FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will my dog keep his personality and be happy?
Oh my goodness, yes!! Training does not alter your dog's personality or break their spirit. Training isn't about beating your dog into submission, it's about establishing leadership and opening up communication. With dogs, leadership does require you to be firm, but this is natural. We are very fair and humane with our discipline, and even more generous with our praise! Though it's true that not all dogs love the training process (I mean, really, who likes being bossed around all of a sudden?), we take the extra steps to keep spirits up and show your dog that they are loved. Your dog will see that it's only the behavior that is disliked, not themselves. You'll find it to be a bonding experience and everyone is happier in the end, especially your dog!
The flip side of this is that training does not alter a dog's personality even if you want it to. Cocky dogs will stay cocky! Goofy dogs will stay goofy! Dominant dogs will maintain their dominant nature. But you can have more control over your dog's behavior. That is the key! We will help your dog be their best.
Don't I have to be the one training my dog?
So you've heard that board-and-trains don't work? Man, those people are missing out! We LOVE the service we offer, and have dedicated ourselves to this after many years of private lessons because of the higher success rate. A board-and-train is just an avenue of educating your dog. Yes, you will still have to take the time to earn your dog's respect, but that is a lot easier with a dog that already knows everything! We can make sure that your dog learns efficiently and correctly, without confusion or user error along the way.
It's also not true that dogs have to be trained in their home environment. To limit a dog's intelligence to a geographical location is greatly underestimating their minds. If your dog knows how to sit on command at home, then they can do it at the park! If they won't, then we need to help you earn a higher degree of respect, give your dog a stronger foundation in the fundamentals and a lot more practice. Anything your dog knows can be applied in any situation or location under the guidance of an established and respected leader. This is our goal for you!
What behaviors do you offer training for?
Pulling on Leash | Jumping on people | Potty training | Off leash training | Obedience training: sit, down, come, stay, heel, leave it | Barking | Fearfulness | Dog on dog aggression | Dog on human aggression | Separation anxiety | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) | Generalized anxiety | Phobias | Leash aggression | Stranger danger | Resource guarding | Dog on child aggression
Why do you recommend crate training?
Crate training takes advantage of your dog’s natural instincts to seek out a comfortable, quiet and safe place when the environment around them becomes too loud or overwhelming The crate is a key tool to implement structure, rules and boundaries. It is a great way to teach potty training and work on separation anxiety. The crate will be your dog’s kingdom where it sleeps, eats, plays with toys and has a safe quiet place.
Do you offer service or emotional support (ESA) dog training?
I do not offer specific medical service training. I can help you to have a well-mannered pup which some of my clients use as a starting point for their support dogs. There are no specific requirements for these support and ESA (which are really the same thing) other than your dog is well-mannered in public and under your control. Service dogs, as protected by the ADA, are not the same as companion dogs or emotional support dogs. I do not offer any specific task or service training to meet ADA qualifications. However, if your dog can perform two tasks that you have taught/plan to teach, and you just need good behavior to qualify for ADA, I may be able to help you.
It's important to understand that there is no official certification for companion or emotional support dogs. Be leery of companies that promise this since it is not an ADA qualification and is unregulated. There is no paperwork to prove your dog is ADA qualified. Some people chose to get these anyway. They're easily purchased online and give your dog a more official look. Yet they're unofficial and a business owner can still refuse your dog entry. The closest thing to official you can get is a letter from your doctor.
Temperament plays a significant role in your dog's ability to be a companion dog, emotional support dog, therapy dog, or an ADA qualified service dog. Though training can have some effect on a dog's genetically based temperament, it does not guarantee necessary changes. Not every dog is cut out to be a support dog.
