FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Pricing & Discounts 2-Week “Jumpstart” Board & Train: $1,695 flat. Best for puppies or dogs needing foundation skills (house manners, crate/potty routine, leash skills, name/recall basics). 4-Week Signature Board & Train: $2,995 flat. Deeper reliability, proofing in real-world settings, and a stronger routine at home. What’s included (both plans): Daily one-on-one training in my home, real-life field trips, progress updates, and a thorough go-home lesson with a simple follow-through plan. No hidden fees: Training gear included. You provide your dog’s food. Any vet care, if needed, is billed directly to you. Optional services: Pick-up/drop-off available; mileage quoted up front. Discounts: Multi-dog and returning-client savings; military/first responder discount available. Deposits & scheduling: A reservation deposit secures your spot and is applied to tuition. Upgrade path: Start with 2 weeks and extend to a full 4 weeks at $650/week; your initial tuition rolls into the 4-week total. Heads up: I’m a board-and-train only program (positive methods). Severe aggression cases are not accepted here. Just not my expertise. 4-Week Board & Train (in-home): $2,995 flat rate. Positive, reward-based training only. What’s included: Daily one-on-one training in my home, house-manners + crate/potty routine, real-world field trips, progress updates, and a go-home lesson with a simple follow-through plan. No hidden fees: Gear for training is included. You provide your dog’s food. Any vet care, if needed, is billed directly to you. Optional services: Pick-up/drop-off available; mileage quoted up front. Discounts: Multi-dog and returning-client savings available; ask about current promos. Military/first responder discounts honored. Deposits & scheduling: A reservation deposit secures your spot and is applied to your tuition. If plans change, I’m happy to reschedule with reasonable notice. Heads up: I don’t offer one-off in-person lessons—board & train only—so results and pricing stay consistent and transparent.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Quick consult (free). We chat by Thumbtack/call to learn your goals, your dog’s age/history, and home routine. I recommend the 2-Week Jumpstart or 4-Week Signature plan. Reserve your spot. I send a clear quote and dates; a deposit secures the board-and-train. You’ll complete a short intake form. Pre-arrival checklist. You’ll bring food, vaccination records, and any meds. I provide all training gear. Drop-off & assessment. Your dog settles in at my in-home program. I do a baseline assessment and outline a custom plan (house manners, crate/potty routine, leash skills, recall, “place/settle,” etc.). Daily training & updates. Multiple short sessions each day, real-life field trips, and enrichment. You’ll get photo/video updates and progress notes 2–3x/week. Mid-program check-in. If goals need adjusting (especially on 4-week plans), we refine the plan together. Go-home lesson. At pickup, I coach you on the exact cues, handling, and schedule so results transfer smoothly. You leave with a simple follow-through plan. Aftercare support. Message support for questions, plus an optional virtual tune-up. You can add extra weeks if you’d like more polish. Notes: I’m a board-and-train only program using balanced, reward-based methods. Pick-up/drop-off is available.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Audrey Estep — Owner/Trainer, North Mountain Kennels (Strasburg, VA) I run an in-home, positive board-and-train program focused on practical skills that matter at home and in public—house manners, crate/potty routine, leash walking, recall, settling on place, and confident socialization. Since 2010, I’ve combined science-based methods with a calm, structured environment so dogs learn quickly and owners can maintain results. How my background helps your dog I hold an M.S. in Canine Developmental Science (London Hanover University, UK, 2018–2019), giving me a deep understanding of how dogs learn across life stages. As a former Operational Instructor for new canine handlers and TA to Chris Aycock, Ph.D., I bring clear communication, step-by-step coaching, and detailed record-keeping to every case. My experience competing in IGP (Schutzhund) and working with detection/tracking foundations translates into precise, humane training for family dogs—no intimidation, just clarity and consistency. I’m an AKC CGC Evaluator and AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Instructor, so I can prepare and evaluate your dog for those milestones if you choose. Philosophy & process Positive, reward-based methods with an emphasis on self-discovery learning. Real-life proofing: field trips and household routines to make behaviors stick. Owner coaching: a thorough go-home lesson and a simple plan you can follow. Ongoing support: check-ins after graduation; optional tune-ups if you want more polish. Credentials (selected) AKC CGC Evaluator (2023–present) • AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Instructor (2023–present) Master Trainer Certification, American Society of Canine Trainers International (2015–2020) Published: K-9 COP Magazine, “Strategies for Hard Surface Tracking,” Issue 50 (Jun/Jul 2018) B.A., Foreign Languages (Spanish) — George Mason University (2005) Memberships: The Thin Green Line • Jane Goodall Institute • ASPCA • Johann Platt Schutzhund Verein Languages: English; basic Spanish