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At what age can I start my dog in Obedience Training?

It is ideal to start a dog’s obedience training before problem behavior sets in. This means we encourage training to begin around 5 or so months of age (just after finishing with a preschool program). However, obedience training can be done at any age. Even older dogs do well learning new things and having new structure added to their routine. The oldest dog that went through the That’s My Dog! program was 11 years of age.

What do we learn in the Puppy Preschool?

The Puppy Preschool program is designed to expose young puppies to a variety of positive experiences. There is opportunity to socialize with lots of people, children and other dogs. The pups learn basic manners: housebreaking, stopping their play biting, walking on leash, nicely, waiting at open doors, plus laying down and remaining calm. Owners learn about canine body language, how a dog uses their senses to perceive the world and how dog’s learn. These skills help dog owners better understand and communicate with their dogs so they can develop lifetime good habits with their canine companion.

What is the difference between a Board & Train program and a Day School Program?

A Board and Train program involves your dog staying here with us full time for a minimum of 2 weeks. During the stay your dog participates in daily activities designed to create better manners (like no jumping on people, or bolting out of doors) and basic obedience (like coming when called, walking on a loose leash and staying in one place when told). The dogs have lessons here at our training center and are taken for *field trips* to surrounding locations (area parks, downtown Galena, IL and Dubuque, Iowa, local stores etc).

A Day School Program is similar in that the learning objectives and curriculum are the same, but the dog goes home with you each evening and on weekends rather than staying in residence the entire time.

These types of programs allow for accelerated learning for a dog since we are able to work with them throughout the entire day as well as integrate them into our group classes and our daily work schedule. Also the dog’s are learning under the guidance of the experienced trainer which makes the communication smoother. Once the dog learns the proper responses, you will then be required to learn how to maintain the training. This requires your participation in lessons which are included in all of our programs.

After a Board & Train or Day School program will my dog listen to me?

Yes, you will be taught how to follow up with your dog’s training. After your dog finishes their time with us we will schedule lessons with you to make sure you understand how to get the same great results at home. If you live a distance that is too far away to continue with a series of follow up lessons you will be provided with additional support (dvd’s, online support and telephone consultations) to make sure things are going smoothly when the dog returns home to you.

Do you offer Behavior Modification?

Yes, we offer behavior modification for issues such as dog to dog aggression, human aggression, possessiveness issues, separation anxiety, fear issues and other phobias. Many of these issues can be dramatically improved and even resolved through training and proper instruction.

What is the Free Evaluation?

The evaluation is a free service we offer so that you can bring your dog to find out what potential they have for training and what options might work best to suit your needs. The evaluation process is very important to us because we like to see and work with your dog before advising you on what we feel is possible to achieve and how to best move forward toward your goals.

What does it cost to train my dog?

The cost of training is variable depending on what program is best for your dog. We offer individual Private Lessons, Day School training and Board and Train options. Our programs INCLUDE access to group and traveling classes after completion of the basics. This helps you toward have a highly reliable dog who will listen even outside of the class environment. The fee’s vary from as little as 75.00 to several thousand depending on how difficult the case and training may be. On average our clients spend around $ 800.00 to train with us. While this may seem costly compared to other programs, remember that this is a lifetime investment so that you can have a very well trained dog that is guaranteed to be off leash reliable. If you compare this cost with other programs make sure you are making an apples to apples comparison. While other programs may certainly be cheaper, very few promise you the follow up support and off leash reliability as a standard part of their training. We promise you both.

What is remote collar training and why do you offer it?

Remote collar training is an area of expertise that TMD has been specializing in for over 10 years. Using a remote training collar to assist with your dog’s training offers a big advantage over other forms of training because it provides a faster and more efficient way to communicate. Proper use of a remote collar is less confrontational, does not require the strength or quickness that traditional leash training does and when used properly the remote collar acts as an invisible leash giving users the ability to have their dog reliably off leash in a very short amount of time. At That’s My Dog! we are strong advocates of remote collar training, however, we do recognize that sometimes people purchase tools but do not possess the knowledge of how to use them properly. Under our guidance we guarantee that users will be satisfied with the results and that their dogs will be happy, well behaved members of the family. Remote collars are not the only tool in our tool box, we use a wide variety of tools. Most importantly we teach you how to communicate consistently and effectively with your dog so you can have a happy and well mannered companion and enjoy a long life of fun adventures together.

