JillbJill Breitner is the inventor of the Dog Decoder app! According to Jill, “Canine body language can be confusing, but with the help of Dog Decoder, you’ll understand any dog’s signals like a pro.”

To learn more about a pro like Jill keep reading!

What was your route to positive reinforcement training?

My route to positive reinforcement was ironically via Cesar Millan. When I started hearing about his show 10-15 yrs ago, I had to talk about the dominance theory in a way I never had to do before. While I was grateful for the new conversation because it made people pause and start to think, it also brought me to a deeper level of my own training which became more about learning to read dogs.

Were you always interested in science or did behavioral science peak your interest at a later time & how?

I studied psychology in college and then studied animal science, later becoming a vet tech. After a year as a vet tech and while seeing that during school and in the hospital few people really new how to understand dogs, I realized that this was going to be my path. That was almost 40 years ago.

I became interested in animals when I read about Jane Goodall observing chimps when I was around 10 years old and starting watching dogs and horses like she watched chimps. Learning how they communicated was fascinating to me and I didn’t understand why others weren’t as excited about this as I was.

Are there specific skill sets from previous career paths which have aided you in your current role?

The gift of observation that I got from Jane Goodall is the best skill set I’ve ever learned and have subsequently gotten really good at. I can read any animal and it’s a skill which can never be turned off once you learn it. It becomes part of you.

What is one piece of advice from someone that you consider a “mentor” that you’d like to share?

Advice: Jane Goodall. Observation and to have hope. These two pieces of advice that keep me going, today.

What is your favorite part of your day?

My favorite part of the day is seeing dogs play and getting to just be dogs. Actually, there’s really no favorite part of a day because being with dogs is all a joy and honor to witness. I love watching their play, their processing, their learning new things, their overcoming fears, their sheer joie de vie.

What do you find to be the most challenging in working with people and animals?

It’s not really challenging for me to work with animals. It just takes patience. I have that with them. The most challenging thing ins working with people and their pets is working with the people. People tend to want a magic pill. But, once they realize that there isn’t one, they come around and when they do, they see the shift in their relationship and bond with their dogs and this makes my heart sing.

dog decoder

What are some key skills required for animal training?

Number one in my book is speaking the language of the animal you’re working with. If you can’t read them, you can’t communicate. Period.

Other important skills include having patience, having the right timing, and the gift of communication to be able to educate the humans.

Thank you to Jill for sharing! If you would like to learn more about Jill you can connect with her at: www.dogdecoder.com or via: www.facebook.com/dogdecoder .

Note: For anyone out there who is looking to become a certified, professional, positive trainer, come and join me in Miami! Applications being accepted now: https://www.karenpryoracademy.com/dog-trainer-professional/national/miami-fl