FAQ's
General Questions
What is the best service for my dog?
That really depends on what you are looking for! For most clients we recommend Private Lessons above all else. Especially if you are training on a budget. Private Lessons allow us to really focus one on one with you and directly address your most pressing concerns. This will give you the skills to continue working with your dog, as well as give you a personalized experience. If you aren't sure where to start, schedule a phone consutlation with us and we can help!
Do you offer a guarantee?
We do not offer guarantee's on our training. Dogs are living beings and are often unpredictable. We guarantee that we will do our best for you and your dog, and set you up with the best possible tools that we can, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee your dogs behavior.
What tools do you use?
We are force free trainers (also referred to as positive reinforcement trainers). This means we do not use pain, intimidation or fear to teach our dogs anything. So what do we use? Lots of treats! We will also use toys for dogs who find them reinforcing. We use leashes, long lines, flat collars, martingale collars (for safety, not correcting), front clip harnesses and back clip harnesses.
Where do we meet?
For Board & Train and Pup School services we will either meet at your home, when the trainer picks up your pup, or at our trainers home if you prefer to drop your pup off. For Adventure Outings and Private Lessons you will either meet at your home, or a pre-determined public location.
Private Lessons
Where do we meet our trainer?
Your trainer will meet you at your home! We do not have a location and prefer to work with you in the environment where you will be working with your dog every day. We usually start working with you in your home and neighborhood, branching out to local parks and other locations depending on your goals.
How many lessons do we need?
This is a question that we really can't answer until we get some one on one time with you and your dog, and it's an answer that may change as we go through our training journey together. The biggest factor in how long your dogs training will take is you and if you do the homework, as well as how your dog responds to the training. Your dog may learn very quickly, they might get stuck on something. We really have no way of knowing for sure, but we will often be able to give you an estimate of sessions after your initial session and recommend a lesson package.
Do you offer a guarantee?
We do not offer guarantee's on our training. Dogs are living beings and are often unpredictable. We guarantee that we will do our best for you and your dog, and set you up with the best possible tools that we can, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee your dogs behavior.
Do Virtual Lessons really work?
Yes they do! We know it can be hard to believe but we have been able to work with clients on everything from fun trick training to reactivity using virtual lessons.
Should we do In Person or Virtual Lessons?
This is a great question, and one that kind of depends on what you are looking to accomplish. It can be very helpful to do the Initial Consultation virtually. Doing the initial session virtually allows us to get into in depth concepts without anyone worrying about an over-excited dogs, and it allows us to record the session so that you will have access to it later and can focus without taking notes. After the initial lesson it is really up to you! We can teach pretty much anything virtually as wel as in person. Virtual works really well for things like separation anxiety, highly fearful dogs, and dogs who are aggressive/reactive to humans entering their home. In person might be a better fit if you feel that you need more hands on coaching. Not sure what the best fit for you is? Schedule a phone consultation with us and we can help you figure it out!
What can be addressed through Private Lessons?
Through Private Lessons we can address pretty much any issues you are having. We do not take severe aggression or separation anxiety cases, but everything else we can tackle in Private Lessons.
What happens when the weather is bad?
In the case of inclement weather we will either adjust our lesson plan to work on indoor skills (whether that is in your house or working inside a store depending on your goals), or we may reschedule to a time with better weather. The final decision will be between you and your trainer on a case by case basis.
Board & Train
What will my dogs stay look like?
Our Board & Train programs are custom built for each dog, so the specifics of your dogs exact stay will vary. Before your dogs stay you will set a training plan with your trainer that includes specific goals for your dog, and you will discuss their schedule for their Board & Train. Each of our dogs typically get 2-3 formal training sessions during the day, as well as play time and nap breaks throughout the day. They will also go on field trips throughout their stay as determined by your program. Field trip days will not have other focused training sessions. Every dog will receive incidental training throughout every day to reinforce good household manners, and daily exercise is a given!
Is my dog a good fit for a Board & Train?
We are unable to accomodate dogs with separation issues. To attend our Board & Train dogs do not have to be fully crate trained if they are puppies, but able to be crated and separated without panic. They should also be able to be around other dogs. We cannot safely keep dogs completely separated, so are unable to take dogs with reactivity or aggression issues towards other dogs. They should also be cat tolerant (just not cat aggressive), and okay around children. We, of course, don't expect them to be perfect around all of these things, but we do need them to not intend harm. If you aren't sure if your dog fits these criteria, reach out and let's chat about it!
