F. a. q.

I am primarily a pet dog trainer. While I educate myself on a wide variety of animal behavior and training topics, dogs are where I got started, and are who I work with the most right now.

Some examples of things I can help you and your dog with are:

• Puppy training & socialization

• Life skills & manners, such as crating, leash walking, polite greetings, common cues/commands (sit, down, stay, wait, etc.), recall (come), and more.

• Managing your dog’s environment to set them up for success

• Support through the boisterous adolescent phase

• Confidence building for nervous or anxious dogs

• Tricks, and other fun behaviors

• Fearful dogs: this could include things like fear of vacuums, thunderstorms, or fireworks.

• Mild to moderate reactivity that often stems from fear, frustration, or excitement.

• Support for excited or distracted dogs learning how to focus and chill out.

For the following, I decide on a case-by-case basis whether myself, or another trusted local trainer would be the best fit for your needs. Please feel free to reach out! I’d love to talk to you about it, to find the best fit for your situation.

• Dogs with a bite history (have bitten and caused injury to a person or dog, not just as a result of puppy nipping with sharp baby teeth)

• Resource guarding between pets in the home

For the following cases, I currently refer out to other trainers:

• Dog sports training

• Hunting dog training

• Service dog training

• Dogs with a severe bite history

• Serious aggression between pets in the same home

If your dog is in one of the categories I’m not currently taking on cases for, I would be happy to talk to you to make suggestions for other local trainers, if you want a little support in the process of finding the right fit for you. I only refer out to trainers who I would trust with my own dogs, so I trust that you will be in good hands.

We can talk more in-depth at your consult about your specific situation, but in general, the following things are often useful to have available when we begin training:

• A standard length (approximately 6-feet, or similar) flat leash.

• A flat collar, martingale collar, or harness for attaching your leash to your dog. We can always discuss which would meet your dog’s needs best during your consult, and make sure you and your dog are both comfortable with it.

• Things your dog likes, and is motivated to work for, such as:

• Soft treats, in very small pieces

• Toys they are motivated to play with, such as squeaker toys, tug toys, tennis balls, etc.

• A space in your home to work on training. If you’re struggling to find a space that you feel will work well, I would be happy to brainstorm on one with you.

Anything else we might use in training, we can talk about in your consult, based on your goals and your dog’s needs.

To a degree, the ideal time between sessions can vary based on your goals, ability to practice, and your lifestyle. That being said, for most clients, I recommend 2-4 weeks between sessions. This allows you sufficient time to look over the notes your trainer sends you, practice, and be ready at your next session to build on those skills you practiced. Typically you will receive your notes from your trainer within one week of your session.

If your dog isn’t currently motivated by food rewards, that’s ok too! There are many options that can be used for rewards, not just treats. We have multiple options, and we’ll find what works best for your dog.

There are a lot of reasons why a dog might not seem food motivated. We can check if any of them are relevant to your dog, and how we might improve your dog’s food motivation, if it would be beneficial to you and your dog.

I completely understand how this can feel daunting when considering training with treats or other rewards — my dog has food allergies too!

We can absolutely work within the bounds of what your dog can safely eat at the moment. Even if your dog is on an elimination diet, we can use their veterinarian-prescribed food as treats, and use other rewards like toys, play, pets, play, and life rewards where we need to. I would be happy to help you brainstorm what solutions would work best with your dog’s needs, while following your vet’s guidelines for their diet.

If your dog has dietary restrictions, I recommend getting clear guidelines from your vet about what your dog’s food and treat limitations prior to your session, so that we can work together to find the best option for your dog while prioritizing their health needs and adhering to your vet’s guidelines.

We are located in Columbia, Missouri, and offer in-home and real-world private lessons and semi-private lessons within Columbia, as well as sometimes in areas surrounding Columbia, such as Fulton, Jefferson City, Ashland, Midway, Pierpoint, and more

It’s best to reach out to us by text or email when scheduling an appointment if you’re outside of the city or in a nearby city, to ensure that adequate travel time is included when we schedule out of city limits.