Will my puppy be fully trained?
We get this question a lot, and it’s hard to answer! “Fully trained” is in the eye of the beholder. But will your puppy be finished with training and need zero additional training for the rest of their life? No. Even at six months old, your puppy will still be undergoing significant brain development and changes. We recommend planning to spend 15-20 minutes per day on reinforcing your favorite behaviors, such as loose leash walking, respecting furniture, coming when called, and sleeping nicely in the crate. We will teach you how to do this, and this reinforcement will ensure that you continue to build on the foundation we have laid for your puppy’s behavioral health. Remember, even service dogs do not enter service until they are two years old! Good behavior must first be learned and then practiced until it is second-nature to your dog.
HOW DOES MY DOG KNOW THAT THEY SHOULD LISTEN TO ME, AND NOT JUST YOU?
Your tuition includes a one hour transfer session with our lead trainer. She will teach you how to use and reinforce all of the behaviors your puppy has learned, so they’ll understand that offering good behavior to you is just as rewarding as offering good behavior to us.
DO YOU TRAIN THE PUPPIES USING PINCH COLLARS OR SLIP LEADS?
No, these types of gear are designed to teach a dog not to do things by causing pain in association with the unwanted behavior. There are behavioral risks to using these methods, which are amplified when using them with puppies. Our opinion (in accordance with the AVMA) is that the risks do not outweigh the rewards.
WHY IS TRAINING SO EXPENSIVE?
Our puppy training program cost runs at the higher end of board and train programs – for good reason! While dog training is an unregulated industry and anyone can charge money for training services, our team is composed of career animal workers. Every person training your puppy in our training center is either certified or is working toward CPDT-KA, a globally recognized credential in dog training, under the direction of a certified trainer. This ensures safety and effectiveness in every training session.
Additionally, your puppy’s health, vaccinations, and dewormings are looked after by a Licensed Veterinary Technician, who lives on-site. She is able to respond immediately to health concerns, ensuring that even tiny problems are addressed promptly and appropriately. She works hand-in-hand with our veterinarian to administer needed medications and care for the puppies.