Dog Training
In-Person Training | Virtual Training | Sit-n-Train | Walk-n-Train
In-Person Services in San Francisco and nearby areas. Virtual training in the state of California.
We help people and dogs thrive together.
Partnership
We help you strengthen your bond with your dog, by creating open communication and clear understanding of each other’s needs
Empathy
We help you unlock the meaning in non-verbal communication, so you can hear what your dog is saying and respond to their needs
Trust
When you understand each other and work together, behavior and relationships improve, and everyone’s more at-ease
Key Focus Areas
Recall: at home, at the park or on the trail, recall is one of the most important skills to master. We will help you develop a strong recall to ensure you and your pup can safely explore the world.
Manners: we help teach good behaviors in the home and in public that help make dog owners more comfortable taking their pup anywhere.
Obedience: going beyond the basics, we introduce a wide variety of “tricks” and learned behaviors that provide mental stimulation to the pup, while allowing proud pawrents to show off their smart doggo.
Leash Walking: having an easy loose-leash relationship helps keep stress at a minimum while walking.
Anxiety/Bravery: we’ve spent a lot of time with anxious and shy dogs over the years, helping them unlock their confidence so they can calmly explore and interact with other dogs, people, and the world. It takes time and consistency but when the dog’s true personality comes out, it’s a feeling that can’t be beat.
Reactivity: it’s essential to understand the underlying emotions and motivations that cause a dog to growl, bark, pull or lunge when they see a scary trigger. We offer a collaborative process of both short-term management and long-term desensitization that allows the dog to relax and “just be” while trusting their parent for support.
Our Training Approach
We focus on positive reinforcement, teaching people and dogs to understand each other through body language, and rewarding our pups when they communicate, practice and succeed.
We do not use punishment-based training techniques, nor do we recommend invasive or aversive/punishment-oriented training equipment (eg: prong or shock collars). We believe these techniques are counter-productive towards reaching a state of partnership, empathy, and trust.
We believe the concept of “no” is just as important as the concept of “yes” in dog training, but we establish these boundaries in a gentle, humane and stress-free/pain-free way.
Our Training Process
Free Consultation: our first step is a free consultation, to understand your goals and ensure we’re the right trainers for you and your pup.
Training Proposal: next we outline the training plan proposal, including number of sessions, pricing, roles and responsibilities. Once we’re aligned on the training plan, we’ll get started.
Week-By-Week Booking: we don’t require long-term contracts. Simply book a weekly appointment at a time that works for you, using Acuity Scheduling.
Week 1: Foundations: our first session is all about the foundations. Positive Reinforcement, Body Language, Calming Signals, Behaviorism, Focus-on-Handler, Variable Reinforcement Schedules - and the list goes on. It helps us establish a shared training vocabulary, a clear picture of the dog’s communication, and bullet-proof focus on handler.
Training Sessions: Hands-on training, 1-2 hours in length, as frequently as you need. After each session we give you a Recap & Homework document to support your daily practice.
Daily Practice: We’ll provide detailed step-by-step guides. But remember, a sheet of paper can’t train your pup - you get out what you put in.
Pricing
The number of sessions needed for your personalized training program will vary based on your unique situation, goals, and needs. When our clients stick to their daily practice, we’ve found most training goals can be achieved in 4-6 sessions.
In Person Training
At your home
This focuses on training the pup-parent to be an even more skilled handler. We provide video analysis, in-person instruction, and detailed step-by-step homework documents after every session. House-call service, we come to you.
$150 per hour
Sit-n- Train
At your home
Sit-n-train takes place in your home. We work directly with your dog, training them in 15-minute bursts, then taking 20-30 min breaks. You are not required to be present. We provide a detailed recap after every session.
2 hours = $100
4 hours = $175
8 hours = $300
We Pick-Up Your Dog
Walk-n-Train
We pick up your dog at your home and take them on a training adventure. We train the entire time, working on things like bravery, reactivity, loose-leash walking. We only work with one dog at a time. Detailed recap after every session.
30 mins = $60
1 hour = $100
2 hours = $175
Virtual Training
Over Zoom
Virtual training focuses on teaching skills to the handler….just over Zoom instead of in-person. We’re happy to do virtual training anywhere in the state of California.
$125 per hour
Board-n-Train
In Our Home
On a very limited basis we take no more than one dog at a time into our home. This is a highly specialized service, reserved for dogs with significant behavior and training needs.
Please contact us for pricing and availability.
