FAQs
How will I know you are the right trainer for me?
We take training your dog very seriously, because you are investing your time and money with us and entrusting us with your dog. As a result, we carefully select each and every client to make sure they understand that they too play a very big role in their dog’s success. While we do the heavy lifting to prepare your dog for coming home, you have the responsibility of follow through and providing guidance. You will have homework while your dog is in board and train with us, and you must prepare yourself for providing your dog the structure and guidance it will need in order to have continued success. Also, you must understand that your dog’s success is dependent upon you establishing and upholding boundaries.
I can’t afford your programs, but I’m in a bad situation with my dog – what can I do?
Contact me via email, phone call or instant message me on Facebook so we can discuss options for you.
I have tried other trainers before and didn’t get the results I desired – what makes your program and approach different and more effective?
The work that I do with dogs focuses on changing the dog’s state of mind. If you can get a dog relaxed, you can effectively change how it sees the world, which no longer makes it react, but rather the dog simply learns how to observe the world around it and exist as more of an observer than a nuclear reactor. Once we address the dog’s state of mind, the dog learns to make better choices, like choosing not to pick a fight with another dog, or choosing not to run after a car, chase a kid on a bike or other behaviors that could get it killed or put down.
My dog is uncontrollable on the walk – pulling, lunging, barking, growling – can you fix this?
Yes I can. I consistently get results with these types of issues.
My dog is really aggressive. Do you work with aggressive dogs?
If your dog is starting to exhibit behavior, such as guarding, growling, lunging, reactivity, cowering, barking uncontrollably out of fear or uncertainty, nipping people or other dogs, then I can help you. If you have a truly aggressive dog who has intent to harm other dogs or humans, I can help you locate someone reputable who can help.
My dog is fearful and nervous – I shouldn’t use an E-Collar with him, right…?
Actually, the technology that I use is extremely humane and effective at communication with dogs who are fearful and anxious. The remote is much like a tap on the shoulder to remind that dog that you are here to help it through situations that used to cause angst and fear. Once the dog gets through a challenging situation, it begins to see that it can handle it and will then the fear becomes a thing of the past.
How do you train with an E-Collar?
I use very low-levels when I train. The remote collar is a finesse tool, and not like the training of old where dogs were shocked and brutalized. It is not meant to make the dog squeal and yelp, the E-collar is used as more of a tap-tap on the shoulder to say “Hey, I want you to do this right now, not that.”
Why do you use E-Collars?
The remote collar technology that I use is extremely gentle. You get to test it on yourself before I ever put it on your dog. I introduce it to the dog at a level that is hardly noticeable, and training is both fun and very rewarding to the dog. The remote collar allows for very fast and reliable training because it communicated to the dog in a way that cuts through all of the static and frenetic energy that a lot of dogs have, especially reactive dogs, fearful and anxious dogs and dogs that have no focus or impulse control. I train my very own dogs on e-collar, and I swear by its effectiveness. Quite simply, it is like a seatbelt and insurance policy wrapped into one for your dog. It keeps your dog from running into the street, stops it from getting into perilous situations with other dogs and basically allows you 100% total freedom on hikes, runs and other off-leash adventures.
What will you do with my dog at your Board and Train?
Your dog will be safe and secure in my home with me. He will have his own private crate and will not be with other dogs, unless and until he is ready and if it is part of the training. My dogs are very well balanced and are teachers in their own right, so I use them for training purposes. I also have additional people help me out in various training scenarios, so your dog is exposed to other people, but is primarily handled by me. Some of the training consists of going on field trips to Home Depot, Loew’s, pet stores and parks. Your dog will never set foot in a dog park, but we may go to the outskirts of a dog park if reactivity is an issue for your dog. Your dog will go through several hours of hands-on training, alternating between obedience commands, duration/state of mind work, and specific behavior modification. There will also be one on one time. Safety is key and my number 1 priority.
Why do you use prong collars?
I use prong collars because they are extremely effective for communicating with the dog. The prong collar allows for effortless communication, creating a vastly different state of mind and a highly responsive dog. While prong collars may look scary, I use them with finesse and very little pressure. They are proven to be easier on the dog’s neck than any other collar because the pressure is equally distributed around the neck, which makes it extremely humane, contrary to some of the negative literature that is circulating about the prong collar. As with any other tool that I use, I give my clients a demonstration of the collar before I ever put it on the dog.
Will I get to see my dog during the Board and Train?
After 1 week into training, you may be able to participate in training with your dog, but it depends on how well your dog is doing. In some instances, it is best for the dog not to see you throughout the board and train. I will make that determination as training unfolds. There may be times when it will be necessary for you to be a part of training, but only after a solid foundation is established with the dog one on one with me.
Who will be working with my dog?
In a board and train, I am the only trainer who will be working with your dog. I do have 2 people who assist from time to time, but they will not be doing the training. They may be in charge of introducing dogs for socialization, or introduce distractions so that I can train your dog in adverse training scenarios. There are also times that I sub contract walks out to a professional walker if I am not able to do this for your dog.
What happens if I don’t get the results I want from the training? Is there a guarantee?
There are many variables that go into training a well-balanced dog, owner participation is key to the on-going success once your dog is done training with me. Although I cannot control what happens to your dog once it goes home, I am vested in your dog’s progress as much as you are, but I cannot be more vested than you the owner. In other words, you have to do the work when the dog comes home. If you are giving it your all and still struggling, I will happily give you support. I want you to succeed and as long as you show me you are doing the work, I will be there to help get you through any obstacles you run up against.
