Training
We are trainers at heart and it guides everything we do in our ethical breeding and rescuing endeavors. We offer several training packages that you can add on to your puppy or rescue dog. Please note that the higher level training packages for therapy and service work are dependent on the temperament of the puppy/dog. Not every dog is able to fulfill these roles.
A little about how we train...
​
We do not take a one-size-fits-all approach. We find there is a tremendous amount of creativity needed to be a good trainer. We seek to understand what motivates each dog and tailor our training to him/her.
​
We are mostly oriented toward a positive-training approach, but we do make use of tools like gentle leaders and e-collars on beep/vibrate. And we think there are certain (rare) circumstances that careful use of other aversive tools can be beneficial- again depending on the dog.
While we may make use of tools temporarily during the training process, our ultimate goal is to not have our dogs reliant on any tool as this can hamper their success especially with higher level training- our dogs pass the CGC test(s) and/or therapy dog certification with flat buckle collars only.
​
Our main training strategy is simply repetition and consistency! We repeat basic commands hundreds or thousands of times in a huge variety of settings with varying levels of distraction. We want the dogs commands to be a matter of habit by the time they leave us so that they are able to easily transition them into a new home.
​
Treats can be helpful especially in the beginning, but we want our dogs to be able to behave well without treats, too. The main reward we use is freedom! Dogs love to sniff, explore, and play... we often use these natural dog behaviors as a reward for obedience. As an example, heeling well for a few minutes is met with a minute of an extended leash and allowing the dog to sniff/explore.
​
​
We offer private training lessons for $100/hour and weekly board and train for $700/week. We also offer the following extended board & train options. Any of our board & train options come with lifetime trainer support and free follow up sessions.
Companion Puppies will start training between 8 and 9 weeks of age. ​ Our main focuses are potty training, crate training, basic commands (sit, down, stay, come, place, enter kennel on cue), and intro to leash-walking. ​ Your puppy will be sleeping through the night and be able to go potty on a set schedule. Your puppy will be able to hold a stay for 30-60 seconds with low distractions. ​ Your puppy will learn the "leave it" cue and be discouraged from jumping and nipping at humans. Your pup will practice his/her commands in at least 3 new places (parks, friend's house, etc.) and maintain good socialization with strangers and other dogs.
Scholar puppies will master the same basic commands as the companion level, but able to perform them with greater distractions. We expect a puppy in our advanced obedience program to be alerting for potty breaks (most often with door bells). A scholar puppy will be able to hold a place for 5+ minutes with moderate distractions. Your puppy will continue to receive appropriate socialization and be able to follow cues in new environment and from new people.
Companion Adult Dogs will be potty trained, crate trained, and know basic commands: sit, down, stay, come, place, and heel. Your dog will practice off leash recall and be able to maintain a proper heel with low to moderate distractions. Your adult dog will be able to hold a stay/place cue for 1-2 minutes with low to moderate distractions. Your dog will be taken to at least 8-10 public places to practice his/her commands in a new environment and work on socialization.
Advanced obedience is a requirement for any therapy dog so all companion and scholar skills are included in and expanded upon in this training package. Your dog will be able to hold 5+ minute stays and maintain a heel with significant distractions. Additionally, your puppy or dog will receive an extra dose of socialization to include a huge variety of people including those with special needs, medical devices, etc. During the last month of training, you will work closely with one of our trainers to begin the process of becoming a therapy team with your new dog! At the end we will set up and help you and your dog pass the TDI (Therapy Dogs International) test and your dog will be officially certified. Please note- dogs cannot be therapy certified until 1 year of age. If you wish to add this package onto one of our puppies, we can train him/her for the longer duration (10 months) for an additional cost ($8, 400) or we can start your puppy on a smaller training package and then send him/her home and he/she can come back closer to the year mark to begin formal therapy dog training.
Our adult scholars will master the same basic commands as the companion level adults, but be able to follow these commands in more distractions environments. We expect an adult scholar to be able to stay in public for 3+ minutes and be able to place at home for 10+ minutes. Our adult scholars will continue to achieve a high level of socialization and public training. We expect our adult scholars to be able to maintain a heel with moderate distractions. To show off their skills, our adult scholars will take the CGC test prior to graduating our program.
Advanced obedience is a requirement for any service dog so all companion and scholar skills are included in and expanded upon in this training package. Your dog will be able to hold 5+ minute stays, learn important service dog commands like "tuck" and extended down-stays and maintain a heel with significant distractions. Additionally, your dog will be task trained based on your needs. We will communicate closely with you to ensure the dog performs the tasks adequately. Options include scent detection, retrieval of items, interrupting harmful behaviors, hearing alert, PTSD support, and more. You don't have to wonder how training is going. We will keep you updated throughout the process and over the course of training, your dog will pass all 3 CGC tests (CGC, Community Canine, and CGC Urban to show their public access readiness. Please note- there are options to reduce the cost if you want to tackle some of the training on your own! We can give suggestions on owner training and help fill in the gaps with private lessons. If you get one of our puppies, we can help with basic obedience in the earlier stages, allow you to take the pup home for a number of months (with guidance about how to continue training) and then bring him/her back for more advanced training when the pup is 8+ months old.
Read what is involved to pass the CGC test HERE.
Read what is involved to pass the TDI test HERE.
Read what is involved to pass the Community Canine and Urban CGC tests HERE.
