Dog Obedience and Behavior Training
Before we begin any training, we require an evaluation. This allows you to meet the trainer that will be working with you and your pet. It also allows the trainer an opportunity to talk with you about your goals, and to fully assess your dog’s personality and temperament. At this time, we can determine what program will suit your family best, and discuss pricing and availability.
It’s very important to keep in mind that your willingness and dedication is crucial to your dog’s advancement and success in training.
Board & Train
Our comprehensive Board and Train Program typically lasts 14 days with up to three lessons per day. During the program, your dog is taught the basics to walk on a loose leash, sit, down, wait at the door, recall (here or come), and a release command. We also teach a “climb” or “place” command.
Why don’t we teach the command “stay”? A command given to your dog is implied as the behavior you expect the dog to continue to show until given a new command. Meaning when the dog is told to sit that is what we expect the dog to do until given the release word or told to do something else. Using the words sit and stay are often too much talking and can break the dog’s focus from the first thing you asked it to do.
What does “climb” and “place” mean? This is a versatile command. You can put your dog in a certain spot or on a fixed object (rug dog bed, bench, etc.) and your dog is taught that they can’t leave that area until released. While in the place, they can lie down, sit or be in any comfortable position they please as long as they stay in the designated area. This command is very convenient when having guests over and you want your dog to be part of things without having to put him/her away.
This all-inclusive program includes up to 3 daily lessons, daily playtime, boarding, feeding, administering of medications, a bath and private lesson at departure along with written instructions and a certificate of completion. Your pet will also go home with a raised cot in which he/she has been trained to use for their “climb” or “place” command. This program also includes 2 follow-up private lessons! (We suggest doing your follow up private lessons every two weeks after picking up your pet; these will be scheduled at departure).
Electronic Collar Board and Train
We also offer an all-inclusive 3 week program that is the start to off leash training. Your dog learns the same basic lessons as the 2 week course,as well as things like extended distance recalls, working under distractions, sit and down from a distance, etc. It’s important to keep in mind that control while on a leash is still just as important; therefore, during this course everything is taught on leash first and then we start incorporating the steps to being off leash. At the end of this program your dog receives a bath and blow dry, a private lesson with you at pickup, written instructions, a certificate of completion, a raised cot for their “climb” command and two follow up private lessons!
Private Lessons
Daycare Training
Daycare is a wonderful form of socialization in a controlled and safe environment. While your pet is away for the day, you can add on a daycare lesson to work on a specific behavior or refresh your pet on a previously taught command. We recommend this program just as a refresher course or for specifics. If you want to use this program to put full basic obedience on your dog, it is important to realize that it’s very demanding on the owners time to pick up and drop off daily. Consistency is a vital part of training. Therefore, if your dog goes through this course, we recommend 4-5 consecutive days and then a private lesson for you to have the opportunity to catch up on what your dog has learned so that you can reinforce it.
Train by the Day
If you’re only needing a refresher course or specific behaviors worked on, then your dog may not need a full obedience program. Train by the Day is similar to the daycare training program, only it is designed to add onto boarding stays. It’s important to remember that dogs can only learn so much at one time and actually retain, so be fair to them in what you expect them to learn during a short boarding stay.
Group Classes
CGC covers the following: accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for attention, walking on a leash, sit, down, come when called, greeting another dog, supervised separation, and reaction to distractions.
Saturday Cancellation Policy
Effective February 9th, 2019 we will be putting into place a cancellation policy for any private training appointments or training evaluations that are scheduled on Saturdays. This will require private lessons to be paid for in advance and will have a cancellation window of 48 hours in order to receive a refund. Evaluations will require a credit card on file with a cancellation window of 48 hours. (Evaluation cancellations or no shows will be charged a $30 fee, private lesson cancellations or no-shows will lose the prepayment.)
CGC Testing
Not only will this give you the peace of mind that your dog is well behaved, but it can also be extremely helpful when renting a place to live or acquiring homeowner’s insurance! (Read here to see more info on how the CGC can help with insurance)
AKC CANINE GOOD CITIZEN TEST
Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
The dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural, everyday situation.
Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
The dog will allow a friendly stranger to pet it while it is out with its handler.
Test 3: Appearance and grooming
The dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit someone, such as a veterinarian, groomer or friend of the owner, to do so.
Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
The handler/dog team will take a short “walk” to show that the dog is in control while walking on a leash.
Test 5: Walking through a crowd
The dog and handler walk around and pass close to several people (at least three) to demonstrate that the dog can move about politely in pedestrian traffic and is under control in public places.
Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place
The dog will respond to the handler’s commands to 1) sit, 2) down and will 3) remain in the place commanded by the handler (sit or down position, whichever the handler prefers).
Test 7: Coming when called
The dog will come when called by the handler. The handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, and call the dog.
Test 8: Reaction to another dog
To demonstrate that the dog can behave politely around other dogs, two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about 20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 10 feet.
Test 9: Reaction to distraction
To demonstrate the dog is confident when faced with common distracting situations, the evaluator will select and present two distractions. Examples of distractions include dropping a chair, rolling a crate dolly past the dog, having a jogger run in front of the dog, or dropping a crutch or cane.
Test 10: Supervised separation
This test demonstrates that a dog can be left with a trusted person, if necessary, and will maintain training and good manners. Evaluators are encouraged to say something like, “Would you like me to watch your dog?” and then take hold of the dog’s leash. The owner will go out of sight for three minutes.
