Let me start by making something very clear: it is always OK to ask for help. At some point we seem to hit this stage where we feel like we need to have everything figured out in life, that we’ve somehow failed if we can’t make it on our own. And not only is this simply not true, but it can truly hurt us. So before we get any farther into this topic, allow yourself to accept that you deserve support. For you, for your family, for your dog.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s dive in to dog training! There are lots of reasons to ask a dog trainer for help, but we’ve boiled the list down to our top 6. These are the most common reasons that families and dog owners reach out for help to local dog trainers, so let’s dive in and see if you fall into any one of these groups. And if you do, understand that you’re not alone, and help is closer than you think!

You feel overwhelmed by all of the information available

There is A LOT of information out there on dogs, animal behavior, vet care, behaviors you should encourage and discourage, and on and on and on. With everyone claiming to be an expert, it can be really hard to tell who has the best, most up-to-date, clear information out there.

And then we have to remember that every dog is different. So while a strategy might work great for your neighbor’s dog, that doesn’t mean it’s the best solution for you and yours. The behaviors you’re dealing with are different, your goals are different, and therefore, your training approach should be different.

So if you’ve been doing your research and you are struggling to sort through all of the noise to find what will work best for you and your dog, it’s time to talk with a dog trainer. Your dog trainer will help you break down exactly what you need to work on, and help you create a plan that works specifically for you. Getting advice and strategies tailored uniquely for your needs? Yes, please!

You’ve tried it on your own and you’re feeling stuck

We work with a lot of clients that really wanted to try things on their own before hiring a professional dog trainer. And there is nothing wrong with that! Whether it’s because finances are tight, because you think you can probably figure it out if you try hard enough, or if you’re just too stubborn to ask for help (at first), we support anyone that wants to train their dog in any fashion. Your methods might not be the best or the fastest, but who cares! As long as you’re trying, you’re going to see results. Period.

But let’s say that’s just not working for you anymore and you’re feeling stuck. Don’t keep struggling if something isn’t working! That will only lead to burnout and frustration, and eventually, you’ll stop trying. So when you feel like you’ve hit a wall, go talk with a professional dog trainer. They can give you a fresh perspective and get you on the right track again.

You have a solid foundation but want more

Lots of people have worked hard on the basics, and are doing really great with them. But what if that’s not good enough for you? What if you have bigger goals and dreams, and you want your dog to be the start of the neighborhood? Let’s do it!

And if you don’t know how to do it? That’s where a dog trainer can come in, yet again. Dog trainers work on all sorts of behavior problems, but they also know how to have fun and work on some advanced skills, as well. So whether that’s learning agility, getting a really solid off-leash recall so you can hike and camp with confidence, or if you want to do therapy work with your dog, there’s a dog trainer near you that can help you work on those skills.

You have specific goals that you need help with

Typically, we work with dogs and their families because they have a vision but don’t know how to get there. They want to take their dog hiking, but the dog CANNOT walk on leash without pulling them over. They want to enjoy quiet evenings at home but the dog won’t stop barking out the window, annoying the entire neighborhood. They want to bring their dog to the kids’ soccer games, but the dog can’t help but chase the ball every time it passes.

Whatever your goals may be, chances are, you’re not the first person needing help with it. Which also means that there is a dog trainer in your area that can help you work toward that goal pretty quickly and efficiently. So don’t be afraid to reach out for help – we’re all about including dogs in your lives!

You see safety-related issues arising

This is a big one that we want you to take very seriously. If your notice an safety-related issues arising, you need to reach out to a professional dog trainer right away. Don’t let the problem escalate and become much more serious. If you do, the stakes will be much higher, as will the price tag to resolve the issue.

Some common safety-related issues we see with dogs include:

• Resource guarding (growling over food, bones, toys, etc.)
• Reactivity (lunging and barking at dogs, people, bikes, cars, etc.)
• Biting
• Growling
• Jumping around and barking out the car windows (becomes very unsafe for everyone involved)

The sooner we can address these and any other behavior issues, the easier it is to work through them. On the other hand, if you allow your dog to practice any of these habits, the behavior will only get stronger and therefore will need more intensive intervention. So, please do yourselves and your dog a big favor, and get help as soon as you see any concerning behaviors. You’ll be so glad you didn’t wait until it becomes a much bigger problem.

