Frequently asked questions.

How long will it take my dog to learn this?

This is a very common question but very hard to answer. No trainer should give you an exact amount of time. There are so many factors at work, such as your dog’s motivation, anxiety level, age, trauma, their personality, plus your personality, consistency, commitment, and time spent working with your dog. Generally an estimated time can be given but it is certainly not set in stone.

Will you take an aggressive dog?

I do work with aggressive dogs but the term “aggression” is so vaguely defined that I need more information before deciding if I can help you and your dog. Please contact me with as much information about you, your dog and the situation. I will determine if I can help!

Do you take dogs with a bite history?

Again, different people define “bite” differently. I do work with dogs with a bite history but on a case-by-case basis. Contact me and we will determine if I am the right trainer to help.

Should I do private lessons or homeschooling?

Many factors go into determining which option will fit you and your dog’s needs.

If your dog is people reactive (fearful or barking and lunging at strangers), then private lessons will be a good start so your trainer can build a bond with your dog. You may be able to switch to home schooling if your dog warms up to the trainer.

If you want to learn how to train your dog yourself and be very involved, I would recommend private lessons!

If you don’t have much time to work with your dog yourself, or would like the training to progress quickly, homeschooling would be a great option!

There are some behaviors that are better dealt with through private lessons, such as potty training and separation anxiety. But there may be some great commands that can help with these behaviors that could be taught through homeschooling; so a combination of private lessons and homeschooling could work too!

To determine which method will get you the best results, contact us to set up a training consultation!

What if my dog isn’t food motivated?

Some dogs will do anything for a piece of kibble while others could take it or leave it. If your dog isn’t very treat or food motivated we can still train them! Sometimes it’s about finding the right reward (have you tried hot dog pieces?). Sometimes is about switching them from free feeders to meal eaters. And sometimes there is no food that trumps sniffs or people or squirrels. In that case, we may use distance from the distraction to our advantage or a really exciting toy or lots of praise. We may need to use an appropriate consequence to help them adjust their behavior. If you have trouble motivating your dog, don’t worry! It may be more difficult and take more time, but they can still learn! There’s hope!