Joe developed his love of dogs early in life at his grandfather's knee. His grandfather had two trained hunting dogs.  After graduating from Jacksonville State University, he moved to Birmingham, AL.  While working there close to kennels owned by Dick Lovelady, one of the nation's foremost trainers,  he began helping out at the kennels in order to learn how to train dogs. He succeeded in building on his original research and study of animal behavior.  Through Dick and his family he was led to the Lord and also  Schutzhund training.  Joe spent most of the 80's with this kennel.  He has had about 26 years experience in training dogs for obedience, personal protection, security, and tracking.  He has worked for the past couple of years with Sidney Washington III at Kingdom K-9 along with pastoring his church - Liberty Tabernacle of Praise Assembly of God.

Because of his  strong Christian principals, Joe strives to not only train dogs but to show how many generic Bible- based training guidelines can help us in our daily lives.  You will find that the behavioral techniques you will learn are just as valuable in your leadership roles in family and business as they are in your pet's life.

Joe feels the key to training is teaching the owner/handler to think like a wolf and teach them to be good pack leaders. A dog's closes relative in the natural state is a wolf or wild dog. You have to consider how a dog relates to other dogs in that kind of natural social structure -- they live in packs and what they understand is ranking: 1, 2, 3, and so on.

To train a dog, you must communicate that you are Number 1 -- like an alpha wolf.  People begin to have problems when they don't teach their dog a ranking; their dog jumps up on them any time, won't come when it's called, and does what it wants to because he thinks he's equal in power with his owner.  Dogs are sensitive to stress.  A dog's confusion about how it fits into the family can create stress that lead to behavioral problems.  The confusion and stress are the result of miscommunication. The first thing you must learn is communication with your dog.  You can't expect the dog to understand what you say but he does understand your tone of voice and your behavior.

There can be but one #1.  You and your dog can't both be a #1 and #2 at the same time.  If there's a spouse in your family - the dog has to understand that he becomes #3 and is subordinate to you and your spouse.  If there's a child, your dog must know that he's #4.  When #1 isn't around, everyone moves up a notch and the dog respects that.

Joe teaches owners how to understand "dog talk", the gestures and mannerisms dogs use to communicate.  He shows people how to give "Alpha statements", the type of non-verbal behavior that wolves use to control the entire pack.  The Alpha wolf exhibits certain characteristics.  He is constantly brainwashing the pack with statements that he's in charge.  He eats first and then the others eat.  He can approach them but subordinates can't approach him.  He needs the authority when he goes hunting because he is not strong enough by himself to pull down large prey.  He must be assure the others respect his authority.

If a subordinate is seeking to play and comes up to the Alpha wolf, the subordinate wolf will bow down and nuzzle and exhibit playful behavior.  What happens?  The Alpha wolf growls and snarls and the subordinate wolf leaves.  After a while the Alpha wolf may go over to the subordinate wolf and exhibit playful behavior.  It's OK because he's in charge.

It's a mistake to let your dog take liberties such as sleeping in your bed or pouncing on you anytime he wants to play.  The next thing you know your dog is running across the street and won't come when you call.  He sleeps in your bed and gets to eat before you do, so he thinks he's in charge.  Don't let this happen -- let him know you're Alpha.