Frequently Asked Questions

There are as many ways to train dogs as there are dog trainers. What has consistently worked well for my clients—and, more importantly, their dogs—is a practical, personalized approach that combines owner education, hands-on training, consistency, and repetition.

It starts with an initial consultation. This is an opportunity for me to get to know you, your family, and your dog. I want to see how everyone interacts, learn about your dog's daily routine, and understand the challenges you're experiencing. Every dog and household is different, so this initial meeting establishes a baseline and helps determine the best approach for your particular situation. 

From there, I typically recommend a series of weekly training sessions involving you and your family. It's important that everyone is on the same page when it comes to commands, expectations, handling techniques, and managing your dog's behavior. We'll work on the proper use of the leash, treats, timing, and the sequence of each exercise so that everyone understands not just what to do, but how, when and why to do it. Training is much more effective when the whole family uses the same techniques and communicates consistent expectations.

I also recommend adding my daily Walk & Train service for at least a few weeks. This gives me the opportunity to work directly with your dog and reinforce the behaviors and commands we're teaching during your family sessions. Frequent, structured practice helps your dog understand what is expected and gives those new skills the opportunity to become reliable habits. It also allows me to identify areas that need additional attention and adjust our approach as needed.

Two of the most important ingredients in successful dog training are consistency and frequent repetition. Dogs learn through practice, clear communication, and reinforcement. A command introduced once or twice is rarely enough; it needs to be practiced correctly and regularly before it becomes dependable in everyday life.

My goal is not simply to teach your dog to respond to commands during a training session. It's to help you and your family develop the knowledge, timing, and confidence to maintain those behaviors in your daily lives.

After all, a well-mannered dog is a constant source of pride and satisfaction, a welcome visitor and a valued companion. The right training approach helps make that possible.

PATIENCE: you can not training your dog in one day or one week. Take your time, let puppies be puppies, let dogs be dogs (with structure). Socialize early and often.

CONSISTENCY: Whatever you are working on, work on it consistently and in different places.

FRUSTRATION: This is your que to stop and release both you and the dog from the frustration. What you are doing isn't working. Take a break, re-assess what you are doing that isn't working and try something else. Always try to finish session on a positive note.

REPETITION: the behavior and command must be executed and repeated hundreds of times to become reflexive.

When used properly, the answer is a resounding NO! If used incorrectly or inhumanely, however, a prong collar can hurt your dog. Now that we have that out of the way, let's talk about how it works and why proper use matters.

A prong collar is designed to provide uniform pressure around the upper portion of the dog's neck. Because it creates a more distinct, or "brighter," sensation, it allows the handler to communicate with the dog using very light leash pressure rather than pulling hard on a traditional flat collar. It's often compared to the way a mother dog uses her mouth to guide her puppies.

But here's the important part: the collar must be fitted correctly, introduced correctly, and—most importantly—used correctly. The goal is clear communication, not force, intimidation, or punishment. When used as a tool to teach and communicate rather than to deliver harsh corrections, the intent is to use the least amount of leash pressure necessary.

Like any training tool, the results depend on the knowledge and skill of the person using it. Understanding the proper timing, pressure, and purpose is essential to using a prong collar responsibly. 

The crate is a place of safety, comfort, security, just like your bed/bedroom. Its the place you retreat to when you need some quiet time and a place to relax and let your guard down. It is also a critical part of puppy training and teaching dogs not to pee or poop in their home, which starts with the crate. It's also the place for them to go when there are guests or contractors . If and when your dog needs to go to vet for any surgical issues, they will put your dog in a crate. Your dog will be stressed enough with strangers, the surgery and then is not the time to further stress to dog with being in a crate for the first time. Finally, its just part of dog training. We teach them go to their spot/crate and wait /lay day. We don't let blast out when I open the dog to the crate, which become dog to the house and we don't want them blasting out of the front door, ever! You know you got it right when your dog goes in there regularly to chill.

The crate is akin to a cave. A cave / crate is only accessible from the front, so the occupant only has to worry/secure the front. A cage is essentially open from every side, there is no way the occupant can relax and it becomes a place of anxiety. A cage with a blanket or towel is extremely unsafe as the already stressed dog will eventually grab, tug and chew and perhaps swallow the blanket or towel.

Remember, the crate is the place to chill, wind down and relax. NO bones, chews or toys; will keep the dog's energy up. NO towels, blankets or pads; these can become chew toys and choking hazards. NO leashes or collars of any kind; these can get caught and strangle your dog. Nothing, zero, nada!!!