Common Questions
What are the benefits of having a trained dog?
Training opens up a line of communication between you and your dog. This gives you the ability to educate the dog on how they can most successfully co-exist within your family. Being able to enjoy activities like hosting friends at your home, taking walks, running through fields, hiking and going to the beach are some of the benefits that our clients regularly get to enjoy.
At what age should training begin?
Training begins the moment that you bring your dog home. Dogs are always learning so having a well thought out plan from day 1 is highly recommended. We encourage pet owners to begin working with a professional between 3-6 months to prevent behavioral issues from occurring, however it is never too late to start training your dog.
Should I bring food for my dog?
Is K9 Heeling the right dog trainer for me?
No, you do not have to bring food for your dog. We will happily feed our house food (VeRus) at no additional cost, but we find the quick switch in food can sometimes upset their tummies. So we suggest if your dog is here for an extended stay, to bring a few days worth of your dogs food so that we can transition him slowly to our food without any problems.
If you decide to bring your dogs food it must be in an air-tight container, not the original bag. We require a HARD plastic container for the sanitary keeping of your dogs food for their stay with us.
If you feed your dog Raw food, we can absolutely accommodate. We have a fridge/freezer that we use to store the food.
Due to our many years of experience, our broad understanding of principles, techniques and tools, and our proven track record of reliable results; typically the answer is "YES".
However, if you're looking for any of the following we may not be a good fit for you:
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Quick fixes to dog training/behavior
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A purely positive training approach
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Continued success without any work
Please give us a call if you'd like to learn about anything further or if we can answer any questions: (443) 397 4141.
What if I just want my dog to stop chewing, pulling on the leash, jumping on people, barking etc.?
Should I bring food bowls, blankets, beds or toys for my dogs stay?
We want your dog to feel at home during their stay with us but we already have most of what your dog needs! We have plenty of food bowls and toys, so you can cross those off your list. As far as bedding, if your dog can be in his crate at home without destroying his bedding, feel free to bring it along, if not we have plenty of cots for your dog to sleep on.
A dog training course is a small investment for years of enjoyment. The cost of training will depend on your specific dog(s) and the specific goals for training. We have a range of programs and approaches . Check out the "Training" page to see which customized program will best suit your needs.
We also offer consultations where we get to meet with you and help guide you to select the best program for you and your dog.
How much does training cost?
Obedience training is always the best place to start when you would like to make a change in your dogs behavior. Having the ability to tell the dog not to do something or to do a different behavior in a particular scenario is the most effective and reliable way of reaching your goals with your dog.
Where will my dog be sleeping?
We have an abundance of suites and crates in our climate controlled facility that your dog will rest in at night. If your dog is here for boarding or touch-up training, your dog will more than likely be sleeping in one of the suites. If your dog is in the beginning stages of training he will more than likely be in a crate until he graduates to a suite.
How can I get updates while my dog is in your care?
What types of tools and methods do you use for training?
To sum it up; we research, study, practice and utilize as many of the tools and techniques in dog training that we can get our hands on. The actual training program we use is Foundation Style Dog Training. From the intricacies of food based reward training to the state-of-the-art military and dog sport systems our goal is to be as knowledgable and experienced as possible so that we are best able to serve every dog that comes our direction. The single most important tool that we utilize is our personal philosophies, energies and body language. Every time that we walk into a room or engage with a dog we are teaching them. All other equipment is at our disposal to ensure the most effective learning can take place with the least amount of stress on the animal or the client. My personal favorite tools are a 20 foot cotton training lead, a clicker and high value reward (food or toy).
While your dog is in our care you can rest assured that we are doing everything possible to keep them happy, healthy and safe. If you would like to check in on your furry friend please just call or email and we will get back to you within 24 hours.
Typically we don't recommend coming to visit the dog while they are here for a "Training Stay". It ends up adding stress to the dog and potentially causing us to lose a training day.
Will my dog socialize with other dogs during their stay?
Absolutely. This is a major part of our ability to help our doggie friends restore balance in their lives. We have daily "socials" which are structured/supervised groups of dogs interacting with one another. We utilize this same format to help dogs with poor social skills become safe and polite within the group.
How much do I need to practice?
Training a dog takes time and repetition, and your goal should be to train every day. Although this may seem daunting, even 10-15 minutes a day makes a huge difference. If you can train more, that’s even better. And remember, training is not something that happens just when you bring out the leash. Every interaction with your dog is an opportunity to reinforce what you’re learning with us.