Do you offer a guarantee?
We do not offer guarantee's on our training. Dogs are living beings and are often unpredictable. We guarantee that we will do our best for you and your dog, and set you up with the best possible tools that we can, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee your dogs behavior.
How long should my dog stay?
For the most effective Board & Train experience we highly recommend a three week program (22 days) for your pups first stay with us. Two weeks (15 days) is the minimum we offer for a first stay, but a three week stay will allow us to make the most progress! Follow up stays may be shorter, and we are more than happy to create custom length programs to match with your travel if you will be out of town during your pups stay.
Where do I drop my dog off?
You will set drop off and pick up with your trainer during your initial virtual lesson or phone consultation with them. Our trainers may pick your dog up from your home, set a meeting point halfway between you, or invite you to drop your dog off at their home. It all depends on both locations and you and your trainers comfort levels. You will get to discuss the specifics of their location with them during your initial conversation, and may even be able to get a bit of a tour! At the end of your dogs stay, your trainer will bring your dog to your home so that you can have your first follow up lesson and get things started on the right foot right away.
Where will my dog sleep?
During their Board & Train your pup will sleep in a crate on the main floor of the house. They will be monitored throughout the night, and an alternate situation will be figured out if they are in distress.
What can be addressed through a Board & Train?
Board & Trains are a great option for puppies and adolescent dogs who you are looking to work on the basics. They are a great jump start for someone else to do the heavy lifting and get the ball rolling for you. They are also a great option for older dogs to brush up on skills, or expand on things they already know. We can work on basic obedience, a foundation for potty training, socialization, settling skills, advanced obedience, taking skills out and about, and more! Board & Trains are not a good fit for aggression issues or separation anxiety.
When should my dog stay?
While it can be great to get a Board & Train done while you are out of town, you do not have to be going on a trip to utilize this service! If you are heading out of town, please know that we will do our best to accommodate any trip dates you have coming up, however our Board & Train spots are very limited and typically book out at least a month in advance. Our Behavior Board & Trains especially will often book out a few months in advance. It is typically recommended to plan pretty far ahead if you would like to tie the Board & Train in with a trip.
What is included in the Board & Train price?
Included in the daily rate for your dogs stay is daily training and exercise, field trips (when approrpriate), accomodation in our trainers home, regular photo and video updates, follow up instructional information (including videos and written instructions), and follow up lessons to transfer all of their new skills to your home. (Transfer lessons should be used within 6 months of your Board & Trains completion)
How many dogs stay at a time?
We only accept one dog at a time into our Board & Train program. This allows us to truly focus on your dogs training and give them the absolute best. It also means our spots are very limited!
Walks
Is my dog a good fit for Walks?
Most dogs are a great fit for walks! We are not able to take extreme aggression cases, and we recommend reactive pups start with tutoring sessions, but they are welcome to join walks after completing tutoring.
What training happens on walks?
Walks are focused on training walking skills. These are not the place to address reactivity freshly, or fear issues. We primarily focus on reinforcing already learned leash walking skills, so it is ideal that your dog has a history of working on their leash walking already. On hikes we also do some work on setting the foundation for strong off leash skills, although we do not let the dogs off leash.
What if I have to reschedule?
We do our best to be flexible with reschedules, but it does depend on what else we have booked what that reschedule will look like. We will do our best to accomodate reschedules within a short time frame but may need to move the session out a week or two. If a session is rescheduled more than three consecutive times, that session will be forfeit and payment will be expected for that session. If you are utilizing a package that session will be deducted from your package.
What happens when the weather is bad?
In the case of inclement weather walks will be cancelled.
Where does my dog go?
It depends on the walk you signed up for! Hikes will typically take place at a nature trail within a 30 minute drive of your home, Park walks at a park within 15 minutes of your home, and neighborhood walks will be right outside your front door. If you have a park or trail you and your dog prefer, please feel free to recommend it to our trainer!
Do you offer a guarantee?
We do not offer guarantee's on our training. Dogs are living beings and are often unpredictable. We guarantee that we will do our best for you and your dog, and set you up with the best possible tools that we can, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee your dogs behavior.
How many dogs do you take at a time?
Typically we only take one dog at a time on walks. If you have mutliple dogs you would like to walk together we can assess to see if that is a doable situation. If you book a hike and would like your dog to have some company, we can bring along one of the trainers socially savvy dogs. This is not an option for reactive or dog selective/aggressive dogs.
