Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Ramsey.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Thomas. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My name is Thomas Ramsey and I grew up in the small town of Boonton, NJ. When I was a kid I had two passions, tennis and dogs. I was lucky enough to get a dog for my tenth birthday, a 5-year-old Norwegian elkhound named Loki, but on Christmas day that year, an accident in traffic took him away. A nightmare for a ten-year-old, I was nonetheless determined to make sure that would never happen to a dog I owned ever again. I read every dog training book available and I tried to train every dog in the neighborhood whose owners would let me. Over the years, I gained a vast and diverse knowledge base concerning not only dog training but dog psychology as well.
While tennis instruction became my ultimate career focus and profession, any client, friend or associate who was in need of assistance with their dog, I was happy to offer instruction. Having spent a lifetime training both humans and dogs, I have come to one conclusion: dogs train quicker than people. The methods and equipment are relatively simple, but the greatest obstacle is the current dog culture that perpetuates bad information and enforces incorrect procedure. The most important aspects of dog training begin with the subtle and nuanced actions in the normal day to day: learning to follow on a walk, getting proper exercise besides the backyard, rules inside the house, socializing with other dogs, proper feeding… it all adds up to the total training package.
Getting the results and behavior you want from a dog is the sum of getting all the details right first. Once a dog understands that they need to follow and not lead, then the real training can begin. No Barking Around began with the idea of taking shelter and at-risk dogs, rehabbing and training them to be super companions, and then re-home them to owners who understand the time and effort requirements a dog really needs. On July 3rd, Pete was adopted from the Boston Animal League as the first dog to enter the No Barking Around program. A beautiful 65 lbs pit mix, he was very sweet but also very mouthy. Having been picked up from the street, he had been a stray for months and though difficult, he showed incredible potential and the perfect test of our training method.
Over 8 weeks, Pete went from an out-of-control crazy dog to a super companion. During this process, my girlfriend April, who never had a dog before, absolutely fell in love so rather than re-home him, we kept Pete and it has made all the difference. From this moment, the business model changed to focus on owners with existing dogs in order to help build the company’s reputation. The overreaching goal still continues to be to build a resource and database for new or first-time owners headed to a shelter. So much of the relationship between a dog and a human is defined in the first minutes and hours of arriving to a new home. Taking the correct steps right from the beginning greatly increases the ease and success of training but very little information exists about the importance of these early stages.
Without question, one of the greatest assets in this process has been Pete. Having a dog that is already on point and can set the example for the dogs around them is an invaluable thing. More than just a training partner, Pete has been able to offer emotional support to some of the dogs that were more extreme cases and required a board & train, like separation anxiety, biting/aggression and even drug withdrawal. Every day, seeing the progress he continues to make and understanding that all dogs have this same potential is what we want people to see when they see us out with him. Now here we are, many referrals later, helping families achieve the happiness and companionship they were looking for.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In terms of success rate, the journey has been relatively smooth and very successful.
What has, and continues, to make this process so difficult is not just the amount of bad information that is out there, but that it continuously comes from sources that should be trusted: vets, pet chain stores and so-called “certified” trainers. While most certainly have the best of intentions, not respecting and addressing the natural needs of the dog will never produce positive results and can actually contribute to their behavior worsens.
So much of what we emphasize and enforce runs so counter to what has been accepted in the mainstream dog community, that even with Pete and the dogs we help as models, it is still very hard to convince owners that this is what their dog needs. For example, one of the biggest misconceptions about training is the use of treats. This is bribery and can never successfully be used to build proper obedience and trust. But by far the most detrimental piece of information being advocated out there is the harness. The only time a dog should wear this piece of equipment is if they are meant to be pulling something, like a sled or wagon.
While it may look more secure, the harness is actually wrapped around one of the strongest muscles groups in the chest and provides no control of the head and nose. Yet despite its complete ineffectiveness for training, the harness is one of the most recommended pieces of equipment out there. In order to be successful in dog training, an owner needs the right attitude above all else, but they also need the right equipment and they need the correct information.
Right now, all three of these pillars are severally lacking in the dog community and while it may be difficult at times, seeing the results and the changes it can have for a family make it all worthwhile.
No Barking Around – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
No Barking Around was created as a resource to owners looking to correctly obtain obedience and off-leash command over their dog. There are dog trainers (Petco) and there are dog psychologists (Caesar Millan), No Barking Around is both. It has become the new status quo to see countless owners being pulled or overworked by their dogs during the walk and an overall lack of control, obedience and discipline in nearly all interactions, human and canine.
Nearly everyone loves a dog, but they are an incredible commitment of time, money, patience and effort that many owners, new and existing, are not truly prepared to undertake. Even if they are, the culture and climate has become so saturated with poor, misleading and often flat-out incorrect information that progress, if any, is slow and usually costly. Dogs were made to be companions but many owners, especially in rescue situations, become overprotective and often end up feeling sorry for them. This denies their dogs the chance to show the potential they all possess.