You want to develop behaviors at a young age that will last a lifetime

Outside of simply working on behavior issues, there is a lot to be said for setting your dog up for long-term success. Now this is probably the hardest pitch we have to make to dog owners, because it is really difficult to spend money to make your good dog an even better dog. You have to really want it and see a vision of what life with a really well-trained dog could look like.

But if you’re open to it, you should absolutely start training your dog young and early. This will not only set your dog up for a lifetime of success, but it will create a strong bond between you, and will also prevent a lot of behavior issues from ever arising.

So if you want a dog that can join you on every adventure, that can relax around your family and friends, that can join you on hikes and vacations and brewery outings and picnics, then you need to put in the work and teach your dog exactly how you want her to behave in those environments. And that means training. And a lot of it. And the younger you start, the stronger those behaviors will be as your pup becomes a dog. And again, a dog trainer can help you get there!

Conclusion

There are so many reasons to hire a professional dog trainer. And perhaps the issues you’re facing or the questions you’re asking aren’t on this list. That doesn’t mean you’re alone! You should still absolutely seek out professional help.

When you do start looking to hire a dog trainer, please remember that every dog trainer has their strengths and weaknesses, the things they are really good at, and things they may need to refer away. So make sure you ask some questions and find a trainer that can really help you with your unique goals. If you need some help with this check out our blog post on finding the right trainer for you here!

Do you know what it looks like to advocate for your dog’s space? Would you feel comfortable stepping in if you had to? Do you know why it’s so important for your relationship with your dog that you get comfortable advocating for her?

What Does it Mean to Advocate for Your Dog?

Advocating for your dog’s space means standing up for her in situations where she’s uncomfortable. It means that you’ll step in and fix problems that arise so that she doesn’t have to. And that’s how you build trust, respect, leadership, and a dog that doesn’t feel the need to intervene when life gets hard. Because she knows you have her back.

It’s so important that your dogs see you as someone that will intervene if she’s uncomfortable:

• Don’t like that stranger? Don’t worry, I won’t let them pet you!
• Afraid of that scary mailbox we’re walking past? I’ll give you some extra space.
• Don’t want to play with that dog? I’ll tell it to stop!

If your dog doesn’t trust you, she’s going to advocate for herself. That means growling, barking, lunging, biting, and doing whatever she needs to do to keep the annoying/scary/frustrating thing away. Which we don’t want!

This means that you need to be incredibly vigilant and aware of your surroundings so that you can catch your dog’s body language and respond appropriately. If your dog looks uncomfortable, help her through it! Stand up for her, create space, and watch her trust in you grow as she realizes she doesn’t need to constantly defend herself. This can be little things or big scary things. The point is, if you’re consistent in showing your dog that you have her back, she’ll start coming to you when she needs help.

See it in Action

Let’s see it in action in a pretty normal scenario: we have three dogs playing, but Copper (the older yellow lab) isn’t interested and is getting grumpy every time the younger two try to wrestle with him. He was giving off really clear but patient signals that he didn’t want to play at first: walk away, turn his head away from the other dogs, and eventually he chose to lie down on the other side of the room.

Now, if we let the dogs figure this out for themselves (which so many owners do), Copper will eventually growl, snap, or chase the dogs away. But we don’t want him to get to the point that he’s so annoyed that he gets to that he needs to take it that far. It’s not fair to him. He’s been very clear and appropriate in his body language that he doesn’t want to play, so why would we let it continue?

So we need to step in and tell the younger dogs, “not today, you need to give him space.” This doesn’t have to be a harsh correction, but it does need to be clear so they understand they simply cannot play with Copper right now.

