Question 1

Will training take away from my dogs personality?

Accepted Answer

No! Good training will bring out the best version of your dog. For any social creature, learning to meet expected standards of behavior increases quality of life.

You may find that some of the things you thought were personality traits were actually signs of over-stimulation and stress. (Constant zoomies, inability to stop playing when it's called for, etc.) Their playful spirit will be far from lost; rest is good for everyone.

Our methods are not without corrections, but they are based on first meeting the dog's needs and building a shared language so we can adequately reinforce desired behavior and communicate boundaries. What you find when you teach this way is that personality blossoms.

Question 2

How long will it take to train my dog?

Accepted Answer

It depends.

There are many factors to consider, which fall into three main categories: you, your dog, and the training service you choose.

Your dog has certain genetic predispositions, an upbringing, and training history that will influence things like behavior, emotional tendencies, and their drive for food or other reinforcers we'll use in training.

We do our best to adapt the training style and program to your and your dogs' needs, but some people will find learning training skills intuitive, and others will find it more challenging. Additionally, the time and mental energy you can devote to the process will influence consistency and progress.

When choosing weekly private sessions, your trainer will be teaching you how to train your own dog. There are many skills you and your dog will need to build, and we'll work on each progressively. Your weekly progress will decide the pace. For more basic training, we might work together for a few months. Clients needing more advanced behavioral modification may expect six months, or sometimes more. 
If you choose a board-and-train approach, your trainer will handle the bulk of the training and then teach you how to maintain and build on it. Board and Trains are a huge jump-start and often more cost-effective in the long term, even with the higher up-front cost. The length of your dog's board-and-train will likely be between 2 and 4 weeks.

In our initial consultation and first session, we'll choose the right service for you and make a plan to support you in your training journey in the ways that feel most helpful to you.

Question 3

What does the training process look like?

Accepted Answer

The initial phone consultation will give us time to review details about your dog and your training goals. We'll bring our expectations for clients, and you'll get all your questions so we can ensure we're a great match. Next, we'll go over our service options and book our first session (basic training) or evaluation (behavioral cases).

Following our call, we'll email you a welcome packet, so you're totally prepared for your first session.

In your first session or evaluation, we'll gather more information, provide some training, and start putting together your training or behavioral modification plan. This is a great time to decide whether weekly sessions are a good fit or if a board and train is a better option.

Within 1 to 3 days after each session, you'll receive an overview and personalized homework for you and your dog to work on throughout the week or two before your next session.

You are encouraged to text questions or short videos for help between sessions! The training process will require time and effort from you and your dog, and we're here to support you.

After the first, the session schedule will look approximately like this:
5-10 min overview, homework, and progress
30-40 min working on progressions
10-20 min starting new skills
5-10 min modifying our training plan

Question 4

Can you solve aggressive behavior?

Accepted Answer

The short answer is yes, the long answer is maybe.

Dogs displaying aggressive behavior need a thorough evaluation. Is it resource guarding? Is it fear aggression? Is it due to underlying pain or a medical issue? A vet check (preferably by a behaviorist) needs to be completed before our first session, and then we'll investigate further.

We can tell you that often it's very simple miseducation and mishandling that leads to aggression, and it may be the case that teaching proper management and some basic training can solve it. Aggressive behavior is much like any other behavior in that it is communication. Once we identify the root of what is being communicated, we can usually resolve this issue and help you build a strong safety and management plan.

There are some severe cases we would have to turn down, but we can discuss the likelihood of that in our consultation or first session and provide a referral.

Question 5

Do you use aversive tools for training?

Accepted Answer

Glad you asked! We will decide together which tools are appropriate for you and your dog, and we are always happy to cite the sources that influence our opinions.

Tools like e-collars and prongs are a hot topic in dog training. Are they ethical or not? Here's what I can tell you in this teeny-tiny text box:

They can be used to improve a dog's quality of life, but they can also deeply traumatize them. The same variation of results with tools like leashes and harnesses is also a reality. Our best advice is to be more concerned with method and outcome than with tool use, no matter which trainer you choose.

The principle that most influences our training methods is LIMA, which stands for Least Invasive, Minimally Aversive. The application of that looks different for every team we work with.

Link to read more:
LIMA-Policy-2019.pdf

Question 6

What expectations do you have of clients?

Accepted Answer

Training is a lifestyle change, no matter what service you choose. We do our best to come up with training solutions that work for your life, and even when they are challenging or time-consuming at first, they will ultimately create more freedom and happiness in your life and relationship with your dog.

Board and Train clients have it easier; we'll get the bulk of the training done and then get you up to speed on how to maintain it. In most cases, you'll get to skip over the most restrictive parts of training and get right to the fun stuff. That doesn't mean it's easy! A board and train is a jump-start, but if you don't maintain the work we put in, it will fall apart.

Clients choosing weekly sessions are taking classes from a trainer, so they can learn how to train their own dog. Together, we'll come up with weekly homework that is the right balance of achievable for you and effective for the training goals we're working toward. Your trainer will be available throughout the week to receive questions and short videos to keep you on the right track.

Your training plan will be a collaboration; we want to hear from you about what works and what doesn't. But we are invested in getting you results, so compliance with our agreed-upon training plan is a must.