Private Training

Our private training process begins with a 45 minute Zoom consultation to allow for you to meet your trainer, talk about your dog and any behavioral goals or challenges, and discuss the training pathway forward. Before your Zoom meeting, we collect in depth information on your dog via google form to ensure efficiency during your meeting, and to give your trainer the relevant information that may affect the training plan. After the consultation, you will meet with your trainer in person. The goal of our training is to give you, the handler, the skills to read your dog, reinforce the things you like, and sustain positive feelings and behaviors so you can live a happy life with your dog! Each session is typically an hour long, and the handler is present for these sessions so you can work on the skills at home in your daily lives.

Across BlueDog training and walking services, we use positive reinforcement training via marker training. We love using clickers and teaching handlers how to build value in behaviors they want to see more of! Our clients use treats, praise, toys, and other types of reinforcement to build positive associations, strengthen bonds, and ensure sustainability. Alongside training games and activities, our trainers recommend management strategies to increase the rate of success and confidence throughout the training journey. Our team focuses on behavior modification via counter conditioning, desensitization, the use of Control Unleashed skills, and more.

While we absolutely love and encourage the use of clickers, we understand they may not be for everyone. As explained in Kim’s Clicker Tutorial, you can use a verbal marker in place of the clicker.

Costs depend on a few different factors such as type of behavior being worked on, the amount of support provided throughout a package, and more. We recommend filling out our private training inquiry form to get more of an idea of what to expect. All of our private training begins with a 45 minute Zoom session priced at $100. All further pricing is finalized at your consultation.

It depends! The most successful teams consist of dedicated handlers who consistently practice and follow through with their training and management plans. We offer packages of four private training sessions at a bulk discount since we understand that training is usually not “done” after just one session. After each package, your trainer will check in on your progress and what you’re feeling about your goals. This can take months, a year, multiple years - it totally depends on what time is put in, and what goals you have! This is without considering any factors from the dog’s perspective like health issues, training history, and so much more. At the consultation, your trainer can walk you through more of what to expect.

The location of your sessions will vary and depend on what is going to be most successful for your dog. Our trainers have worked in client’s homes, at our training facility in Lawrence, and out in public spaces (and even virtually!). This is typically determined at your consultation and throughout your in person sessions. Sessions that take place in your home do incur a travel fee that is calculated by mileage at booking.

Private training is a wonderful pathway for dogs who struggle with reactivity, fearfulness, aggression, over-excitement or arousal, or dogs who are experiencing car sickness, resource guarding, stranger danger, separation anxiety, and more. The advantage of private training is getting your own training plan, a consistent trainer to check in on progress, and the space to work individually and safely at your dog’s pace.

Handlers that thrive in private training are those that learn better one on one, commit to daily training, follow through with training and management plans, and seek out learning experiences. Private training can also benefit individuals who may need specific training modifications or assistance due to different life events like welcoming a new baby, disabilities, accessibility challenges, multiple children in the home, specific scheduling needs, etc. While everyone could highly benefit from private training, progress is made through consistency, an openness to learn, and good communication with your trainer. What you put into your training is what you will get out of it!

Typically our consultation and in person training prices cover all dogs in your household. There have been cases where dogs are separated by packages with more extreme or intense behaviors. Your trainer will discuss this with you at the consultation before moving into in person sessions to ensure you're all on the same page.

Absolutely - clients can greatly benefit from the virtual training within the comfort of their homes. Virtual training can be helpful for dogs who are struggling with stranger danger, over-arousal around new humans, and helpful for handlers who are across the state, country, or even world! Because our training process involves our trainers teaching the HANDLERS to train their dogs, virtual training is quite perfect for that set up - plus, your trainer may even be able to demo with their own dogs to make learning even easier with visual guides! They can use another dog without adding to your dog’s arousal or triggering reactive dogs. Half of training is management, which can include lifestyle/routine changes, implementation of safety set ups like x-pens or baby gates, information gathering and troubleshooting, and so much more - which equals a lot of talk! Zoom is the perfect host for chatting without the dog even being involved. This keeps everyone successful, focused, and able to collaborate on strategies and ideas.

You know what they say - nothing in life is guaranteed and dog training is no different. What we do guarantee is that your trainer will offer the most progressive, thorough, kind, and effective training methods and recommendations to aid you in achieving your goals! The rate of your success is in your hands (and treat pouch!). With our trainers guidance, you can unlock a whole new level of communication, training success, and happiness with your dog. Consistency is key, and even small, daily training sessions can make a difference if you stick with it!