Asked & Answered:  Your Dog Training Questions

Many of my clients hire me before bringing their new dog or puppy home. This allows us to prepare the home and family for the big arrival, ensuring everyone is set up for success from day one.

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Puppies*​

Even if your puppy hasn’t had all their shots yet, there’s still plenty of handling and training we can do! Early socialization, confidence-building, and foundational skills are key to helping your puppy grow into a well-adjusted, happy dog ready to take on the world. Waiting to start training until after your puppy has completed, their shots can deprive them of valuable learning and socialization during the most critical weeks of their development. But don’t worry—socialization can be done early and safely with the proper guidance.

I am a certified positive reinforcement trainer. Positive reinforcement is the most effective and humane method of teaching dogs. By rewarding desired behaviors, we build trust, motivation, and a strong bond between you and your dog. 

This approach focuses on what your dog is doing right, creating a joyful learning experience that encourages them to repeat good behaviors. Positive reinforcement lays the foundation for lasting success, whether we’re working on basic obedience, behavior modification, or advanced training. 

My philosophy is simple: no one works for free, and no one should—your dog included! At the beginning of training, we use a high rate of reinforcement, meaning treats are given frequently during the learning phase. This helps your dog understand and connect with the desired behaviors. 

Once your dog has mastered a cue, we begin treating inconsistently, rewarding occasionally to maintain motivation. This bit of anticipation creates a more focused dog. By this stage, we’ve already built a strong foundation of trust and a bond in which your dog sees you as the most important, fun, and rewarding person in any environment.

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I am also a big fan of using play and toys as rewards. Depending on the dog and your goals, we may prioritize toys over food. ​While treats may fade over time, the relationship you’ve built with your dog will keep them engaged and eager to work with you!

This depends on the dog, their age, temperament, and the training goals. Consistency and practice are key, so it depends on you as well. Basic obedience can take a few weeks to months, while advanced training takes longer. Behavior modifications like reactivity, fear, and aggression differ for different dogs.

I never force a dog to comply and I will never ask that of you. Instead, we work together to build their confidence, reinforce behaviors that are incompatible with the unwanted behaviors, and make the new skills so rewarding and fun that your dog naturally chooses them. Every time we take your dog into an environment to help them confront a trigger, we do so with the utmost attention and care for their well-being. 

Dogs are always learning, and as handlers, the stronger our skill set, the better teammates we can be for our dogs. Together, we’ll build a partnership based on trust, respect, and joy!