What should I look for when hiring a dog trainer?

I too was once an overwhelmed owner searching for a trainer and didn’t know what to truly look for with all the options available. No matter if you decide to work with me or another trainer, here are a few baseline questions I would ask. Any professional should be happy to answer these questions (and probably even excited that you are asking)!

1. Insurance - In this industry, it is vital to have insurance. Any responsible professional will have insurance.

2. Continued Education & Shadow Experience - There are no regulations in this industry but, it is fair to ask how a trainer learned the craft of dog training. I would specifically ask which trainers they shadowed, which seminars they attended, and what education they have planned in the future.

3. Communication - If a dog is going to be staying in the care of a trainer, ask how often you can expect to hear from the caretaker. What do updates look like? How often can I expect to get updates? What is the protocol if your dog gets sick in their care?
   

What is balanced training and what does relationship based mean?

Relationship based training is a subset of balanced training. Balanced trainers are trainers who utilize all four quadrants of operant conditioning. Relationship based trainers, like myself, emphasize the cooperative relationship between the trainer and dog to achieve mutually beneficial results, while at the same time honoring a dog’s needs and wants to in turn strengthen their relationship.

Why are you so passionate about crate training?

Day in and day out, I see troublesome dog behaviors that could have been prevented if the dog was given structure & boundaries inside their home. We easily forget that dogs are animals with instincts. Crate training is the opposite of cruel. It is truly one of the kindest things you can do for your dog by giving them a place to decompress that is their own.

How many sessions does training take?

The number of training sessions is dependent on the dog’s learning pace, the owner’s goals, and the owner’s commitment to consistency of practice. I offer pre-set packages for owners who have bigger goals like off-leash reliability or are working through trickier behaviors like reactivity, resource guarding, etc.

How can I pay or schedule with you?

I use Squarespace Acuity for all scheduling and payments. Once you fill out your client inquiry form, I will contact you within 72 business hours with the “go ahead” to schedule a session. From there, you can schedule directly on my website. I strongly suggest making an account as this will save your information and make future booking easy.

What kind of training tools do you use?

I use a variety of different training tools. Training methods and tools vary greatly depending on the dog, owner, and prior training experience. Training is not one size fits all and there will be trial and error with each case! The tools most typically used are slip leads, prong collars, e collars, and muzzles.

*Please note, e-collar sessions are only available to clients who qualify. They’re amazing tools but under my training philosophy, e-collars should be used to pair with behaviors that are already learned, not solely as corrective tools.