Tutoring
Is my dog a good fit for Tutoring?
Most dogs are a great fit for tutoring! We are not able to take extreme aggression cases, but tutoring is open to pretty much everything else.
Where does my dog go during an Out & About session?
It depends on your goals for your dog, and where your dog is at in their training journey. Your trainer will discuss this with you throughout your sessions and keep you updated on their plans on where to take your pup before each session.
Do you offer a guarantee?
We do not offer guarantee's on our training. Dogs are living beings and are often unpredictable. We guarantee that we will do our best for you and your dog, and set you up with the best possible tools that we can, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee your dogs behavior.
How many dogs do you take at a time?
We only take one dog at a time on Out & About sessions or for In the Neighborhood sessions that leave the house. We can work with as many dogs as you have for In the Neighborhood sessions in your home and yard.
How do I know what my dog is doing during their session?
During the session your trainer will take as much video as they can of the training they are doing. (Sometimes this is tricky when we are out in public, but we do our best). After your weeks sessions they will edit the highlights together, record a voiceover explaining things, and send it over to you at the end of the week. This may also be accompanied by a written report of the training done that week, and links to instructional videos for any new skills learned.
What can be addressed through Tutoring?
We can work on most things through our tutoring sessions. If you start with In the Neighborhood sessions these are great for working with reactive dogs on setting a strong foundation of skills for coping with their environment. In the Neighborhood sessions are also a great starting point for puppies to start learning their skills and get comfortable, or adolescent dogs who maybe have strong skills in the house, but forget everything once you walk out the front door. Out & About is a great next step for our reactive dogs who are ready for more difficult environments, adolescents who are ready to take their skills on the road, and as socialization trips for our young puppies.
What if I have to reschedule?
We do our best to be flexible with reschedules, but it does depend on what else we have booked what that reschedule will look like. We will do our best to accomodate reschedules within a short time frame but may need to move the session out a week or two. If a session is rescheduled more than three consecutive times, that session will be forfeit and payment will be expected for that session. If you are utilizing a package that session will be deducted from your package.
What happens when the weather is bad?
In the case of inclement weather we will either adjust our lesson plan to work on indoor skills or work in a space we know is covered, or we may reschedule to a time with better weather. The final decision will be between you and your trainer on a case by case basis.
Pup School
Is my dog a good fit for Pup School?
Pup School is a good fit for most dogs. It is an especially good fit for our puppies 8 weeks to 8 months and our adolescents! To attend Pup School dogs should be dog social, safe around cats and children, and able to be contained in a crate or behind a baby gate and left alone. If your dog doesn't fit into that then Adventure Outings may be a better fit.
Do I need to be home for pick up and drop off?
Nope! As long as you are comfortable and have arranged entry and exit with your trainer you are welcome to be at the office or out running errands during drop off and pick up. Whether you are home or not your trainer will text with you to communicate timing to make sure you know where your dog is.
Do you offer a guarantee?
We do not offer guarantee's on our training. Dogs are living beings and are often unpredictable. We guarantee that we will do our best for you and your dog, and set you up with the best possible tools that we can, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee your dogs behavior.
How many dogs do you take at a time?
We only take one dog per day for Pup School.
How do I know what my dog is doing during Pup School?
Each day your dog attends school your trainer will take video of their play time and training. At the end of the day they will edit together the highlights, voice over the video with explanations of the training, and send it to you for you to review at home.
What can be addressed through Pup School?
Pup School is designed to address the general dog owning woes. We will work on manners around the house, the ability to settle, manners around other dogs and a cat, basic obedience skills, and anything that jumps out at us in their behavior. We can also add any specific goals that you have.
What if I have to reschedule?
We do our best to be flexible with reschedules, but it does depend on what else we have booked what that reschedule will look like. We will do our best to accomodate reschedules within a short time frame but may need to move the session out a week or two. If a session is rescheduled more than three consecutive times, that session will be forfeit and payment will be expected for that session. If you are utilizing a package that session will be deducted from your package.
What happens if the weather is bad?
In the case of inclement weather, we spend a lot more of our day inside! We are still able to do play time and training time, but we will get to cut loose a little less. Field trips on rainy days will likely be to nearby stores so that we all stay dry, and we will probably spend a little more time than usual on puzzle toys and practicing our settling skills. Unless it is unsafe to drive, weather will not cancel Pup School.