This does two things:

1. It sets a very clear boundary for the younger dogs. There’s a lot they can do in their play right now, but playing with Copper simply isn’t one of them.
2. It allows Copper to relax in the space without constantly having to worry about defending his space. He doesn’t mind the dogs’ energy, he just doesn’t want to engage with it. And that’s ok! So let’s make sure he knows that we have his back so he can participate as much or as little as he wants to.

Conclusion

Advocating for your dog’s space doesn’t have to be an intense or overly emotional experience. As you can see in this video, it can be as easy as stepping between two dogs and redirecting them to a different activity. This is essential for building your dog’s trust and showing her that you will take care of her.

Want a strong bond with your dog that can carry you through some pretty tough situations? Stand up for her when she needs help so that she doesn’t have to. Advocate. And watch her trust in you become something you’ve only dreamed of.

All of our puppy owners out there are likely falling madly in love with their sweet little pups. The snuggles, the puppy breath, the enthusiasm to do literally anything you ask of them.

And all of our owners with 9-14 month old dogs are wondering “Where on earth did my sweet puppy go??”

We call this fun age the “teenage phase”. By this age, your cute little puppy has grown into her adult-sized body, hormones are raging, and she’s feeling a little extra confident about herself. Which is exactly when we tend to see some undesirable behaviors pop up and your pup will likely start testing your boundaries. A lot. Kind of like you probably did as a teenager yourself.

So what can you do? First, remind yourself that this is a normal developmental stage. Your puppy isn’t broken, or bad, and you haven’t done anything to cause this.

Second, fall back on your training, routine, and structure. Go back to the basics and give your dog some extra training time to remind her of the rules. “No, we do not jump, or pull on leash, or bark, or tackle the kids, or… But try these behaviors that are appropriate instead.”

This stage is never easy, but it does pass. And you can get through it a whole lot quicker if you set some clear boundaries.

We hear a common question from families with multiple dogs that we want to address: “Why does my dog love her brother and they can play so great together, but she really doesn’t like other dogs?” So let’s talk about what’s going on here.

Familiarity

To start, there’s a lot to be said when it comes to familiarity. Your dogs are around each other all day every day. Even if they don’t have personalities that make for best doggy friends, they’ve likely learned how to co-exist pretty well together. They may even love each other’s company. But when you first introduced them, that probably wasn’t the case.

Dogs that live together learn each other’s quirks, how they communicate, what each one likes and dislikes, and they’re able to use that information to create a good relationship. It’s the same for us humans: you may have grown up with siblings that you wouldn’t have chosen to be friends with, but you figured out how to co-exist, and maybe even shared some great experiences together.

Personality

This one is critical. As we said above, your dog likely has a good relationship with her brother because they’ve learned how to live well together. But that is not the case with any other dog you come across. And in fact, it’s very normal for dogs to not love every other dog they meet. Those friendly, life of the party, gotta love and say “hello” to everyone are the exception, not the rule, to dog behavior.

Think about your own personal relationships with people. You have your close-knit group of friends that you really enjoy. You have personalities that you’re drawn to that you find really fun to be around. And you also have personalities that you shy away from because that person is perhaps too loud, inappropriate, aggressive, etc. There may be absolutely nothing wrong with that person, but you simply aren’t a fan and don’t want to be friends. And that’s OK!

Your dog is the same way. Other dogs can give off bad vibes, can be too loud or pushy, or perhaps there’s nothing particularly wrong with the dog, but they just don’t click together. And again, that’s OK! We’d rather your dog be great friends with a few dogs, than to try to force friendships with everyone when the match just isn’t right.

Play Style

And lastly, we’ll talk about play style. You may find a great fit for your dog personality-wise, but they may have very different play styles. Some dogs like to play fetch, some wrestle, some chase, some don’t want to play at all. And all of these different play styles are perfectly appropriate. But mix two dogs with different styles of play, and you can create a problem really quickly.

So if your dog runs into another dog that just doesn’t match her play style, it’s OK to walk away and find another match. Again with the human analogy: we wouldn’t be successful at shoving an introvert and an extrovert alone in a room together and asking them to hold a long conversation. But two extroverts, and you’re more likely to see a successful encounter.

