Professional dog trainer and psychology specialist Erdal Civaroğlu
Erdal Civaroğlu, founder of Von Argos Dog Training Center, was born in Aydın, Türkiye. He completed his primary, secondary, and high school education in Aydın and Ankara before continuing his university education at Selçuk University in Konya.
His interest in dogs, dog training, and canine sports began during his high school years and continued throughout his university education. Over the years, this interest developed into a professional career combining practical dog training experience with a strong interest in canine behavior and human-dog communication.
In 2008, Erdal Civaroğlu began working with the German Shepherd Dog Breed and Sports Association, gaining extensive experience in breed-specific training, canine sports, working dogs, and preparation for formal examinations.
Throughout his career, he has trained numerous dogs and participated in examinations conducted according to international regulations, achieving successful results with dogs he personally prepared.
Professional experience in dog training
Erdal Civaroğlu has worked with dogs with different characteristics, abilities, temperaments, and training objectives. His experience extends beyond basic obedience and includes working dogs, canine sports, behavioral development, and structured training programs.
Between 2010 and 2011, while working at a private facility in Ankara, he was involved in raising and supplying dogs from different working disciplines for use by the Turkish law enforcement organization and various specialized departments.
This period provided valuable practical experience in evaluating dogs according to their physical characteristics, temperament, working motivation, learning capacity, and suitability for specific tasks.
Canine sports and working dog training
Canine sports combine physical activity, mental stimulation, communication, discipline, and cooperation between dogs and their handlers.
Von Argos approaches canine sports as an educational process in which both the dog and the handler develop together.
Training may focus on:
• Building effective communication between dog and handler
• Developing basic and advanced obedience skills
• Strengthening motivation and concentration
• Reinforcing appropriate behaviors
• Improving environmental confidence and adaptability
• Evaluating individual abilities and temperament
• Preparing dogs for canine sports disciplines
• Developing consistent handling and training techniques
Breed clubs and canine sports experience
In 2011, Erdal Civaroğlu expanded his activities through work with the Doberman Breed Association operating under KIF.
Working with different breeds helped broaden his understanding of breed characteristics, temperament, physical structure, working potential, and individual training requirements.
Every dog has a different personality and learning profile. For this reason, Von Argos emphasizes adapting training methods to the individual dog rather than applying an identical approach to every animal.
Von Argos Dog Training Center
Since late summer 2012, Erdal Civaroğlu has continued his professional activities as the founder of Von Argos Dog Training on the Sille Road in Konya.
Von Argos was established with the goal of bringing professional dog training, canine sports, behavioral work, and owner education together within one training philosophy.
The center does not view dog training simply as teaching commands. Instead, training is approached as a communication process that aims to help owners understand their dogs and establish clearer, more consistent relationships.
Modern dog training methods
Modern dog training requires an understanding of learning, motivation, communication, and behavior.
Von Argos incorporates contemporary training approaches and emphasizes positive motivation, consistency, observation, and individualized training plans.
The training philosophy focuses on:
• Understanding the individual characteristics of each dog
• Using appropriate positive motivation techniques
• Reinforcing desired behaviors
• Improving communication between dogs and their owners
• Establishing clear and consistent expectations
• Creating training plans suited to everyday life
• Identifying possible causes of unwanted behaviors
Dog behavior and behavioral therapy
Understanding behavior is an essential part of professional dog training.
Instead of focusing only on an unwanted behavior, Von Argos considers the circumstances in which the behavior occurs and the factors that may contribute to it.
Dogs can display fear, excessive reactions, poor impulse control, environmental difficulties, or other unwanted behaviors for different reasons. A professional approach therefore begins with observation and assessment.
Behavior-focused training may include:
• Observing the dog’s current behavior
• Identifying situations that trigger specific responses
• Assessing communication between the dog and owner
• Determining suitable motivation techniques
• Working on the management of unwanted behaviors
• Teaching owners how to respond consistently
• Supporting healthier communication between dog and handler
Dog owner education
Successful dog training does not end with the trainer. The owner’s understanding and consistency are equally important.
Von Argos aims to help dog owners gain practical knowledge that they can apply in everyday situations.
