The live classes are one hour in length, and meet once a week for six weeks. The first 3 weeks establish a foundation in behavioral training. Foundation skill sets are critical for working through nervous, reactive or hyperactive behaviors, like barking, lunging, pulling on leash, jumping. Weeks 4, 5 and 6 integrate the training into real world training situations.

Yes! We offer an on-demand option for anyone that would like to start training prior to the next round of live sessions, or for anyone that is not able to attend the live classes due to a conflicting schedule. The on-demand option means that you can watch the class and practice training at a time that is most convenient for you.

Heel Work class focuses on teaching your dog to station at your side. Once a foundation in heel work is established, you can do this in situations where your dog might otherwise be nervous, reactive or hyperactive. This is a great calming strategy. Dogs should spend the majority of time on walks sniffing and exploring good smells, this exercise is meant to help condition calm behavior when triggers are presented to promote a calm, positive connection with your dog - even if you don't have a training mat accessible.

Many people are concerned about whether or not online classes are effective. The reality is that online classes are a more effective format. This is especially true for dogs that exhibit anxious, reactive, hyperactive, fearful or aggressive behavior. In-person group classes can be overwhelming for dogs that already struggle to adapt to common triggers, like other dogs, people, sounds or even the car ride to get to class. In-person classes can be stressful as people become distracted trying to manage their dog’s behavior and are unable to focus on demonstrations and explanations of training exercises. Training in the comfort of your own home allows both people and dogs focus and process information more effectively.

Yes, I host weekly Q&A sessions for anyone completing an on-demand behavioral class. These sessions are hosted at lunchtime each Wednesday. You can submit questions in advance, attend the live session, or watch the replay - whatever is most convenient for you.

In combination with classes, I also offer consultations by Zoom. The consultation would discuss your dog’s behavior patterns, your training goals and create a training plan. For aggression occurring with people or animals living in the home - it’s a good idea to schedule the consultation sooner, to make sure that these behaviors are being managed in a way that supports the training. If your dog’s challenging behavior is being safely managed, you can start with the behavioral classes and schedule a one-on-one consultation once you have a solid foundation in training. This will allow us to dive in and customize the training framework established in class. Please note that consultations and one-on-one follow up sessions are limited and should be scheduled in advance.

Behavioral training is a process. Think about behavior change in months vs. days or weeks. I would expect to focus on formal training for a minimum of 4 months. Completing Mat Work, Heel Work and Recall is a great way to stay focused and structured in your training, and you’ll walk away with skills that any dog will benefit from learning. These skills are especially beneficial once you learn how to apply them in situations where your dog might otherwise be struggling. The Sendaway class would be a good fourth class for a dog that is highly motivated by food or toys, and loves to train. Most working and sporting dogs would fall into this category. Training timelines will also be influenced by your dog’s age, your level of commitment to sticking with the protocol and the intensity of your dog’s behavioral issues.

I normally send out video links that provide a sneak peek of training exercises before each live class. You would practice the training in class and ask questions. When practicing during the week you will have recorded video demonstrations to use for reference. Weeks 1-3 focuses on establishing a foundation for behavioral training. Week 4-6 looks at how to use the training in real world training situations.

If you want to do something right, you need the right tools. Go to the “Shop” button found in the main navigation that has a list of products that will help you to optimize your training. The key items are training food, training mat, front clip harness, training pouch and six foot leash. There are also recommended exercise pens, baby gates, water bowls, and chewies if you are raising a puppy.