Location: Dog will reside with Trainer for duration of training. Trainer will take reasonable steps to keep the dog safe, comfortable, appropriately exercised, and happy. The trainer will take the dog to locations, such as: parks, stores, shopping centers, farmers markets, etc for socialization and training.
Training: Length of training for most basic obedience is expected to take two weeks long. Depending on your goals, trainer may advise a longer stay to ensure success. Training consists of structured training time, unstructured training time, and unstructured time in which training will occur.
Evaluation & Goals: The trainer and the owner will evaluate the dog's (s’) current skill levels and identify unsatisfactory areas needing improvement. Training will focus on the areas identified as unsatisfactory during the initial evaluation. In general, the goals for the dog(s) are:
To be in control and polite around other dogs and people.
To perform basic pet obedience upon command: sit, loose leash, let's go, etc.
To improve upon identified bad habits that may exist, such as chewing, barking, jumping on people, rushing through doorways, counter-surfing, aggressive behaviors, and begging for food at the table.
Re-evaluation: Upon the dog returning home client and trainer will re-evaluate dogs skill level in relation to previous goals. If it is determined that the dog has not met some goals, the owner and trainer will discuss additional training.
Expectations: In most cases all goals should be achievable given appropriate time and the owner's compliance with homework. Trainer makes no guarantee on results of training. Client agrees that training is a process and that without following through on instructions and homework, training will not progress or be maintained by the dog.
Maintenance of Goals: The owner recognizes that board & trains will result in the dog obeying the trainer. In order for the dog to obey the owner, the following must occur:
The owner must understand the basic principles of training (covered in the lessons).
The owner must apply the basic principles of training.
The owner must not interact with the dog in a way that rewards bad behavior and/or punishes good behavior.
The owner must regularly train the dog to maintain the level of training achieved.
The owner must not give commands that they are not ready to reinforce if the dog does not perform. At the conclusion of training, the trainer will instruct the owner in the basics of training. Instruction will consist of the following:
One exit conference to show the owner the dog's(s’) new skills and to instruct the owner on how to give proper commands, how to properly reward the dog for correct performance. Please set aside 1.5 hours in your schedule.
