Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

  • Not at all!

    It's what I'm most known for and what I love doing, but I also train other things!

  • I guarantee results for Homeschool, where I do the training for you.

    For Private or In-Home Training, there is no guarantee.

  • I do not offer service dog training.

  • Nope!

    It’s never too late to train a dog, no matter how old they are or how long they’ve had problematic behavior.

  • Right now!

    The sooner you start training your puppy, the easier it is.

    Puppy brains are primed for learning, as they have more neural synapses before 12 weeks. Not only is it easier for young puppies to learn, but they haven’t yet learned a bunch of bad habits!

  • Your dog, a tug toy, a fetch toy, a long line or Flexi, and their regular leash.

    We’ll discuss any other equipment that may be needed at your first session after I’ve met your dog.

  • It varies from dog to dog and person to person. It will depend on:

    • your training goals

    • your starting point

    • your commitment to training

    • your training skills

    People and dogs all learn at different rates.

    My goal is always to help you reach your goals as quickly as possible!

  • Yes, through Trained For You, I can train your dog for you. This is like board and train, but your dog gets to stay home with you.

  • I specialize in reactivity, which is the bulk of what I do.

    However, I take a very limited number of aggression cases. Whether I choose to take an aggression case will depend on many factors, including the severity of the aggression, risk to me and others, and owner commitment to training, management, and safety.

    Reach out, and I'll let you know if I can help and if I have room in my schedule!

  • No.

    As a veteran myself, I absolutely appreciate a military discount. However, as a small business owner, offering discounts is not feasible at this time.

    I strive to keep my prices fair and reasonable and can help you find the most budget-friendly option for training.

  • Nope!

    I’m not a behaviorist, which is a good thing because trainers are much more skilled at training dogs.

    The requirements for a behaviorist include, among other things, having a master’s degree or PhD from an accredited college or university in a biological or behavioral science with an emphasis in animal behavior and a research-based thesis.

    There are only a few behaviorists in Washington State - none are in Spokane.

    Click here to see a listing of all accredited behaviorists in the US.

  • There is a no-refund policy, so please be sure you’re able to commit before purchasing training.

    I do ask that clients provide at least 24 hours’ notice so that I can offer your spot to another dog owner in need of help.

  • Absolutely! I’m always happy to talk with you and answer any questions on a free phone consult!

    Once you complete this form, I’ll reach out to schedule a call.

  • No.

    In my experience, classes are not beneficial for training.

    It’s a large group of untrained dogs with novice handlers (often in a small space) who are all starting from different places with different goals, and dogs and humans who all learn differently.

    Most of my clients did class(es) before coming to me and got little to nothing out of it.

    Private training is far more effective for training.

Private Training

  • In-person training will take place at an outdoor location in North Spokane.

    Virtual training will be held over Zoom.

  • I do offer In-Home Training for those who need it.

    It’s generally not helpful to do training in home. In 99% of cases, it’s far more beneficial to get the dog out of the house for training.

  • Each session is about 60-90 minutes.

  • Wednesdays through Sundays.

  • No, the cost is per session not per dog.

  • As long as it’s safe and appropriate to do so, absolutely! I love seeing kids train dogs.

    However, there must be an adult present and participating in the session.

  • It’s always hard to say, especially without meeting your dog.

    It will depend on a few things, including your goals, your starting point, your training skills, and how much time you’re able to commit.

In-Home Training

  • It’s ideal if everyone in the household who will be working with the dog can be present, but if that’s not possible, I do send you a summary email after each session that you can share.

    You’re also able to reach out between sessions to get help.

  • Each session is about 60-90 minutes.

  • Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 7 pm.

  • I use a balanced approach to training, which means a mix of reinforcement, consequences, emotion, and environment. We'll build up the behaviors you want to see more of and add a consequence for the ones you want to see less of — this tends to be the fastest, most reliable way for dogs to actually learn.

    After meeting your dog, I'll recommend tools that would benefit training — toys, food, praise, flat collar, e-collar, or prong collar. What we use depends on your dog's personality and your own comfort level.