Conclusion

There are so many reasons why your dog might not like other dogs, and we really won’t know the reason until we see her try to interact with new dogs. But it’s perfectly appropriate, and good, for her to be picky about who she chooses to play with.

So don’t worry if your dog only loves her brother, but struggles around other dogs. As long as she’s fulfilled in other ways, she doesn’t need a bunch of doggy friends. She has you, and if that’s enough for her, then it’s enough for us!

We hear it all the time: “Crate train your dog!” But why? Is it really beneficial? Will it really help you and your dog? So before you decide if you should crate train your dog, let’s talk about the benefits of crating training.

Boarding

Are you going out of town soon for vacation, and needing to find a place for your pup to stay? Unless you have someone coming to your house to care for your dog, she will likely need to be kenneled in some capacity while you’re away. That might be in a crate or a larger kennel run, but regardless, your dog is going to be confined in some way.

And that’s simply for her safety and your boarder’s sanity. Bringing a dog into a new space without any boundaries or structure is a recipe for disaster. She doesn’t know the environment, and there’s probably a whole bunch of interesting smells and activities she can get herself into that just wouldn’t be safe. So, your boarder is going to crate her when unsupervised.

And if your dog has never been taught how to go in and out of a crate, or how to relax calmly in a crate, or how to be comfortable in a different space from us… then she’s going to have a really tough time while you’re away. Dogs that are suddenly crated without any experience can become very stressed out and could likely spend their crate time barking, panting, pacing, pawing at the doors, and trying to escape. And that’s not something that can be overcome in a few minutes – it takes time to get your dog comfortable in the crate.

So if you want your dog to be stress-free and relaxed while you’re doing the same on vacation, help her out and make sure she’s crate trained before you leave. You’ll both be happier knowing she’s comfortable.

Surgery or Injury

In the worst-case scenario where your dog needs surgery or has a serious injury, you’ll likely need to limit her movement for a while. This can be anything from a spay or neuter, to hip surgery, to dealing with an infection. Whatever the medical reason, your vet is going to prescribe lots of rest so her body can heal. And if you have a high-energy pup, it’s going to be really tough to get her to relax in your home without the use of a crate.

Enter the crate! There’s not a whole lot to do in there, other than lie down and take a nice long nap. Which is exactly what the doctor ordered!

But if your dog is already stressed out by being in the crate, and we then add in the stress of being in pain and confused because her body just doesn’t feel good, you can expect a really difficult recovery period. But if she already feels comfortable settling into her cozy crate, it will make her rest period that much easier on her (and you).

So if your dog has a surgery or procedure coming up, do yourselves a big favor and start working on crate training now.

Travel with Your Dog

Staying in a hotel? Visiting a friend? Taking an RV across the country? We sure hope that you can bring your dog with on such wonderful adventures. But we also hope you have a way to keep her safe and contained during big events or transitions. Here’s why:

When you go on vacation with your dog, you are completely throwing off her entire routine. Where she sleeps, when she eats, what activities she does throughout the day, who she interacts with. And while these are all really fun and exciting changes, they can also create a lot of stress for dogs who typically thrive off routine and structure. No routine? You’re going to see some problems in her behaviors.

But if you are able to bring along her crate, a place where she’s comfortable and understands the expectations, you can create a very comfortable and familiar routine for her in the midst of all of these changes.

• A long day on the trails? Go relax in your crate when we’re done to get some much-needed rest.
• Staying in a strange hotel? Sleep in your crate where you feel safe and can tune out the hotel’s unfamiliar noises.
• Visiting friends who have kids, dogs, and an overall busy house? Unwind in your crate where you can ignore all of the overwhelming distractions that might be too much to handle.

Bringing a crate on vacation (assuming your dog already knows how to relax in it), can change your experience from stressful and overwhelming, to fun and relaxing. And isn’t that what we all want for ourselves… and our dogs?

