FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
We offer several training programs and the pricing varies with each. Basic obedience (four weeks) is $525. Through weekly lessons, we teach the dogs seven commands: come, sit, place, heel, down, break and off. We also address any minor behavioral issues like jumping, pulling, couch/counter surfing, etc. Basic and advanced obedience (eight weeks) is $850. Through weekly lessons, we teach the dogs eleven commands: come, sit, place, heel, down, break, off and four advanced commands (we offer 10 and the client chooses four). We also address any minor behavioral issues like jumping, pulling, couch/counter surfing, etc. Dog aggression program (eight weeks) is $925. During the first four weeks, we teach the dogs seven commands: come, sit, place, heel, down, break, and off. We also address any minor behavioral issues like jumping, pulling, couch/counter surfing, etc. During the final four weeks, we work on desensitizing the dog to his/her aggression triggers: other dogs, strangers, skateboarders, bicyclists, cars, etc. Two week board and train is $2,100. This is, by far, our most popular program and is always booked 1-2 months in advance. During this program, the dog lives with the trainer and learns come, sit, place, heel, down, break, off, distance down, door manners, load up (into a vehicle), and one additional advanced command. These dogs are fully off leash trained and distraction proofed so they can be brought anywhere. Most of the dogs you see in our videos completed our board and train program, and like you'll see, they're off leash and reliable even around distractions like large crowds, main streets, other dogs, etc.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Our training programs are tailored to the needs of our clients. Therefore, once we've discovered what issues the dog has (resource guarding, no obedience-no recall, only listens for treats, etc., dog or human aggression, etc.) we talk the client through our training options. Ultimately, because we are dog owners as well, we know our pups are like our children! We want to make sure our clients understand the entire process and feel comfortable throughout the training. For lesson programs, our clients are involved every step of the way and do a significant amount of hands on training. Even with our board and train program where the dogs stay with us for two weeks, we send daily updates so the owners understand how the training process works and get to see how quickly their pup's confidence and obedience develop!
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
The dog training world is not regulated in any way, so potential clients need to be cautious about who they choose to work with. Avoid companies offering you group classes for your untrained dog. Group classes are great for distraction proofing when a dog is already trained, but for an untrained puppy, putting him/her in a group class to learn new commands is like putting a child in a room full of screaming children and asking them to learn their ABCs. I always advise that clients ask to see before and after videos of dogs the company has trained. They should make sure these videos show dogs similar to theirs in terms of breed, size, age, temperament, behavioral issues, etc. Also, look for video testimonials, not written ones. Unfortunately and all too often, written testimonials are fake. Look for video testimonials from owners that match up to the dogs in the before and after videos. Lastly, I warn clients to stay away from any training company that insists they are "purely positive" or "positive reinforcement only". There are four quadrants of operant conditioning: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment. It is literally impossible to train a dog using only positive reinforcement, but companies know the word "positive" sounds good and will draw people in. If they are knowingly deceiving you from the beginning, the training won't be any better and if they don't understand the four quadrants of operant conditioning, they have no business being dog trainers.