FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
It's not all that complicated but it is different because we have group training prices, private lesson privates that may vary due to travel. And we have board and train prices that have variables depending on the age and needs of the dog. So group class pricing is easy, you pay $$ for a six week course of classes. Board and train prices are usually a "set" amount but if your dog has serious aggression or is medically fragile the cost may go up. If the dog has to sleep on my bed at night or you will not have a fun vacation, that for sure will drive up the cost! ;)
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
I rarely get asked for references and just know if you ask any professional for a reference, they are going to give you contact with people who will of course give glowing reviews. If I were looking for a dog trainer I would love for one that allows me to come and sit in on a group class so I could see their methods and if the class is a good fit for me and my dog. I would look for a dog trainer whose people skills are equal to their dog training skills and they can communicate in a way that you, the novice dog owner understands. If the professional has a network like Facebook or other network providers I would probably look at those as well. I think also if they have a blog you can get to know them better. People comment to me all the time about our blog at www.puppymanners.com/blog and many times that is what brought them to us.
- What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
I think they know we love dogs but would love for them to know how much we at Puppy Manners like working with people and seeing families succeed with the dogs. We also donate a lot of our time and services to charity work which many people are unaware of. Becky Bishop, owner of Puppy Manners is also the Executive Director of Reading with Rover, a non profit that helps kids with special challanges in their lives. She and others volunteer with their dogs and kids read alould to the dogs and the dogs do not judge them so it makes reading fun! I think my students actually know me pretty well and our passion for what we do shows and they like that.