+ What's your training approach?

We value animal welfare. This includes building the handling skills necessary for safe outdoor exploration, creating a safe home environment, and giving the owner the skills they need to influence their dogs both with rewards and correction.

We value simplicity. We recognize that you have responsibilities outside of your dog. That's why we focus on getting to the root of the issue, and never waste your time with protocols that won't solve the core problem.

We value honesty. We will always be straightforward with you about what we believe needs to happen with your dog. We won't sugarcoat or tell you what you want to hear, especially when dealing with behavior problems. Our priority is providing you with the information you need to hear for the betterment of your dog.

We value safety. We place a strong emphasis in developing solid skills in the area of recall, leave-it, crate training, and walking without pulling the leash. A dog who is frantically disconnected from their handler and resistant to household boundaries is a distaster waiting to happen. Dogs who don't understand limits and boundaries pose a safety risk to both themselves and their owners. We are constantly working to reduce or eliminate safety risks to the dog and to the human.

+ Why do you use prong collars?

For owners with larger dogs that have a tendency to pull, harnesses or flat collars may not provide sufficient control, putting the client at risk of being pulled over. Prong collars offer better control, helping to ensure the safety of both the client and the dog. Prong collars can also help create reliable obedience commands. The feedback provided by the collar helps reinforce obedience training, leading to more dependable responses from the dog.

+ Why do you use e-collars?

E-collars provide immediate feedback, making them an excellent tool for recall training. With the use of the collar, we can deliver stimulation to the dog from a far distance to reinforce reliable recall behavior. This helps ensure that your dog will come back to you, even in challenging or distracting situations. E-collars provide an additional layer of control and can prevent your dog from engaging in potentially dangerous behaviors when they are off leash. We work with your dog to ensure they know exactly how to escape the stimulation (by coming to you) and we use rewards liberally during the entire e-collar training process.

+ Will my dog listen to me when it comes home from Board & Train?

Yes, our training programs are designed to promote effective communication and obedience between you and your dog, both during and after their time with us. While your dog is in our care, we focus on teaching them how to take direction from a human.

However, we can all understand that a dog is not a robot that can be re-programmed to be perfectly obedient forever. It's a living creature with it's own desires and motivations. Your choice to continue providing feedback to your dog will determine how they behave in your presence.

While compliance is ultimately a goal of many owners (and one that we ultimately support), we do dogs and owners a disserve when we overly focus on compliance and exclude other important areas like canine mental health, emotional regulation, management, mental stimulation, and consistency of handling.

Once your dog returns home, it's essential to continue practicing the techniques and commands we've taught them, providing proper exericse and outdoor exploration, and consistently utilizing any management and enrichment strategies your trainer recommends. To support you in bettering your handling & training skills, we provide you with four Follow Up Lessons to use at any time after the Board & Train. These lessons will help empower you to handle your dog confidently at home.

+ What are my expectations as a client?

Our biggest expecation is consistency with your dog. The behavioral approaches we explore in our program are daily lifestyle changes, and involve holistic thinking. Dog training is a process that occurs in every interaction you have with your dog - down to the way you exit doorways with them and the way you hold the leash. We understand that change is hard, and we will never shame you for making a mistake. However, we do ask that you commit to correcting your mistakes for the betterment of your dog.

+ Can I visit my dog in Board & Train?

Absolutely! We welcome and encourage visitation during our Board & Train program. It's a great opportunity for you to see your dog's progress and be a part of their training journey. Simply coordinate with our trainer to schedule a visit that aligns with the training schedule. We believe in transparency and want you to feel connected and involved throughout the process.

+ What make you different than other trainers?

What sets us apart is our expertise in the area of human habit change. We understand that changing our habits with our dogs can be a challenging and often, emotional process. Unlike other trainers who provide a cookie-cutter approach, focusing on specific sets of commands that you may or may not want, we take the time to understand your goals, concerns, level of skill, and learning style. We also discuss the time commitment required from the owner and obtain your consent beofre implementing any training techniques.

We believe that many people feel frustrated with dog training because trainers often overlook the importance of addressing the human's needs, learning style, and mindset. We excel at helping dog owners recognize why their current approaches may not be effective and help owners recognize unproductive mental habits that cause them to make errors with their dog. By helping owners think better about their situation with their dog, we can help the dog behave better and ultimately achieve better outcomes.

We believe that dog training is not an exclusive skill reserved for a select few gifted individuals. We firmly believe that anyone regardless of their background or personality traits, can learn dog training as long as they are committed to putting in effort. This includes individuals who may feel anxious or who find their dog overwhelming to handle. By breaking down the steps, and providing clear and focused coaching, even the worst situations can improve rapdily.

+ do you work with anxious dogs?

