How long will it take to fix my problem/train my dog?That is almost entirely up to you. I will come and work with you and the dog once a week (or twice a week if we determine that is best) and then give you homework to do in between sessions. If you work hard, progress will come quickly. If you don't, it won't. Other factors to be considered are the temperament of the dog, the severity of the problem, and how long it has been going on (it is easier to break a three-month habit than a three-year one). When we meet for our initial evaluation, I will give you a rough estimate of how long our work might take, but YOU are the one who has the most control over that.
I cannot fix your problem for you. I can simply give you the knowledge and tools to fix it with your dog.
It varies a lot. Usually we will start by recapping how things went for you last week, what you worked on, what went well and what gave you trouble. Next we will do some hands-on work with the dog, progressing to the next step with whatever exercises we were working on, and then I'll end with a period of time for you to ask questions or clarify anything we've gone over, and I'll summarize what I want you to work on before our next appointment. I often have handouts that cover the exercises we've done, so you'll have something to refer to if you forget a step.
Sessions are typically an hour long, especially in the early stages. For some people we can cut down to 45 minutes or even half an hour once we get into a good rhythm together.
Most of the training equipment available on the market today is not, in my opinion, inherently cruel. However, these tools are often used improperly by well-meaning (or not) dog owners, and in the wrong hands they can do a whole lot of harm in a very short period of time. While I am not opposed to the use of a training collar, I will never ask you to use a tool on your dog that you are not comfortable with, and I will explain the proper and safe use of any tool I recommend. For me, punishing a dog is a last resort, and not something to be taken lightly. And there are many cases in which punishment is NEVER an appropriate choice (for example, aggressive or fearful dogs). 99% of the work I do with clients is positive, reward-based training, with no aversive methods required.
You're asking if I can teach an old dog new tricks, and the answer is yes, definitely. However, the longer a bad habit has been around, the harder it will be to crack. Often a dog's bad habits are a result of a person's bad habits, and those can be even harder to break!
I have some availability to do dog walking and in-your-home pet sitting visits for existing training clients who need me. If you need a pet sitter, please ask me as soon as you have the details. The more advanced notice I have, the more likely I am to be available to help you.
I am located in Plymouth Meeting, but serve several communities surrounding Philadelphia. Some specific communities include Plymouth Meeting, East Norriton, Norristown, Blue Bell, Ambler, Whitpain, Whitemarsh, and Conshohocken, as well as surrounding areas. I reserve the right to charge a per mile fee for clients more than 15 miles away. I will discuss this with you before our first appointment.
My rates are competitive, but I prefer to discuss them with prospective clients directly. All new clients have the option of receiving a free initial evaluation. This will give us the chance to get to know each other and make sure we're a good fit before you spend any money.
If you have a question that hasn't been covered here, please feel free to email or call me.
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let's talk today!Give us a call or e-mail us to discuss how we can help with your dog training questions. Fresh Start Dog Training |
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