Georgia L. Welch | Source | National Pet Training Manager at Invisible Fence® Brand
Georgia L. Welch
Georgia is a National Pet Training Manager at Invisible Fence® Brand. She has dedicated her life to the well-being of our four-legged companions. Since 1989, she has been on a mission to become a professional dog trainer. Her journey began with sales and training at Invisible Fence® for the Animal School, a local Invisible Fence® dealer. Under the guidance of Dr. Mary Lee Nitschke, a pioneer in dog behavior, Georgia embraced positive lure and reward training, moving away from compulsion methods. Over the years, she incorporated clicker training into the curriculum. Georgia’s expertise extends to puppy classes, pet dog training, agility, flyball, and even growl classes for people-friendly dogs that struggle with dog aggression. She has attended seminars by top trainers, including Dr. Ian Dunbar, Karen Pryor, John Rogerson, Dr. Pam Reid, Dr. Patricia McConnell, and Suzanne Clothier. In 1997, Georgia was a featured speaker at the APDT conference in Phoenix, Arizona. She has also competed in flyball, agility, and herding, earning her place on the SuperDog team for three years. Relocating to Invisible Fence® Northwest in Seattle in 2001, Georgia continued her mission. In 2004, she spearheaded the development of Perfect Start™ training, focusing on reducing stress for both pets and their owners during containment training. A panel of pet behaviorists evaluated the process, leading to further improvements and education for Invisible Fence® trainers. Since 2013, Georgia has been instrumental in training Invisible Fence® techs and trainers across the US and Canada, ensuring pets benefit from Invisible Pet® solutions. In 2023, obedience training was added to their portfolio.
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Invisible Fence® Brand (https://www.invisiblefence.com/)
National Pet Training Manager
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Are Dogs Stubborn?
Are dogs actually capable of being stubborn, or are we just anthropomorphizing? A certified dog trainer explains apparent dog stubbornness and how to deal with it.
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Expert Tips on Preventing Resource Guarding in Dogs
Georgia explains that resource guarding is a survival mechanism in dogs, often requiring intervention. She advises teaching dogs to exchange valued items for higher-value ones to build trust. "If there's a risk of biting, consult a Certified Behaviorist immediately." Ensure dogs feel secure and control access to resources when unsupervised. -
Expert Tips: Training Dogs to Stay Off the Couch
Georgia emphasizes consistency in training, suggesting family agreement on rules and using cues like "OFF." Provide a comfy alternative and reinforce with treats. For unsupervised times, consider tools like ScatMat® or Invisible Fence® Shields®. Breeds close to family may jump more, but location also matters. Consistency and reinforcement are key to success. -
Pet Safety Alert: Avoid Toxic Cleaning Agents Around Pets
Georgia advises against using bleach and ammonia around pets due to their caustic nature. Pets can ingest these by licking their fur or paws. "Enzymatic cleaners like Nature's Miracle are recommended for pet messes." Invisible Fence® Brand's Shields® products help keep pets away from cleaning areas.
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Labeling a dog as stubborn is often an easy way to shift the blame from a problem with the relationship to a problem with the dog. But it’s important for pet parents to understand that when a dog fails to comply, it is more likely a failure of communication or relationship as opposed to the dog’s obstinance. For instance, a dog might fail to comply because they think the command is optional. And they think that because their training has been inconsistent.
