Who Is This Ben Guy Anyways?!

 

Who is this Ben guy anyway?!

While some of you know me personally, many have recently joined the group or have not worked with me before.

My name is Ben Neill. I've been a paramedic for approximately 7 years now, working out of Sussex, Hampton, and St. Martin's area. I work this job full-time. I work with many great, talented, and caring people. I enjoy helping others. (Reinforcement works on humans too!)

The rest of my time has been dedicated to helping doggy "Pawrents" improve their relationship and communication skills with their pups. During my downtime between 911 calls, I am either reading textbooks, listening to dog-related podcasts, or being active in the online avenues relating to Ethology.

Ethology is the study of animal behavior. I don't simply study how to make dogs sit when you ask them. I have (and continue) to study how dogs use their body language to communicate with other dogs, and us, humans. I study how dogs learn best, and take what the very intelligent Ethologists and other scientists have learned from their field studies and implement that information back into my training. Essentially I am trying to communicate in a way that is very natural for them. By communicating clearly and setting realistic expectations, we can see progress quickly and with little effort.

I try to look at the "Big Picture" when it comes to training. I treat dogs as equals, not as an animal that we are superior to. I aim to help your dogs feel safe and confident. I do my best to set them up for success. I try to form a relationship with every dog I meet, and I like to think I've been successful in doing so. This is not because I am special, or because I am a "dog whisperer" (don't get me started on that guy.) I have simply learned skills that I can teach you. These skills enable you to gain more information about how your dog is feeling and doing, thereby improving your connection with them. As living organisms, dogs have many natural needs. There are ways to satisfy these needs. Most problematic behaviors develop from these needs being unmet.

I plan to take The Missing Link Dog Training business to a full-time career. You've all done amazing at setting me on a very consistent and progressing path to do so. So I thank you once again. As time goes on, I'll be able to dedicate more time to this community we are building, where I'll aim to give back as much value to you as you have to me.

If you ever have any questions relating to dog training or behavior, please don't hesitate to reach out. If there's an area of dog training you'd like to learn more about, let me know and I'll put together some information for you.

My goal above all else is not the acquisition of money, it is providing scientifically sound education and improving our interspecies relationships.

"Be a friend. Not an owner."