Behavioral Challenges

When we start working with a new client, we always ask if the dog is crate trained. Why? Because it can tell us so much about the dog and how they view the world.

If your dog doesn’t spend any time in the crate, she likely gets free access to your home, and her food, and water, and the opportunity to bark out the windows, and jump on guests when they come over, and… the list goes on and on. Without the use of the crate in the home, we can usually expect to see certain behaviors arise because your dog is overstimulated and simply doesn’t have the opportunity to fully rest and unwind.

Now this isn’t to say that all behavior problems can be solved by crate training your dog. Or that if your dog isn’t crate trained, you’re going to see lots of issues. But more often than not, dogs that are not crate trained do experience common behavior issues that we see repeatedly.

If you come to us to work on behavior issues, we’re going to recommend crate training your dog. It takes away the option to practice lots of unwanted behaviors. If your dog is relaxing in the crate, she can’t:

• Bark out the window
• Follow you anxiously around the house
• Chase squirrels in the yard
• Jump on guests or furniture or the counters or…

And the list goes on and on. So while we definitely need to address those unwanted behaviors and teach your dog better alternatives, we can completely remove the option to practice those poor choices in the meantime. So don’t rule out crate training as a fantastic tool to manage your dog’s behaviors until you can get her the training and help she needs.

Convenience

Sometimes you just can’t focus on what your dog is doing, but you also don’t trust her to be left alone. Or maybe you had a long day and you need ten minutes to yourself to unwind and breathe. Or perhaps you have people coming to work on the house and don’t want to worry about if she’ll run through the open door or knock over all of their equipment. Jumping onto a Zoom call for work and don’t want to apologize for your dog barking at the screen?

Any guesses on how we can manage these situations?

Crate training! Crates aren’t for bad dogs. Crates are a safe place to put your dog away when you can’t give her your attention. That’s it. So if you’re worried that you will be too busy or distracted to give her your attention, there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving her some rest time in her crate. It’s good for her, and it’s good for you.

Conclusion

We’re going to sound like a broken record here, but crate training is such a valuable skill for your dog to have. Whether it’s for safety, for working on certain behaviors, or simply to give yourself a mental break, your dog’s crate has so many valuable uses.

And there are loads of dog trainers out there that are skilled in helping you and your dog get comfortable with using the crate. Remember, it can be really scary and stressful to be shoved into a crate when your dog isn’t used to it. So you definitely want to take your time and make sure your dog truly feels comfortable and safe in her crate. And if you don’t feel comfortable teaching that on your own, please reach out for help.

There are so many different ways to teach your dog the down command. The most common method that you’ll see is using a treat to lure your dog’s body into the position you want to see. And it’s the most common because it works really well… for most dogs. But what if your dog just doesn’t understand, or doesn’t care, or doesn’t want to?

Teaching the Down Command in a Way That Makes Sense for Your Dog

We have been working with Fenris, a Greater Mountain Swiss, who was really struggling to understand our “typical” methods for teaching the down command. That doesn’t mean we give up. It means we pivot and try something new that makes sense for this specific dog.

What you’ll see in this video is one of our trainers, Chloe, using a couple different methods to help Fenris understand how we want his body to be positioned. For the “down” command, we want elbows, belly, and butt on the floor. As soon as he gets all three on the floor, we immediately give him a reward (treat) to let him know he did the right thing.

Now with Fenris, we’re working on a lot of confidence building and building up his attention around distractions. Asking his body to slow down and hold any position is tough for him. So our trainer is taking it very slow and giving him time to process and make some choices. You’ll see him try different behaviors like walking away, pawing at her, trying to eat the treat out of her hand. And in all of these attempts, she is calm and patient, showing him that those behaviors aren’t going to get him the treat he really wants.

When he finally tries to lie down, he is immediately rewarded. This clicks for him, as he begins to understand that his behavior (his very specific behavior of lying down on the ground) is getting him the reward he wants. And once that clicks, he’ll start offering that down faster and more willingly.

Let’s see it in action:

Will This Work for My Dog?

