Ask the Trainer
How do I know if I should do private lessons or board and train?
Both options will take a collaboration between the trainer and the client. If you really enjoy the learning process and want to learn how to do the training yourself, then private lessons may be the right choice for you. Alternatively, during a board and train, I do most of the work for you. I build the foundation and then transfer the skills over to you and teach you how to maintain what your dog has learned. If you are a busy family and the repetitive nature of dog obedience required to lay a foundation of good manners does not fit in with your schedule or lifestyle, then a board and train structure is likely better for you.
What does a day at a board and train look like?
Structure starts from the minute we get up. Your dog will be expected to exit their crate calmly when starting our day. Your dog will then go out for a potty break and work for breakfast during an obedience training session. Throughout the day your dog will work on various household manners and have “place” sessions with other dogs to help teach them to be calm. A structured walk and some appropriate social playtime happens in the afternoon, followed by another training session. By dinner your pup will be pretty tired both physically and mentally and more than happy for bedtime!
Tell me about your training philosophy?
Balanced training is a mix of rewarding what we want the dog to do more of and correcting the behavior we want to see less of. Training tools, treats and praise are all utilized in teaching your dog. I teach through repetition and routine, but the owner has to be willing to follow through at home too.
What training tools do you use?
Every dog is different, therefore different tools work better for some dogs and not as well for others. The key is finding what is right for your dog. Tools that I use include, but are not limited to: prong training collars, slip leads, e-collars, food, treats, toys, Pet Convincers, and other dogs.
What is a prong collar?
The prong collar sounds and looks more intimidating than it really is, don’t be fooled by their appearance. The prong collar allows us to communicate with your dog more clearly. I like to think of it as the joystick on a computer or game controller. It helps us move the dog in the direction we need in a language that your pup will best understand.
Does the E-Collar Shock the dog?
No! E-collars technology is very advanced and is not an electric shock. The collar is static stim that can be completely controlled from level 0-100. We always work on the lowest number possible when communicating to your dog. Most of the dogs I’ve trained work at a 10 or under for communication purposes!