Simply put, no one can help a dog (or human for that matter) if they feel sorry for them. There is a better way to build a successful and fulfilling relationship with a dog regardless of their history or how they got to where they are.
At No Barking Around, above all else, we are advocates for the dog. The focus point of the program we have put together is, “respecting the dog in your dog”. A common excuse we hear is that “oh, he/she is so spoiled”, but all that says is that the owner doesn’t know what to do so they simply let the dog get away with bad behavior. Even though they can be considered members of the family, and should be loved and respected accordingly, a dog is still a dog, not a tiny human. The biggest attitude flaw in the current ownership is the humanizing of their dogs.
They have certain natural needs, like fellow dog play, exercise and a raw, species appropriate diet, that must be met in order to keep the dog health, happy and well balanced. Dogs are much smarter than most people today give them credit for, but at the same time, they are also very simple. Jealously, self-pity and shame are human emotions that get projected and it is what bad owners use as a crutch and an excuse to keep from getting the dog (and themselves) they help they need. Our goal is to provide the dogs, but especially the owners, the proper instruction, equipment and protocols necessary to begin the journey to a better and happier life for the both of them.
One thing that sets our method apart is that when we are with a dog, we are actively looking for as many distractions and training opportunities as possible. While most schools of thought would tell owners to move their dog away from and avoid situations, this does nothing to address the real problem and can eventually lead to social isolation. Only by acknowledging the negative behavior and then correcting it, in real life situations, can an owner start to achieve results, not just avoiding the problem. Indoor training facilities or any other “sterile” environment can never be as effective as real-life encounters and meeting the problem up front. This is what makes Boston Commons such an excellent training ground.
The people, cars, bikes/skateboards, and especially squirrels provide countless training opportunities and for socialization and play, there are two open area dog parks. The other standout aspect of No Barking Around is the equipment we use. An in-house modification of the existing London Quick Lead style has been a major key in the success of nearly every session. This lead is almost never recommended because if used incorrectly, it can end up choking the dog. Simply instruction and proper use completely eliminate this risk but bad information has made the most effective tool also one the most criticized.
This lead is nothing more than a simple slip and when used correctly is the most effective means of immediately gaining control and the attention of the dog. The lead gets broken down into two parts: a shorter indoor lead called the “neck-tie”, which stays on at all times and a longer walking lead that can be connected when going out. We also incorporate a 20-foot long attachment that can be connected to the neck-tie for advanced training and distance recall. This is what No Barking Around calls the Graduated Lead System; increasing the distance we allow the dog to be away from us and making them understand that they must still always come when called, on or off leash. Leash laws were originally introduced to keep dogs from just freely running wild in the neighborhood.
However, over time, and as the skill of the average owner regressed, these laws were more heavily enforced to now protect bystanders from irresponsible owners with dogs they could not control. The problem now is that most people believe the only way they can be in control of their dog is to have them constantly tethered. This is just the illusion of control because if the dog ever gets free, the owner now has no control at all. Our goal is to build a new dog culture where off-leash control of your dog, any dog, is normal.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Every dog and every family we help is always a satisfying moment. I was reminded of this when a recent client sent me a handwritten note, thanking us directly for the hard work and absolute turnaround their dog went through. They were in a very difficult situation and were about to give her up, but we were able to completely change the dynamic.
The gratitude and genuine thanks in her letter was an excellent reminder that the work we do can have a profound effect on the owners we see.
Pricing:
- • First Session, $350: In-home consultation and evaluation. Introduction to new protocols for the walk, feeding and rules, boundaries and limitations in the house. Includes custom made leash system, training equipment and free follow-up. Usually runs 2hrs, longer if necessary.
- • Second Session, $300: Check-in on progress and then introduction of obedience training: down/stay, recall and proper socialization. Use of the 20-foot long training lead for trail walks, exercise and building distance recall.
- • Third session and beyond, $250: Any instruction beyond the second session is meant for owners who are serious about taking their dog to full off-leash control. While this is always encouraged amongst our clients, many are satisfied with the information and results they get from the first two sessions.
- • Board and Train, $350/day (min. 3 days): For time or occasionally just convenience, some owners would rather No Barking Around do the “heavy lifting” when it comes to rehabilitating and then training their dog. We would take the dog into our custody for the agreed duration and provide a 24-hour observation and training regimen for maximum training effectiveness in the shortest amount of time.
Contact Info:
- Address: 44 Morse Ave Brockton, MA 02301
- Phone: 973-508-6069
- Email: nobarkingaround@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nobarkingaroundhome/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLZAo39sFkxoKiHcXeaPf6A
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