We know picking a dog trainer for your family is daunting. We want you to have all your questions answered up-front….

[Q]  “What should I expect to happen at each appointment?”

[Q]  Do you offer Board-and-train programs?

[Q]  Do you offer any discounts?

[Q]  What if my dog is not FOOD motivated?

[Q]  Does the price change if I have 2 dogs?

[Q]  What are your training methods?

[Q]  “Which program is right for me?”

[A]  We tailor all of our programs to the individual dog and household, but…

If you have a puppy under 6 months old and are hoping to work on things like potty training, nipping, crate training, grabbing things off the ground, walking on a loose leash, and more, then we recommend our puppy Program. You’ll also learn how to become the best possible trainer for your own pup.

If you have a dog over 6 months old and you are hoping to work on attention skills, self-control, greeting manners, leash walking, coming when called, and much more, then we recommend our basic manners program. It is similar in structure to our puppy program but with age-appropriate goals.

If you are looking for professional help with a specific behavior concern such as outstanding fearful behaviors, reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety, etc, we recommend having a behavior consultation program where we can help evaluate the specific circumstances of the problem and start building a plan for you.

[Q] “Who should participate in the training?”

[A]  We ask that each household choose a primary training participant from the family and that person should plan to be at every training appointment. Other family members are welcome to attend and participate (we encourage that), but we know that can be difficult with schedules. To help, we do supply you with outlines and resources on all the training games and activities that you can share with any family member that can’t be present at the time of the appointments. Our training is really for you (the human) to help you become the best trainer possible for your own dog. The more family members who participate in the training sessions, the more consistent the training will be and the better the dog will behave when interacting with anyone in the family.

[Q] “Can my kids participate in the training?”

[A] Children should learn about dogs in a safe environment which includes the active participation of their parent or guardian. Our training programs are for the primary adult in the home who does the majority of the caretaking of the dog. Unfortunately, We can’t run training appointments for just children. The primary participant in the training appointments must be at least 18 years old or older. Younger children are welcome to participate with their parent or guardian’s supervision and assistance.

[Q] “How often do we meet?”

[A] Our training programs are structured to give you weekly or daily goals to work on with your dog. We recommend one or two weeks between appointments. We don’t recommend more than three weeks between appointments. Meeting more than three weeks between appointments can stall a dog’s progress.

[Q] “Are all of your trainers certified?”

[A] We are really glad you asked. Yes! We are proud to say that all of our trainers are highly experienced and certified. We highly recommend that if you are going to pay for professional dog training you should double-check that the trainers are certified. Click here are some questions you can consider asking when hiring a trainer.

[Q] “Do you offer a guarantee?”

[A] An animal’s behavior can not be guaranteed. Guaranteeing behavior is unethical in our industry. Behavior is always changing, as it’s affected by the environment (which is always changing). However, we see over and over again that those dog owners who take an active role in their dog’s training see wonderful improvement and growth in their dog’s behavior and report back having built a stronger and more positive relationship with their dog. Our goal is to provide clients with a plan, motivation, resources, and advice that is as accurate and ethical as possible. We support and train families so that they can continue to improve on their dog's behavior even after their formal appointments are over. We do guarantee professional service, and we are committed to actively working with you toward the individual goals you have for your dog.

[Q]  “What should I expect to happen at each appointment?”

[A]  Your trainer will call when arriving to discuss the best location (indoor vs outdoors) to begin your appointment. We often catch up at the start of each appointment to discuss any new goals or questions that may have come up during the previous week. The sessions run 60 minutes long and involve coaching you and your dog through a series of 4 - 6 training games. Each game is structured to teach or improve on the behavior you wish your dog was better at. Your trainer will adjust the training goals to the individual dog. After each appointment, you will be emailed outlines or resources that correspond with each appointment.

[Q]  Do you offer Board-and-train programs? I’m really looking to drop my dog off to be trained”

[A]  We do not offer any board-and-train options. We specialize in one-on-one coaching for the dog and (you) the dog owner/family. We believe strongly that a dog’s behavior and well-being are directly related to its immediate environment and daily routines. The person(s) responsible for the dog’s routine and environment each day needs to be the one participating in the training. Even a good board-and-train program will have you do a transfer of information sessions to show you exactly what they were doing with your dog so that you can continue doing exactly that. And if you don’t, your dog’s behavior will reasonably slide back to whatever makes sense for them within your home environment. If you decide to go with a board-and-train program elsewhere we encourage you to first read our article on picking a board-and-train program.

[Q]  Do you offer any discounts?

[A]  At this time, we offer a $25 discount when paying in advance for a 6 session program (this is included in the online price).

[Q]  What if my dog is not FOOD motivated?

[A]  What motivates one dog may be of no interest to another. Some dogs are only motivated by certain things in certain settings. It’s not uncommon for puppies to be picky eaters or for a dog who loves playing fetch to do so endlessly off-leash in a park but end up being aloof inside a house. Additionally, (and most importantly) If a dog is overwhelmed, stressed, or afraid they will become emotionally reserved and not eat. Stress and fear very often lead to a loss of appetite and reticent behavior. We can help! We can help evaluate what motivates your dog and teach you how to use that as reinforcement toward your dog’s behavior goals. One thing is clear - If you have something the dog wants and your dog feels safe, you can train the dog. If you don't have anything your dog wants, we'll have to do a bit of motivation preparation. If this sounds like your dog, take some time to read over our “shy or unmotivated dog” outline for more advice.

[Q]  Does the price change if I have 2 dogs?

[A]  If you have a multi-dog home, we would first ask if both dogs need to work on the same exact behaviors (both need help on walking or both are puppies from the same litter, etc). If both dogs need the same training then we can run the program as a mini group class and have both dogs on leash and working on the same training games at the same time. In that case, the price for the program would not change. If however, you have two or more dogs with very different training needs then we would recommend separate Behavior consultation programs for each of those dogs. Feel free to contact us to discuss your multi-dog home details.