Now this method won’t work for every dog. Many dogs don’t need this much time and space to process through a new behavior like the down command. But if you’re trying other things and they just don’t seem to be working for you or your dog, there’s no harm in trying this method. Perhaps it’s exactly what your dog needs to process and make some different connections between what you’re asking, what she needs to do, and how she can get that reward.

Group classes are a popular option for lots of dog owners. But that doesn’t mean they’re the best training choice for every family. When investing in your dog’s training, you want to make sure that it will be the best fit for your goals, your schedule, and your budget. So we’re going to break down everything you need to know about group classes so that you can confidently make the decision that is best for your family.

What are Group Classes?

Group classes are a type of dog training program that allow you to work in a small group with other dog owners and their dogs. Group sizes are typically limited to 4-10 dogs and their owners, but this will depend on the trainer that you are working with. Typically you will be signing up for about 4-8 classes as part of your training program.

Classes are typically held weekly or bi-weekly at a training facility (or park, or brewery, or wherever your trainer decides is the best fit for your group). During classes, your trainer will demonstrate different training exercises and then will give you time to practice with your dog. The skills covered in class are pre-determined by your trainer and can range from basic puppy skills, agility, off-leash work, tricks, and so much more.

After class, your trainer will likely give you homework to work on with your dog until your next session. This will give you time to practice your new skills and come back ready to add more challenging skills.

Benefits of Group Classes

Working Around Distractions

Because you will be training as part of a group, group classes are a great way to start working with your dog around distractions. For some dogs, simply being in the same room as another dog will be a good challenge to overcome. For others, learning how to stay focused on you while other people are moving around with treats bags will be a challenge. Regardless of what gets your dog excited and distracted, there will be plenty of things in the room that you can help your dog feel comfortable and relaxed around.

Hands-on Practice

You’re going to get lots of hands-on practice in group classes. Typically, your trainer will demonstrate a new behavior she wants you to learn, and then she’ll give you time to practice while she goes around and helps each individual dog and their owner. So not only will you get to try new skills and figure them out with your pup, but your trainer will be right there if you need a little extra help. So much of dog training is about repetition, and you will definitely get the opportunity to practice lots in class!

Cost

Group classes are going to be your cheapest option when it comes to dog training. Because there are several families all paying for your trainer’s time, you reap the benefits of lower costs. Your trainer’s rates can vary based on where you’re located, what behaviors you need to work on, your trainer’s level of expertise, and how many classes you will be attending. A rough estimate for group classes can start at about $150 for all of your sessions, and increase from there based on the above factors.

Downside of Group Classes

Overstimulating for Some Dogs

As mentioned above, group classes can be a great option for teaching your dog how to work around lots of noises, sights, and smells. But this can also be a downfall for some dogs. If your dog is nervous, fearful, easily distracted, or reactive, you may find that group classes are not the right fit for you.

While we want to expose your dog to the things that make her nervous, we also want to make sure that we are putting her in situations where she can be successful in those learning moments. If your dog is overstimulated and is unable to cope in such a busy environment, you will both leave classes feeling frustrated and defeated.

So know your dog’s personality and needs, and determine if she will truly be successful working in a group of dogs. If she’s not -no worries! There are plenty of other training options that you can pursue.

Curriculum is Pre-determined

Now this is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is worth mentioning. When you sign up for group classes, you are signing up for a class that your trainer has already planned out. So you don’t get any say in what skills you will work on in your classes -you’ll simply be following the trainer’s curriculum.

That being said, there is a wide variety of topics that group classes can and do cover. You’ll simply need to spend time doing your research to make sure you find a group class that fits your needs. So whether you want to learn tricks, teach your dog to walk on leash, practice puppy manners, or any other number of skills, make sure you find a class that focuses on those specific skills.

Not Ideal for Serious Behavior Issues

There are some behaviors that you aren’t going to be able to address in a group setting simply because the layout of the class isn’t the right fit. For example, group classes aren’t going to be the right fit for helping your leash reactive dog learn how to calmly ignore other people and dogs. It’s also going to be a difficult environment to work through intense fear of new spaces or people, as a few examples.

