One of your services is Breed Selection, why be involved with that? Can’t I just pick a dog I like?
I don’t think people should just get a dog without doing a little research because you are adopting a dog into your family. Just like you should not go to a store to buy a child you shouldn’t go to a pet store and buy a dog. You need to think about your lifestyle, how you spend vacations, what do you like to do on the weekend, what are your activities. You want the dog to compliment your lifestyle. Also, if you go to a pet store to buy a dog you will miss out on having the temperament and genetics information which provides valuable insight as to how the dog will behave as an adult. Every puppy is cute but you really should know as much as you can about the dog before you buy it. A good breeder would go so far as to say they would take the dog back if it isn’t a good match because they care that much about having a successful life for the dog.
When is the optimal age to train a dog/puppy?
The optimal time to get a dog from a breeder is 8 weeks of age which is the optimal age to build a relationship with you. They are little sponges and ready to learn so much.
How long does it take to train a dog?
It’s a lifelong training mission. Basically, it takes 66 days and 5 different locations before you can say you have a learned behavior.
How much of what you do is training the dog and coaching the owner?
The dog is able to learn new skills and will look to its handler to be able to reinforce it. If you except that the dog will be a perpetual 2-year old child, you can understand that they will always need training and reinforcement.
Is every dog trainable?
Yes. To me that means training needs to match expectations in accordance with the dog’s capabilities, which is connected with its genetics and what it is bred for. For instance, a Great Dane is bred to work and very likely does not have the aptitude to be a good dog to go out with you in your boat.
What about the people who are purposefully breeding one pure bred with another to create a made-up breed name?
I am not a fan of random breeding because you are mixing an entire set of genetics and temperament with another. They may have been bred intentionally but not with the best intentions. The people who are doing this are not respecting what each dog was created to do. It’s about money and not what is good for the dog. To my knowledge, there has not been a breed improvement with mixed breeding.
What are the top five skills every dog should know how to do?
The top five skills are generally thought of as The Basic Commands: Sit, Stay, Come, Lay Down, Heal. A dog has to also understand where to go potty and crate training, which is essential to successful potty training.
Can you train my dog to do anything?
A person can’t really train a dog to do everything because you have to work within the dog’s natural skill set.
Can you train my dog to be off-leash in public?
No. A dog is going to be a dog every day. In other words, a dog may be perfectly well trained but is still going to delight in running after a squirrel or a rabbit if given the chance.
Is it a once-and-done process?
No, it is a lifelong commitment. They are learning continuously.
Do you guarantee the training?
I cannot guarantee the owner’s follow through once they have the dog on their own, so unfortunately I cannot.
What can I do to be a good pet owner?
Do your homework on learning the breeds and selecting a compatible breed that fits your lifestyle.
Do I need special tools/products? If yes, will you help me get them?
Yes, I can help you with suggestions or get them for you.
Can I have videos of my dog being trained?
It’s a perfect idea and I wish I could train your dog in a studio so I could capture the moment. But when I am training a dog I work purposely to get the dog out and about so they experience distraction and various environments. If you want videos of me working with your dog we can schedule an appointment so you can bring your camera/phone and videotape me.
If I hire you to help me find a dog, where is it going to come from?
I go to top AKC breeders of whatever breed you select, because my name is on it. This is a dog you are going to have for the rest of its life. I want to be sure it was purposely put on the earth and that every temperament test and health test is done. I know you may never want to compete or show your dog but an AKC recognized breeder will breed quality and that’s what I want for you. Most likely you will pay between $1,000 and $5,000 for a puppy.
What do you look for in a breeder?
- A breeder should be as interested in asking questions of us as I am of them.
- Are the living conditions clean?
- Are the parents available, especially the female?
- What is their policy on spending time and petting the puppies?
- Are their dogs certified by the applicable registries against breed-related genetic disorders, such as eyes, hips, etc.?
- What have they done to train the puppies thus far in an enriched environment?
- Do they have a questionnaire for companion matching? I like breeders to use the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT), done at 8 weeks old. The results help the breeder and I make an excellent recommendation for the right puppy for the right home.
