FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

First we review what is happening now, and what happened before. We look for opportunities to manage the household environment and off-property activities to set your dog up for success, we make sure your dog has adequate exercise, enrichment, play, and opportunities to do normal doggy things, then we teach alternative behaviors, we teach appropriate ways to interrupt and redirect behavior, and we work to shift your dog's emotions when we need to, if there is overarousal or anxiety /fear /phobia /jealousy /predation driving behavior. I make sure you can read your dog's body language and you don't accidentally add fuel to the fire or reinforce things by mistake, too. I work best with clients who are willing to let me guide the process. You must be ready to realize there is no quick fix and no magic wand (or collar) for humane, effective training. Changes to human behavior are usually required, and skipping agreed-upon homework is not an option. Also, not all brains are neurotypical, so for those dogs, it's likely that your dog's plan will include partnering with your vet to find medication(s) to treat anxiety, fear, or phobia contributing to behavior.

Virtual services are available everywhere. In-home services are available at the specific locations are listed at the very bottom of the website in and around Baltimore County, Maryland. I tend to drive about 15 minutes or so from Chestnut Ridge Fire Station if you want to google driving directions to that location. If you live outside that area, sometimes we can set up outdoor work with you at Meadowood Park, but there typically must be some groundwork done virtually first so your dog can learn skills in a low distraction environment. You can also look for a post in my blog about Other Pros to find someone reputable in your area.

Yes! You can start on the Client Comments tab to see some info as well as review pages on Google, Yelp, and Facebook. If you would like to message with a previous client, let us know and we will connect you. We have clients who have worked virtually as well as in-person.

We suggest you prioritize any fear, anxiety, or aggressive behavior first. It is generally important to address these issues before they worsen, plus we can't come teach manners skills to a dog who is aggressive toward strangers, for instance. Read through the Services & Rates tab and choose the one you think is the best fit. Then click the red button and you can add brief details in the message so we can help adjust the package as needed.

Think about anything you've ever tried - a sport, an instrument, a hobby. Were you able to do it really well without thinking after a lesson or two? Probably not! We expect an awful lot from our dogs in terms of not doing totally normal, species-appropriate behavior and instead doing things we call "manners." Six sessions allows me to work with you and your dog to teach a few skills and then do the important part - begin to generalize them to other situations and contexts by adding duration, distance, and distraction as well as new faces and places when required.

There is a video below if you'd rather watch than read, but here are some quick tips: * for a manners or behavior modification intake, it's just a regular video call and we don't need your dog, but read on to learn about details * for a separation anxiety intake, set up near a door where you can exit your home and have both a laptop and a phone signed in * choose a space that is bright but not back lit, e.g. with a big window behind you, which makes it hard to see you and your dog * choose a space where you can move around * have a container full of lots of high-value, pea-sized treats, preferably at least 2 kinds, like chicken breast and string cheese; containers are better than bags to avoid crinkle sounds * have a bowl of water for your pup * have a harness and leash ready to use * be ready to log in several minutes early in case you run into tech issues * use a laptop for best view by the trainer, and tilt so we can see the floor * if you use a phone and a tripod, use a landscape/horizontal view instead of portrait/vertical or your dog ends up off frame frequently

* Avoid overexercise and playdates prior to your session * Grooming and vet visits should follow training, not be scheduled the night before or morning of training * Feed a partial meal or skip a meal if mealtime is close to your session * Use follow up links and articles in the Video Refresher Library (found in the Blog menu)

Once you select your appointment times, we hold them for 48 hours and send 2 messages. One has your paperwork and one has your invoice. You complete and e-sign paperwork online and pay your invoice online to confirm your spot. We review everything, then you get calendar confirmations. If we don't hear back within 48 hours, your spot is released. Payment is made via Paypal or credit card. We can arrange Venmo or Zelle but we don't take mailed checks or cash onsite.

The cost of a session includes your trainer's expertise, training plan prep and revision, travel to and from your home, time in lessons, communication with you and your vet, and a slice of overhead expense. Overhead includes a long list of expenses required to run a business including the cost of insurance, hosting a website, continuing education, administrative work, legal and accounting fees, credit card fees, automative expense, supplies, continuing education, taxes, and so on. If it's out of your budget to do private lessons, we can suggest options including group class and DIY work via webinar, podcast, blog, book, you name it. Just ask!