FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Because I tailor each program to fit the dog and handler, there isn't simply a price list for services. I like to work with my clients to come up with something that works for their schedule, lifestyle, budget, and most importantly, their dog.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I was born into it. My father, Brian Harvey, is a nationally-recognized personal protection, police, and Schutzhund trainer. By the time I was four, I was handling his retired competition dog in obedience and protection work. I grew up handling and training German Shepherds and other working breeds, not to mention one particularly cantankerous little Jack Russell Terrier. I also worked as a veterinary assistant for five years.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Find a trainer whose methods you understand and agree with. There are tons of different philosophies out there and there and a lot of them can be effective. You will find one that fits your pet and your lifestyle. Make sure that any trainer can tell you specifically how and why their preferred method works and make sure it makes sense to you, both logically and ethically. Also consider how their method relates to your dog. If you have a very calm, sensitive dog with no major issues, you probably don't need a trainer who insists on using an electric collar. On the other hand, if you have a high-energy, working-breed dog that you're having aggression issues with, is a trainer that only wants to use positive enforcement really going to help your dog?