FAQs

What style of training do you use?

l am a big believer in balance. I use both rewards and corrections. Rewarding our dogs often increases the behaviors we like. Sometimes our rewards are not as exciting when we are in a highly distracted environment. And sometimes a lack of a reward isn’t communicating to our dogs what behaviors we dislike. This is where I believe in balance. Corrections that are fair and understood by the dog can really help shape the behaviors we want. Every dog is different and part of the art is learning what works as a correction for our dogs and what works as a reward. Every dog learns through rewards and corrections even if the types of rewards and types of correction vary from dog to dog.

When should I start training my puppy?

l start training puppies early on. Lots of people start training puppies in a group setting but I like to start them in a one-on-one session. The training sessions are not long. We want to keep the puppy sessions short and sweet. Every dog matures at a different rate but there are things they can be taught from an early age. My main goal with puppies is to address potty training, crate training, manners, socialization and establish an obedience foundation.

What do I need to have ready for our one-on-one sessions?

A hungry dog! In our sessions, we want to build up our dog’s drive to work and we start that by using food. I recommend fasting your dog prior to the session and have their favorite treats ready to go. You will also need a leash, dog bed, and dog kennel. I will provide the rest.

What training tools do you provide for the training?

Any training collars we use. Every dog is different. Some dogs do really well with a prong collar, others do great on a prong collar.

Remote collar training collar. I use the brand Ecollar technology.

Treat pouch and longline.

I encourage all of my clients to purchase a nice dog kennel and dog bed.

Can you watch our dog when we leave town?

I offer dog boarding to my clients and my clients only. I have limited spots so I don't offer this service to everyone. Dogs that have gone through training with me are more comfortable here because I have built a relationship with them. We keep up on the training while they are here. If I have the room, I’d love to watch them when you need me to.

Who can come to our training sessions?

Anyone who is going to be involved in the dog’s day to day life. It is important for family members, partners, roommates to be on the same page with training and interacting with the dog. If we aren’t in a formal training session with our dogs, they are still learning… and sometimes that can be bad! If people in the household have different rules for the dog, it can set them back and undo training.

What can I expect from a group class?

Sometimes it can be intimidating coming to a group class for the first time. It is designed to help you improve on your handling skills and train your dog in new environments they may not get in everyday life. Each group class is different. Sometimes we hit a trail and work on our loose leash walking. Sometimes we work specifically on confidence building and other times it may be all about teaching your dog to focus around other dogs and people. Each class is designed to be different so we teach our dogs new skills and build upon their foundation. Often are at different parks around the valley.

If you are a current client that has been through a training program, you can find the group classes under the calendar tab.