frequently asked questions
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.
It's possible you'll 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.) But these aren't personality traits, they're behaviors that don't get your dog the social connection they want, and good training will.
Our methods are not without corrections, but they are based in first meeting the dogs needs and building a shared language so we can adequately reinforce desired behavior and communicate boundaries. What you find teaching this way, is that personality blossoms.
It depends.
There are lots of factors to consider that fall under 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 toward certain things, and their drive for food or other reinforcers we'll use in training.
You may find it fairly intuitive to pick up training skills, or it may be challenging. You have certain resources available to you including time and mental energy, that will influence your ability to stay consistent with training.
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 each one we'll work on progressively. Your goals and weekly progress will decide the pace. For more basic training, we might work together for a few months. Clients looking for advanced behavioral modification may expect six months or sometimes more.
If you choose a board and train, your trainer will do the bulk of the training and then teach you how to maintain and build on it. The length of your dogs board and train will likely be between two and six weeks.
In our initial consultation and first session, we'll choose the right service for you and support you in ways that feel most helpful.
The initial phone consultation will give us time to go over some details about your dog and the goals you have for training. We'll bring expectations we have of clients, and you bring 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 do more information gathering, some training, and start putting together your training or behavioral modification plan. This is usually a great time to decide if weekly sessions are a good fit, or if a board and train might be a better option.
Within one-two days after each session, you'll get 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
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 could be the case that teaching proper management and some basic training can solve it. Aggressive behavior is much like any other behavior, in that its communication. Once we get to the root of that, we can usually solve 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.
Glad you asked! We will decide together which tools are appropriate for you and your dog, and I am always happy to cite the sources which influence my 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:
We've seen them used in ways that clearly improved a dog's quality of life, and also in ways that traumatized them. The same variation of results with tools like leashes and harnesses are also a reality. Our best advice is to be more concerned about method than tool-use, no matter which trainer you choose.
The principle which most influences our training methods is LIMA, which means Least Invasive, Minimally Aversive. The application of that looks different for every team we work with.
Link to read more:
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 tough or time-consuming at first, 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 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 accomplishable 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.