THE "NATURAL WAY"

Dog Training Courses

We are experts in solving existing behavior problems and preventing them from happening in the first place. Using the way that dogs communicated naturally we can teach you to speak your dogs language. Once you understand how to communicate "The Natural Way" there will be no limits to what you can accomplish!

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k9 dog training in field

LEVEL 1 ALL BREED PROBLEM SOLVING & OBEDIENCE

SEND YOUR DOG TO BOOT CAMP!

By far the easiest way to train your dog! Over 40 years of training dogs we have seen that this style of training produces the best results. Why? Because training a dog successfully requires that someone needs to train the dog daily for 45 minutes consistently. This means that unless the trainer has possession of the dog the owner will be required to do this work each and every day for approximately 2 months per course. Life happens and although owners have good intentions, typically the consistency will disappear. The result is little training gets done. The Boot Camp (TM) course allows the trainers to fast track the training making it easier on the owner. The dog stays with us in our state of the art facility for 2-4 weeks while we establish the commands. Upon pick up the owners receive an orientation, demonstration, and lesson. The second half of the course involves the owners following homework and practicing 20 minutes per day for 4 weeks. During this time the trainers come to the owners home and establish the problem solving and manners part of the training. Most owners can manage 20 minutes per day for 4 weeks. This makes the training successful because training has been established with the dog without mistakes. Making it easier for the owner to follow up.

naughty dog in need of dog training

Obedience Training is a good step for your dog, as training opens up a line of communication. Effective communication is necessary to instruct your dog about what you want from them. You should teach your dog various commands such as Heel, Sit, Stay, Come and Down at a minimum. Without correct communication you and your dog are speaking two different languages.

Dogs are social animals and if you don’t provide them with proper training, they can become destructive. Poor behavior such as destructiveness, soiling your house, destroying your belongings, fighting other dogs, barking excessively, digging holes in your garden and even biting people can all be the results of a lack of training. Nearly, all behavior problems are perfectly normal dog activities. They occur at the wrong time or place or are directed at the wrong thing due to the fact that the dog just doesn’t know any better. The solution to all behavior problems is dog obedience training.

At K-9 Companions Dog Training, we know that different breeds and temperaments require various styles of training. We gently handle the smallest of breeds, and firmly handle the large, dominant and aggressive breeds as well. Our methods are based on positive motivation and positive reinforcement. We do not believe in any form of abuse.

In our dog training methods, we use the principles of operant conditioning and extinction of unwanted behaviors through confinement conditioning and instinctual corrections. We have tried true methods to teach your dog how to live in your house or yard without being destructive. We believe every dog should be trained to five basic obedience commands at a minimum: Heel, Sit, Stay, Come, and Down.

The dog must also learn responsiveness to the word “No”, the value of praise and reward and how to obtain it by doing positive things, and “Okay” as the release word that tells him he is no longer under command.

This opens up basic communication between dog and owner, and allows for a much better relationship between the two. Training starts at 4 months of age after the puppy has completed all of the puppy shot series. . The training is continued into off  leash when the dog is a teenager 10-12 months of age.

Obedience training should be rewarding for you and your dog. It can vastly improve your relationship.

HOME MANNERS & MANAGEMENT

At K-9 Companions Dog Training, we know that owners are happiest when their dogs are well mannered.

Along with the basic dog obedience packages, we also include home manners, such as teaching the dog to stop at doors and gates and wait until the owner releases them through the door. Boundaries can be taught in the house and front yard at curbs in order to teach the dog not to run into the street.

The client’s favorite command is called “place.” This command sends the dog to a designated spot in the house to lie down. The dog can then spend time lying near the owner in the house without creating a nuisance. This command increases the average time an owner is willing to spend with the dog.

When training is completed after the owner has practiced the dog should be able to stay laying in place while the owner is watching television, on the computer, cooking dinner, or even having company over.

The dog should learn how to behave around company as well. Jumping up, sniffing, barking, and licking at your company all needs to be corrected.

Management has to do with the owner’s care and housing of the dog. Proper fencing and enclosures, feeding, grooming, and health care are all covered. Each client’s lifestyle and home is different, so management issues are customized for each client.

At K-9 Companions we know that one size does not fill all.  Some of our clients live in apartments while others live on farms.  Different sets of management practices are going to be different depending on the environment.

LEVEL 2 OFF-LEASH OBEDIENCE (OPEN SPACES)

ADVANCED OBEDIENCE AND AGILITIES

For clients who want to take their dog hiking, or out in open spaces such as farms where there may be animal distractions (open spaces) off-leash training is what is appropriate. Open spaces off leash means that a dog who sees a squirrel or a deer and decides to take off after it though the woods, will stop and come back on command. This can only be taught with the basic obedience Level 1 training already established properly.

Dog in need of Advanced Obedience and Agilities Training outdoor dog training

It is also in this level of training where we begin to prepare the dog for a future job. If the dog is to be a service or therapy dog we begin to teach them to watch the owner for their particular needs. We work on such things as retrieving objects, releasing them, circle and block, on guard, and pressure, just to name a few.

LEVEL 3 – COLLEGE FOR YOUR DOG
(CHOOSE A MAJOR)

1. ADVANCED DOG OBEDIENCE TRAINING & AGILITIES

CLIENT CAN CHOOSE 5 TASKS FROM THE SUBJECTS BELOW:

  • Drop on recall
  • Food refusal
  • Sit stay out of sight
  • Down stay out of sight
  • Sit in motion
  • Down in motion
  • Directed jumps
  • Wall jumps (high jump)
  • Cat walk
  • Teeter Totter
  • Retrieving (optional)
  • Tricks
  • Nosework

Agilities build confidence in the dog and allow for a release of stress that can build in obedience due to the inhibitory nature of the tasks.