Simply put, group classes are best suited for fairly confident, happy, well-rounded dogs that are not easily startled, overwhelmed, or dealing with serious behavior concerns. If you are dealing with more difficult behavior issues, you need to work through those individually, not in a group setting. Private lessons, day training, or a board and train program may be a better fit for your training needs in these instances.

No One-on-One Time With Your Trainer

Because your trainer is going to be teaching multiple family, you won’t get a lot of one-on-one attention from her. While some people may be fine with this, it’s not the best learning style for everyone. If you learn by watching and then doing, or by asking a clarifying question here or there, then you’ll do great in group classes.

But if you need more time and in-depth explanations to process new information, then you’ll likely find yourself frustrated by the lack of personalized attention in class. The design of the class simply doesn’t allow your trainer to give you her undivided attention when she’s trying to simultaneously teach the group.

Conclusion

Are group classes right for you? Only you can know for certain. But there are a lot of great benefits that can come from working your dog in a group setting. However, if you’re dealing with more advanced behaviors, have a dog that would really struggle in a large group, or if you simply don’t think it would best suit your learning style, please know that this is just one of many options available to you.

Keep asking questions, and make sure you talk with your trainer before signing up if you aren’t quite sure if group classes are the right fit for you. They are full of knowledge, and will be able to help you pick a program that will best meet your needs.

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We do not currently offer group classes as part of our training programs. However, if you have decided that group classes are not the best fit for you and want to learn about our other programs, you can check out our Training Programs page for a breakdown of programs that may be a better fit for your needs.

Still not sure what your family needs? Fill out our contact form and schedule your free consultation so that you can speak with one of our trainers. We’ll help break down your options and make sure you’re getting all of the information you need to make the right decision for your family.

Day training is a fairly new training program in the world of dog training, so you likely have some questions: what is it, how does it work, is it right for my family? We’re here to provide you with the information you need to make an educated decision for your family. So let’s break down those big questions so that you can decide if day training is the right investment for your training needs.

What is Day Training?

Day training programs offer a hybrid training style between private lessons and board and train programs. We like to equate them to school, but for your dog. So in a typical day training program, you will drop your dog off in the morning and pick her up in the evening. During her day, she will have several training sessions with your trainer to work on basic skills (what skills exactly will depend on the program you sign up for). She will also get social time to play with the other dogs under your trainer’s supervision, and will have downtime in her crate to relax between each of these sessions.

Day training programs vary greatly in their length. Some training facilities require that you sign up for a complete program, which typically run several days per week for several weeks. Other trainers may allow drop-in days where your dog can come for just one day to work on specific skills you need help with. When talking about signing up for a day training program, make sure you know exactly how many days you’re signing up for, and what behaviors your trainer will help you work on.

Benefits of Day Training

Individualized Training Goals

Day training programs should give you the flexibility to set your own training goals with your trainer. Whether you need help with counter surfing, leash skills, reactivity, or any other behavior, your trainer can help you work through these issues as part of your program (assuming they are experienced with these skills). While many programs will have certain goals like crate training and impulse control, those can and should be added to anything specific that you need help with.

Your Trainer Does A Lot of Work for You

Here’s where you get the benefit of a hybrid program between private lessons (you learn how to train your dog), and board and train programs (your dog lives with your trainer for several weeks of training). When you drop your dog off for day training, your dog is getting fully immersed in training for the day. This includes kennel training, learning to wait at doors, learning how to play safely with other dogs. And this is on top of the individual goals and skills that you want to work on. And your trainer is doing all of this training all day long!

In case you haven’t hear yet, dog training takes a lot of patience, consistency, and repetition for your dog to truly understand. That’s what your dog is getting in a full day of training. So if teaching your dog alone doesn’t sound like something you’d enjoy or be successful with, enrolling in a day training program can help bring a lot of success in a short period of time.