Owners are encouraged to learn how to:
• Understand their dog’s body language and behavior
• Apply basic commands correctly
• Communicate consistently
• Reinforce appropriate behaviors
• Continue training outside the training environment
• Recognize their dog’s individual needs
• Manage everyday situations with greater confidence
The objective is to help owners become active participants in their dog’s development rather than depending entirely on an external trainer.
Dog breeding and responsible selection
Von Argos also has experience in dog breeding and selection, particularly in relation to dogs intended for working and sporting purposes.
Responsible selection requires consideration of more than appearance. Physical structure, health, temperament, character, working ability, and suitability for a specific purpose are important factors when selecting breeding and working dogs.
The Von Argos approach places emphasis on:
• Appropriate selection and pairing
• Healthy physical development
• Anatomical structure
• Temperament and character
• Learning and working potential
• Suitability for canine sports and working disciplines
The objective is to support the development of strong, balanced dogs with characteristics appropriate for their intended role.
Schutzhund and working disciplines
Traditional working-dog disciplines such as Schutzhund require structured training and assessment.
These disciplines evaluate different aspects of a dog’s abilities, including obedience, concentration, control, working motivation, and cooperation with the handler.
Erdal Civaroğlu’s previous experience includes preparing dogs for examinations conducted according to international regulations and working with dogs in structured canine sports disciplines.
ARGOS Team
The ARGOS Team is another important part of Von Argos’s canine sports philosophy.
Canine sports are not only about individual performance. Teamwork, discipline, responsibility, communication, and consistency are equally important.
Through the ARGOS Team concept, dog owners and handlers can develop their skills while participating in a shared training and sports environment.
The team philosophy emphasizes:
• Cooperation between dog and handler
• Consistent training discipline
• Teamwork and responsibility
• Development of canine sports culture
• Sharing practical experience
• Supporting new participants and dog owners
International seminars and continuous development
Dog training is a continuously evolving field. Developments in behavioral science, learning theory, training techniques, and canine sports require professional trainers to keep improving their knowledge.
Von Argos follows international seminars, workshops, and educational activities in order to remain familiar with new approaches and incorporate appropriate developments into its training philosophy.
Continuous education is considered an important part of professional dog training.
Experience with more than 1,000 dogs
Throughout approximately 14 years of experience in canine sports and professional dog training, Erdal Civaroğlu has worked with more than 1,000 dogs.
Working with dogs of different breeds, ages, temperaments, abilities, and training levels has provided extensive practical experience.
The long-term goal of Von Argos is to continue expanding this experience and reach a total of 5,000 dogs over the course of its future activities.
Our mission
The mission of ARGOS Dog Training Center is to contribute to greater awareness and appreciation of dogs and canine sports in Türkiye.
The center aims to promote a better understanding of dogs as intelligent, social animals whose physical, mental, and behavioral needs should be recognized.
Our mission includes:
• Increasing awareness of responsible dog ownership
• Strengthening communication between dogs and people
• Encouraging interest in canine sports
• Introducing young people to canine sports
• Helping dog owners develop practical training skills
• Promoting modern and positive motivation-based training
• Supporting individualized approaches to dog behavior
• Developing new participants in canine sports
Young people and canine sports
Von Argos places particular importance on introducing young people to canine sports.
Working with dogs can encourage responsibility, patience, discipline, communication, concentration, and teamwork.
Young participants can gain experience in understanding dogs, communicating with them, and taking responsibility for their training and care.
Dog training is a communication process
For Von Argos, dog training is more than teaching a dog to respond to commands.
A sustainable training relationship is built on understanding, consistency, communication, motivation, and mutual trust.
When owners learn to recognize their dog’s behavior and respond appropriately, everyday life with the dog can become more structured and harmonious.
Von Argos Dog Training Center therefore focuses on developing both sides of the relationship: the dog and the person responsible for the dog.
Von Argos Dog Training Center in Konya
Based in Konya and continuing its activities since 2012, Von Argos Dog Training Center brings together Erdal Civaroğlu’s experience in professional dog training, canine sports, working dogs, behavioral training, and owner education.
With a philosophy based on continuous development and modern training methods, Von Argos aims to contribute to better human-dog relationships and to the development of canine sports in Türkiye.
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