ADVANCED DOG OBEDIENCE TRAINING AGILITIES

2. SERVICE DOG TRAINING & CERTIFICATION

A dog can be a great addition to someone who has PTSD, TBI, MST, anxiety, depression, or any number of issues. Dogs are also helping children with autism, and a number of other childhood issues. Dogs can help people who have trouble in social situations, with stress, or having difficulty sleeping at night due to night terrors. Dogs can help people with mobility issues, and any number of health concerns. At K-9 Companions we specialize in helping veterans and children. We work with non profit organizations to help with funding. We offer training for existing dogs when qualified or we can help you select the right puppy and offer you training as he grows up to become a Service Dog.

At K-9 Companions Dog Training, we strive to be a full service company as we offer training for clients with disabilities, such as the hearing impaired or wheelchair bound. Dogs can be taught many various behaviors, depending on the client’s needs. Examples of behaviors taught are:

Service dog training Therapy Dog Helping Disabled Senior Man On Wheelchair
  • Opening doors, drawers, and refrigerators
  • Retrieving specific objects (DVD’s, keys, remotes, etc.)
  • Retrieving dropped articles
  • Getting help
  • Pulling on command
  • Turning on or off lights
  • Barking to alert toward danger, doorbell, or telephone
  • Blocking for personal space
  • Providing deep pressure on command
  • Watching the owners back
  • Interrupting anxiety or panic attacks
  • Interrupting night terrors
  • Responding to alarms to wake up or take meds
  • Walking slow to lead
  • Carrying objects

Basic on and off leash obedience and the CGC Test (provided by us) are prerequisites for any service dog training. Client dogs may be used if they qualify.

At K-9 Companions our Service Dog Training Program is different than most in that we involve the client in the actual training of their dog. In the case that the owner is not physically capable of being involved in the training, the owner must provide an assistant that will be involved in the day to day training and care of the dog. Most NPO’s (Non-Profit Organizations) that provide already trained service animals have long waiting lists. In addition, some people already have a dog that they desire to train rather than adding a new dog to the family. While all dogs are not suitable for the work some are.

K-9 Companions is not an NPO. We are a For Profit business and are not in any way in competition with NPOs. We simply offer a service to people that feel they are not a good fit for an NPO either because of the waiting period or because of the desire to train their own dog and to be involved in the process. In fact, in many cases we refer people who aren’t a good fit with us to NPOs Likewise, some NPOs refer people to us when they are not a good fit for them. We offer a cost effective alternative. For people who are not physically capable of being involved with the training of a dog the NPO route where an already trained dog is supplied would be the best route to go.

The process of training takes about 2 years when starting with a puppy. Costs of training vary from dog to dog depending on previous training but in general training a service dog requires on leash obedience, off leash obedience, CGC Testing, learning a minimum of 3 things the dog can do for the handler that he/she can not do for themselves, and Public Access Training (Learning to be in public without being a nuisance or a danger) the dog must be 2 years or older and pass all of these tests for certification.  We must provide all of the training to certify a dog. We do not certify dogs that other trainers have trained unless the client is willing to put the dog back through our course. Since costs for training will total between $7000 and $10,000 it is important that the client has the right dog for the job and that it is 3 years old or younger in order to get the most value out of the training. These prices do not include equipment. They definitely do not include the purchase price of dog (if applicable), or veterinary care.

VETERANS WITH PTSD OR TBI MAY QUALIFY FOR SPECIAL FUNDING

PLEASE INQUIRE HERE

SERVICE DOG TRAINING CRITERIA

1. We require a letter from a licensed physician or psychiatrist prior to training a Service Dog. Please do not inquire about training a Service Dog if you simply want to be able to take your pet dog into places that otherwise would not allow him. This is an ABSOLUTE requirement.

2. The applicant must have the proper dog to do the work. The dog must not be overly fearful or aggressive to humans or other dogs. If the applicant’s dog does not pass the temperament test a new dog will be a requirement. At this point the applicant may choose to either go with an NPO for the purchase of an already trained dog or choose to continue with a donated, rescued, or purchased dog at his/her discretion.

3. The dog must be professionally trained by us through both on and off leash obedience, and manners.

4. The dog must pass a CGC (Canine Good Citizen) test. This test is available at the facility but must be conducted with the owner of the dog as the handler.

5. The dog must prove to be good in public. It must not be aggressive to dogs or humans, must stay by the owners side without being a nuisance, and must follow commands without need of forceful correction. The dog should be able to lay quietly under tables in restaurants, behave during doctor visits, navigate stairs, elevators, and escalators. The dog must be able to walk calmly next to a shopping cart, to navigate through crowds of people, in and out of doorways, and calmly lay down next to or under a table as appropriate.

6. The dog must learn to do a minimum of 3 tasks for the handler that he/she cannot do for themselves.

7. The dog cannot be certified without passing all of these requirements and being a minimum of two years old.

3. THERAPY DOG TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

A Therapy Dog is a dog that gives comfort to others.  Therapy Dogs are used in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and after tragic events in order to comfort others in a time of need.  Some funeral homes are even offering therapy dogs when requested.  We currently have trained therapy dogs that work in counseling and psychiatry offices, physical therapy offices, dental offices, and rehab centers to name a few. 

A Certified Therapy Dog must have the exact same training as a Service Dog without the necessity of learning 3 tasks that it can do for the handler.  Like a Service Dog a Therapy Dog must never be aggressive in public, and must be well behaved at all times.  Not all dogs can be Therapy Dogs.  The training costs are similar to training a Service Dog although the lack of need to teach tasks will have them at the lower price point.  

Costs do not include:  The dog, vests, veterinary care, or equipment. Therapy Dog training for a business can be a tax deductible item. We suggest you discuss this with your tax advisor.

Therapy dog training and certification

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