One-on-One Lessons

Now that all sounds great – “let the trainer teach my dog!” But that isn’t really worth your investment, because that doesn’t guarantee that your dog will transfer those skills and learning experiences to your home. So even though your trainer may have great success with your dog’s behavior, you also need to learn how to practice and get comfortable with your new skills. That’s where lessons come in.

The best day training programs will offer you one-on-one lessons to transfer all of your dog’s knowledge over to you. So don’t think this program is an easy out – you will still have work to do. But your trainer will do the heavy lifting of making sure your dog understands her new commands before teaching you.

Lessons can be daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on how the program is setup. Regardless of the exact structure of these lessons, make sure that the day training program you are looking into offers a very clear way for you to learn and apply what your dog has learned at “school”.

Doggy Playtime

Want your dog to get playtime with other dogs? Day training programs should be offering playtime for your dog to have fun and unwind during their days. Dogs learn best when we keep them engaged and happy, and that includes giving them downtime to let loose and just have fun together.

Playtime should always be supervised, and dogs should be matched based on their personalities and energy levels. Supervised play sessions are full of great learning opportunities, but every dog needs to be advocated for. So if your dog doesn’t like other dogs, that’s ok! She should (hopefully) be given the opportunity to learn how to calmly coexist around other dogs. And what a benefit that will be for enjoying life with your dog out in the real world!

Small Group Sizes

Unlike a doggy daycare environment that can have 20-30 dogs in a group, day training programs have much smaller group sizes. This gives your dog more one-on-one time with your trainer, which means more opportunities to play and learn. When looking at a day training program, you should expect a small group size ranging from 3 to 6 dogs per trainer, per day. Any more than that, and your dog likely won’t be getting the attention and training that you’re paying for.

Downside of Day Training

Scheduling

Because you are dropping your dog off at a training facility, you will need to follow their daily schedule. This can be a hindrance for families that are also juggling work and kids’ extracurricular activities. Make sure you know when you can drop off your dog, and how late you can pick up in the evenings.

This also goes for your one-on-one lessons. Because your trainer will be engaged with the dogs during the day, she may have limited availability to schedule your lessons outside of program hours. If you have a busy schedule, it’s important that you check on your trainer’s availability so that you can plan accordingly.

Cost

Cost can be prohibitive for families considering day training programs. While these programs are not as expensive as board and train programs (where your dog lives with your trainer for weeks at a time), they are more costly than private lessons and group classes. This is because your trainer is committing to a full day of training to a small group of dogs. When your dog is in her care, she is committed to being onsite and working hands-on with your dog. And that’s a good thing! That means she’s working toward getting you the results that you need. But that also means she needs to be properly compensated for that time and work.

Your trainer’s rates can vary based on where you’re located, what behaviors you need to work on, your trainer’s level of expertise, and how many days per week your dog will attend. A rough estimate for day training can start at about $300 per week, and then increase from there based on the above factors.

Questions to Ask Your Day Training Program

1. What training goals and skills will you be teaching my dog?
2. Do you have experience teaching dogs to work on (your specific training needs)?
3. Do you include lessons so that I can learn what my dog is learning in training?
4. How do you match dogs for group playtime?
5. What if my dog doesn’t like other dogs? Does she still get time to play?
6. What is your dog to trainer ratio?
7. What are drop-off and pick-up times?
8. What is included in the cost of the program (training equipment, how many days of training, lessons, any follow-up training, etc.)?
9. Can I talk with other program graduates about their experiences?

Conclusion

Day training can be a great training option for many dog owners. There are a lot of benefits to this unique program style, and we think it’s definitely worth looking into on your search. But not every training program is the right fit for every family. So when speaking with a trainer, we highly recommend bringing the above list of questions and making sure that the program truly meets your needs.

If day training can help you meet your dog training goals, then we wish you the best of luck! But if it doesn’t make sense for your family, know that there are other options available to you. Taking the time to carefully choose the right training program will make all the difference for your family.

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Interested in learning more about our day training program? Check out our Training Programs page for a breakdown of what to expect when working with our trainers.