Yes, in fact we specialize in it. If your dog is not great with people or dogs, has separation anxiety, or struggles to relax, we can work with that. We have found that the lack of consistent leadaership in the dog's life is a huge a contributor to anxious mental states, and once that relationship dysfunction is corrected, the dog begins to trust it's owner and feel better about the world. Just like human anxiety, dog anxiety can be helped by slowing the brain and body down, moving mindfully, and thinking about one thing at a time. In addition to a baseline program of structure, reinforced calmness, and duration obedience work (long downstays), we may also use relaxation protocols and counter conditioning.

+ Do you have a guarantee?

While we strive for the best possible results and work diligently to meet our clients' expectations, dog training outcomes can vary depending on various factors. These include the dog's temperament, response to training, and the owner's consistency and follow-through.

We believe in being transparent and setting realistic expectations from the beginning. Our trainers are experienced professionals who will work closely with you and your dog to provide the necessary guidance and support throughout the training process. However, it's important to understand that training is a collaborative effort and requires ongoing commitment and practice.

Rest assured that we are dedicated to delivering high-quality training and helping you achieve your training goals. We will work closely with you to address any challenges and provide the necessary tools and techniques to help you and your dog succeed.

+ How do I get on your schedule?

Booking training with us is a straightforward process. Here's how you can get started:

1.Reach out to us: Use our contact form to send us a message. Provide us with some basic information about your dog and the specific training needs you would like to address.

2.Schedule a free phone consultation: During this call, we can address any questions or concerns you may have, and gather additional information to better understand your dog's unique needs.

3.Choose a program and start date: Based on our consultation, we will recommend a training program that aligns with your goals and your dog's training requirements. We offer various program options tailored to different needs and training objectives. Once you have selected a program, we will work with you to determine a suitable start date that accommodates your schedule.

+ Can you potty train my dog?

Absolutely! Alongside our potty training approach, we incorporate obedience training techniques that focus on teaching your dog to stay within your field of vision. By teaching your dog to stay close and attentive to you, we ensure that they remain within your designated space, allowing you to keep track of them and prevent any accidents. Our potty training methods emphasize the importance of routine and establishing household boundaries, ultimately creating a pet who goes outside like clockwork. With our guidance, you'll be equipped with effective techniques to maintain your dog's proximity when you're home, keep your dog safe and secure when you're not home, and eliminate the risk of accidents in other areas of your home.

+ Can my whole family attend training?

Absolultely! We love it when the whole family can attend, as training a dog is a family effort. To ensure the best possible outcome for your training investment and to provide a focused and structured environment, we kindly ask that owners secure childcare for children under 12 during the training sessions. While it is important for children to get involved at home, young children may unintentionally disrupt the training process or divert your attention, which can hinder progress and impact the overall effectiveness of the training.

We believe that young children learn best from their parents at home as they model proper handling skills and reinforce the training principles. By having a dedicated and focused training session without distractions, we can ensure that you, as the parents, can fully concentrate effectively teaching your dog. This approach maximizes the impact of the training and empowers you to be confident and successful in teaching your children and your dog how to interact with one another.

Rest assured, we provide guidance and support to help you include your children in reinforcing the training at home. We can offer valuable insights on age-appropriate ways to involve your children in the training process outside of the formal sessions. This way, your children can learn alongside you and actively participate in shaping your dog's behavior.

+ Do you train service dogs?

No, we do not specifically train service dogs. However, we do offer foundational obedience training for certain types of service dog prospects. If you have a service dog in training and believe they could benefit from obedience training, we encourage you to reach out to us. We would be happy to discuss your specific needs and requirements to determine if our obedience training program aligns with your goals.

We understand the importance of a well-behaved and obedient service dog, as their behavior directly impacts their ability to perform their designated tasks effectively and safely. Our obedience training can provide a solid foundation for your service dog in training, focusing on essential commands, leash manners, and behavioral skills that are crucial for their future role.

+ We really need your help, but cannot afford it at this time. What can we do?

We understand that affordability is an important consideration for many dog owners, and we strive to provide training options that accommodate different budgets. While our services come at a cost, we believe in the value and long-term benefits that proper training can bring to both you and your dog.

If you're facing financial constraints, we recommend discussing your situation with us directly. We may have flexible payment plans or alternative options available that can help make our training more accessible to you. We genuinely care about helping dogs and their owners, and we'll do our best to find a solution that works within your means.

Additionally, we encourage you to inquire about any ongoing promotions, discounts, or special offers that we may have available. From time to time, we provide opportunities for reduced-cost or discounted training programs.

Our ultimate goal is to help you and your dog achieve a harmonious relationship and overcome any behavioral challenges. We believe in the transformative power of training and its positive impact on the lives of dogs and their owners. Let's have a conversation and explore how we can work together to find a solution that meets your needs and budget.

We also recommend considering our 30 Day Reset PDF here if you're facing behavioral challenges. This comprehensive lifestyle plan can provide you with valuable guidance and strategies to start addressing those challenges while you search for a training solution that fits within your budget.

+ Which program is best for us?

Check out our Program Guide to educate yourself on the services we offer, and we will be able to offer advice at consultation too.