Frequently Asked Questions
What makes your approach different and more effective?
We will problem solve through state of mind behavioral training. We will teach your dog to relax and to feel more comfortable around challenging stimuli in the environment. We won't just repeat and rehearse commands, we will fundamentally improve your dog's emotional state of mind. We will cultivate new habits, teach relaxation skills and perception modification, train for calmness instead of excitability, and reinforce desired free behavior. We will create an advanced communication system between you and your dog. We will help your dog build confidence around triggers and stimuli, like people, cars, children, dogs, and small animals… and address the underlying issues of excitability, reactivity, insecurity, and anxiety.
What is the difference between behavioral training and obedience training?
Behavioral training involves teaching your dog to relax and not react to overwhelming stimuli in the environment. Obedience training involves teaching your dog to respond to cues or commands, including “sit”, and “down”. Issuing an obedience command is not always a solution for psychological or emotional difficulties, such as anxiety and aggression. An obedient dog, who is not well-behaved, will always need to be told "what to do", rather than making appropriate decisions and choices as an individual, on their own. If your dog struggles with impulsive, anxious, adrenalized behavior, then behavioral training will be incredible for you and your dog. Behavioral training focuses on helping your dog become more emotionally flexible, resilient, and optimistic.
Should I choose the Foundation Program?
After the initial 1.5-Hour Dog Training Lesson, you may choose to complete the Foundation Program; the Foundation Program is a very popular training program! You will receive coaching and direct support throughout the entire process. Depending on your dog’s behaviors, this package-of-4 program can be purchased multiple times... We'll continue to work through the training process, in order to prevent or resolve all of your dog's problematic behaviors.
What are the advantages of training with The Incredible K9?
There are many advantages! You will receive:
How do I learn more about your dog training programs and prices?
You can schedule a time for us to talk over the phone or meet in person! To get started with dog training, you may schedule an appointment here. You may choose between a 10-Minute Phone Call, a 30-Minute Evaluation, or a 1.5-Hour Dog Training Lesson.
What training tools and equipment will I need?
1. Any treat pouch or fanny pack
What is the fastest way to get started with dog training?
As soon as you schedule the 1.5-Hour Dog Training Lesson, you can immediately create an account here. I will approve you as a member, and then you'll receive access to instructional videos and training PDFs, which means that you can actually begin training your puppy or adult dog TODAY. Learn about the easiest relaxation technique, proven to benefit any dog, and have a calmer dog this week! Then, during the initial private lesson, training will continue with methods specific to your dog's greatest needs.
Should I schedule the initial 1.5-Hour Dog Training Lesson?
How do we schedule lessons for the Foundation Program?
What happens if I don’t use all of my program lessons within the timeline?
What happens if I need to cancel or “skip” a Foundation Program lesson?
We are all too busy, too sick, or traveling, at times! That’s life, and it’s completely understandable! If you do not intend to use a lesson (for example, you may know that next week you’ll be out of town, or just too busy with work) then please let me know as soon as possible. Please email, call, or text, as soon as you know that you will be skipping a lesson. I also may have conflicts that arise with lessons, and I will notify you if I need to skip a week’s lesson, as well. Lessons do not need to occur every single week, there is extra time built into the timeline for “skipped weeks”: 4 lessons within 6 weeks.
What are options for making smaller payments?
How many lessons does it take until I start to see results?
This can be different for every dog! Results are based on many factors, including a dog's genetics, complexity of behaviors, desire to eat food (we will train with a lot of food!), training consistency, time commitment, skill with the techniques, etc. I have worked with dogs who made significant changes after the first lesson! I have also worked with dogs who were incredibly complex and difficult, and it took about four lessons until results felt really obvious with steady, consistant, daily improvement. We will work together, for as long as you desire, to achieve the results that are possible! You will receive coaching and direct support throughout the entire process.
Nothing has worked for my dog. Can you help?
I train with a system developed by Mark McCabe: Training Between the Ears (TBTE). TBTE resolves significant and complex behavioral problems, like these:
Do you train puppies?
Yes! These are common puppy-related issues that we can resolve:
Do you train aggressive dogs?
Yes! I work with all behavioral problems. These are examples of more complex, yet still very common issues that we can resolve:
Do my dog's vaccines need to be up-to-date?
Yes. Prior to the 30-Minute Evaluation or 1.5-Hour Dog Training Lesson, the contract and up-to-date vaccination records will need to be submitted online.
I am having trouble logging in to the Members Only Area for lesson details. What should I do?