes” or “no” commands.

“Humans read their dog’s over-excitement as happiness.” In fact, Winters contends this sort of over-excitement is often anxiety and anxiousness instead.
“People talk too much.” She says that dogs look more at body position than a jumble of words that might be emitted.

Less words: more message.
Got it.

If you find you need more words, you can check out www.angie4dogs.com for digital programs that Angie has developed to teach her techniques to the average dog owner.

Angie was raised around animals and involved with training dogs from a young age. Her love of dogs made her curious about how they think and react, which led her to a self-study of dog psychology. Her professional career took her in a different direction, but after nearly dying following a long illness, Angie realized what she really wanted to do with her life. From then she has dedicated her time to rehabilitating the dogs that no one could keep.

Some of these dogs have come to Angie from rescue groups; some from families. Their behaviors vary from aggression and separation anxiety to an overall fear of humans. These are the dogs that no one can deal with, trust around their children, or leave alone in their home. But Angie is not the only person who can “undo” these behaviors. By understanding how a dog thinks, anyone can provide the leadership a dog needs to be a loving pet.

Angie’s goal now is to educate pet owners and rescue group volunteers about how to improve bad behaviors and keep dogs out of shelters or from being euthanized. The method she uses redirects dog behavior by teaching people how dogs think; it is not training. While training has an important role, the first step for a dog is to let him know who is in charge.

Angie has created videos explaining her techniques and released 3  digital programs, available on her website at Angie4Dogs.com.

It should be noted from the start  that the methods here are NOT intended for dogs under 4 months of age, but are designed as lessons for teaching respect, structure, and leadership to your pet. They would be especially effective for Rescued dogs, or those taken into your home at a later time than puppyhood. That’s as close as I can get to a critical statement of the DVD…I truly hope that Angie produces more instructional dvd’s in the very near future, addressing other subjects such as bringing home a new puppy. She has a gift for understanding dogs, and teaching people what to do for them. Let’s get to the meat of the matter!
“3 Dog Days” is based solidly on the owner being a LEADER. Ms. Winters first point is that her method provides “…firm structure in a respectful manner…never hit, kick, or yell” at your dog…Anger doesn’t teach anything” . (Now you can say the words, “that’s just common sense”) She further makes the point very clear, that this is all about the Relationship that exists between humans and dogs. It’s a very special and unique arrangement that effectively helps the team to develop a mutually supportive atmosphere based on trust between Leader and Follower. Winters has a sound understanding of how dogs think, and what they want from us in every day life, and she describes it very well.

Using three techniques, (1) Silent Support (2) Companionship and Control and (3) Crate Work, “3 Dog Days” will guide you both thru a weekend that will create an entirely new atmosphere in your home. These are very positive techniques, without being mired down by the “jargon” and “What does that Term mean?” of so many “positive training methods”. Again, this is just innovative “Common Sense” being used. Somewhere, we lost that in the science that has become so prevalent in dog training.

“3 Dog Days” also utilizes the idea that each and every dog is a unique individual, requiring a different approach. This is the true strength of Ms. Winters approach. Her well-rounded, and flexible techniques allow for such needs, which makes the canine in the equation more at ease. Affect the dogs mind, to create a respectful relationship…This is powerfully demonstrated by the use of a “feral”, completely untrained dog, undergoing the transformation into an ideal pet dog.
One outstanding method used here, is the most difficult to master for the human. KEEP SILENT while training. Do Not use the voice to calm the dog. All of us talk too much in this relationship and learning Silent Support will push you into a powerful tool in training your dog.

Body Language is another tool in the “3 Dog Days” that you will learn. Our dogs watch us closely, far more so than we as humans do. Focusing on that will be a revelation to some. Using the snap of a finger, Winters corrects the dog from a distance, and gets the results that make your dog the well-behaved pet you desire. Achieving Leadership, Leadership, and Leadership are the backbone of the “3 Dog Days” method. The dogs mind, and personality , are both fully engaged by the trainer/owner. The steps to follow are clearly and easily explained in their entirety. Many instructional dvds today seem to hold back small details from the viewer, so as to create a need for another DVD, to explain even further. “3 Dog Days” gives you every detail the first time…

Mention should also be given about the technical details of the “3 Dog Days”. If you have ever watched DVDs from Leerburg productions, you have found them instructive and interesting. But they have taken little care in their editing. Spelling errors and other glitches are common, and annoying. “3 Dog Days” was produced by professionals that crossed all the “T’s”, and dotted all the “I’s”. The settings and lighting were well designed and easy on the eyes. The best compliment I can give is that this dvd is one that you will watch over and over again! “Common Sense” has found a home in the world of canine training!!!
In conclusion, I need to explain something about the title of this review, in which the words “Bubble Bath” appear. In a wonderful moment of whimsy and humanness, Winters demonstrates that your dog and his training should be FUN!!! That’s all the detail I’ll give on that. But the fact that this very instructional and informative DVD doesn’t take dog-training rigidly serious, will surprise and delight you!

This video will teach you how, with consistent effort, to make your dog understand that he is required to have respectful behavior and that you are the one with the power. By following the instructions outlined in the program, you will establish that you are the leader. It shows you how to provide firm structure for your dog in a respectful way which will result in your dog knowing he is safe, knowing how he is expected to behave and knowing that he can relax and have a great dog life!

Angie believes that most dog problems develop because the dog’s motivations are misunderstood and/or because the dog has been comforted by humans in a way that unknowingly undermines the dog’s state of mind. She feels that understanding dog psychology or how a dog thinks is the key to getting your dog to cooperate and that dog training should come after dog psychology. Using dog psychology first, will help balance the dog and get him settled in his home. Once that is accomplished, you can start working on training your dog with simple commands such as sit, stay, etc.

3 Dog Days System consists of three rehabilitation techniques:

• Silent Support
• Companionship and Control
• Crate Work
• Once those have been completed Angie suggests that you follow these two training tips:
• Never give a dog something for nothing
• A tired dog is a good dog

I was very impressed with Angie’s training system. She explained her system very well and it was easy to understand. I feel like her system would be a good system to use if you are having behavioral problems with your dog or if you are bringing a new dog home. There is nothing difficult to this system. In fact, it is short and simple! Something that most of us are looking for.

I learned a lot from this Program. Not only did I learn Angie’s training techniques, but I learned ways to help with my dog’s behavior problems. I am going to try some of these with Scout, Teddy and Ash and see what happens! If your dog has behavior problems, you should try this video!