Is a remote collar safe? Will it hurt my dog or make his behavior worse?

A remote collar is perfectly safe. Contrary to urban myth and legend, remote collars do not burn your dog. The technology used is virtually identical to the TENS Unit used in the human medical profession. Proper care must be taken to only allow the dog to wear the collar 10 or so hours per day. Longer wear than this could cause tissue necrosis, (pressure sores) thus giving rise to the idea that the collars burn. Tissue necrosis can be caused by any snug fitting collar, head halter or harness. Proper use and wear is required. Electronic collars DO NOT generate heat or burn.

A remote collar will not make a dog’s behavior worse. A tool can not do anything on it’s own. It is up to the user to acquire knowledge on how to use it. This is why at That’s My Dog! we go to great lengths to teach people how to properly train their dog with any tools chosen. If you decide to train with us, not only will your dog develop better manners, but you will learn a great deal about how your dog thinks. Our focus is on helping you have a better understanding of how to communicate with your dog. By learning to read body language and signals, you will understand what your dog is thinking and about to do. This gives you the ability to know when and how to respond. The better your communication with your dog, the more you can include them in your daily routine and trust they will listen to you when needed.

Do you use Positive Reinforcement Training?

Of course. Positive Reinforcement is one quadrant of 4 in operant conditioning. Operant and classical conditioning are part of any dog training system. However, it is currently marketed as a buzz word term for training that espouses to only reward desired behavior and ignore undesired behavior. In reality, positive reinforcement means to reward a behavior in order to increase the likelihood of the behavior repeating. So for instance giving the dog a treat after he/she sits in order to strengthen the future likelihood that the dog will sit again in similar circumstances. This is dog training 101. Dog’s should be reinforced for behavior you want them to do. At That’s My Dog! we don’t only use treats however, we teach you to use toys and play as well as physical and verbal praise.

In addition you will learn to use indirect rewards to increase your dog’s reliability in listening to you in real life circumstances. The ability to give your dog freedom and liberty off leash is one of the greatest rewards we can offer. A dog’s true joy often comes through the freedom of sniffing, romping, tumbling and bounding unencumbered by the restriction of a leash. This great freedom can only be offered to your dog when you are truly secure in knowing your dog will come back to you when called. An off leash reliable recall is a standard part of our training programs.

At TMD, we believe that the idea of ignoring inappropriate behavior is often ineffective and sometimes dangerous. Many behaviors are self-reinforcing for a dog. The idea of ignoring lunging on leash, jumping on others, play biting or nuisance barking is not a belief we adhere to. Dog’s correct one another when they interact. Anyone who has seen a mother dog teach her pups not to bite too hard or jump on her, understands this. Correcting or interrupting a dog who is doing something inappropriate is part of the same natural learning process we are all subjected to in everyday life.

Can you really train someone to train their dog over the internet using your online membership?

The online membership program is a support service that we offer for our long distance friends. It is an aid to anyone following the training in Robin’s instructional training dvds, Just Right and Just Right Volume 2. The online support site contains numerous videos and articles that offer advice on simple problem solving like jumping up, barking and door bolting, to more advanced things like attention heeling, off lead control and tricks.

Finding a professional trainer to guide you and help you train your dog is certainly the ideal way to go. But if that does not work for you due to location or other logistics, the online site and Robin’s professional guidance can help you make significant progress in having a wonderful companion.

Can you help with housebreaking my dog?

Yes, we can help with housebreaking in a variety of ways. We cover the topic in detail in our puppy preschool program or we can enroll your dog in a Day School Training or Board and Train program to do the job for you. We also have a wonderful E-book House Breaking Manual that can guide you through the proper steps of housebreaking your puppy or adult dog. You can order and download here to get started in the right direction immediately.

I do not live near That’s My Dog! can you still help me with training?

Yes. We have a variety of ways we can help you. Robin offer’s telephone consultations as well as an online membership site. She also has training dvd’s available to help with basic problem solving and obedience. You can also opt to have your dog sent here for a board and train program or hire Robin to travel to you for private training. We can also conduct a training workshop in your area. If you or your organization are interested in hosting a workshop, please contact us for more information.