Frequently Asked Questions

I come to you—training begins in your home or on your property to build strong foundational skills in a familiar, low-distraction environment. Once your dog is ready to begin proofing learned behaviors and working through new distractions, we transition to public settings. Training sessions may take place in a variety of dog-friendly locations, both indoors and outdoors, such as public parks, trails, cafés, Home Depot, Tractor Supply, and local pet stores.

Traditionally, we’ll teach behaviors via a food reward, so you’ll want to be sure to have some treats handy! Avoid the harder cookie-type treats as they take up a lot of time per rep for the dog to eat, as well as potentially create crumbs that could be problematic for us later in-session. You’ll want treats that are chewy/easy to break apart, and the stinkier the better!

Next, you’ll need a reliable collar & leash or quality slip lead. We can work with what you already have, so no need to go out and get new equipment before we get started.

Everyone’s training needs are different, so we’ll discuss any recommended equipment changes as they come up and work together to decide what would be the best fit for both you and your dog.

I am a balanced trainer who utilizes all four quadrants of operant conditioning. Desired behaviors are initially taught through a variety of positive reinforcement methods—such as treats, toys, play, and affection—to build enthusiasm and engagement in the learning process. Once the dog has a clear understanding of the behaviors, we layer in negative reinforcement, most commonly through the use of a slip lead. This provides clear, tactile feedback that helps the dog better distinguish between correct and incorrect responses, resulting in improved communication and greater clarity within their obedience training.

Sessions are typically scheduled once per week; however, I prefer to tailor all aspects of training—including scheduling—to each individual family. At the end of each session, we will schedule the next appointment, allowing you to determine how much practice time you need between sessions.

That is completely up to you! While there may be a definitive number of sessions in any given package, that only serves as a baseline. Behavior takes time, and the efficacy of training is going to depend on the owner’s application and consistency with what’s been covered in each training session. One package may do the trick for some, while others may want more one-on-one coaching through continued sessions.

Clients outside a 15-mile radius of our base location in Port Orchard, WA are subject to a travel fee. Travel fees account for the additional time that must be blocked off per client to accommodate travel between appointments, tolls, and related expenses. Because client distance directly impacts how many sessions can be scheduled in a single day, an additional travel fee is required.