    You always have the final say. I won't put any tool on your dog without your okay first. My goal is a dog who's confident and happy to listen — not stressed, shut down, or only obedient when there's food in sight.

  • It depends on what we’re working on, but we will discuss equipment and tools at your first session. No need to run out and buy anything ahead of time!

  • That depends on your dog, your goals, how quickly you learn, and how often you practice.

    Every situation is different, which is why I don’t sell packages.

  • Probably not. Dogs of all ages and behavior problems can be trained, and it’s never too late to start.

    It generally takes longer if a dog has been practicing bad behavior for years, but it’s still very doable. I’ll always be honest in my assessment of your situation.

  • In-home training involves me teaching YOU how to work with your dog.

    If you want me to work with your dog for you, check out Homeschool!

Trained For You

  • It may take place in your house or yard, or I might take your dog out to a public place to train.

    It depends on what we’re working on!

  • I’ll work with your dog for about 1-2 hours, which is generally all they have the attention span for.

  • I take a balanced approach to dog training, which includes reinforcing behaviors we want to see more of and have a penalty for behaviors we want to see less of. This method of training has proven to be the most effective way for any dog to learn.

    I use a variety of tools to assist with training and motivating dogs: toys, play, food, pets, praise, flat collars, e-collars, and prong collars. The tools used will depend on what each dog responds best to as well as the goals you wish to accomplish and what you feel comfortable with.

    Please know that YOU get the final say, and I will not put a tool on your dog without your consent. We can train however you feel comfortable.

    My goal is for a happy, confident dog, not a shutdown and stressed dog and not a dog who only listens when you have food.

  • Yes!

    If I don’t reach our goals with your dog by the end of our agreed-upon time, I’ll continue working with your dog at no additional charge until I get them there!

  • That depends on your dog and your goals.

    Generally the 3-week minimum program is enough for 1-2 skills, and we’ll thoroughly go over everything ahead of time so there are no surprises.

  • Not necessarily.

    Your dog will likely get the same amount of training, but with Trained For You, they get to spend their downtime at home with you instead of kenneled in a facility.

    Staying at home reduces stress on your dog and makes learning happen faster.

  • It will depend on what your dog needs, but it may include:

    • e-collar

    • prong collar

    • training toy

    • leash

Hikes

  • The hikes are only for dogs I know and have worked with.

    We can even do a single session so you can show me your recall and I can see if your dog is friendly and ready to join!

  • This would depend on your individual dog. If I feel your dog is unsafe to be around others off-leash, you won’t be invited to join.

  • This may be appropriate depending on your individual dog.

    For some reactive dogs, this could be incredibly therapeutic, but proper training must be done first to be considered.

    In general, dogs join the hikes once the reactivity is resolved.

  • They are held once or twice monthly.

    Once you’re eligible for joining us, you’ll be added to the email list and will receive an email each month with the exact date/time of the upcoming hikes.

  • Various locations throughout the Spokane area.

    Locations will be provided upon signup.

  • Yes! As long as I’ve worked with them and have given the okay.

  • Up to 6. My 2 dogs + 4 guest dogs.

  • No training, just a casual hike! We’ll wait for everyone to arrive, then let the dogs off leash and hit the trail!

    There is no structure or training - this is just a hike amongst friends!

  • I do require an e-collar with proper training for a solid recall. Without an e-collar, there is no way to enforce the recall - and training will fail at some point.

    We encounter other hikers, other dogs, horseback riders, deer, moose, mountain bikers, and small furry running critters, which your dog MUST be able to recall off without any hesitation to keep everyone safe and be responsible off-leash dog owners.

  • While I do occasionally invite training clients to bring their dogs on a leash to the group hike, it’s not something I do often.

    Having one dog on a leash just leads to frustration for the leashed dog who can’t run and play with the others, and it creates a headache for the humans (and other dogs) who are constantly getting tangled in a long leash.

    It’s ideal to work with me to train a reliable recall so your dog can be off leash.

  • Yes! Kids are welcome as long as they are able to behave appropriately around dogs.

    This can often be great socialization for the dogs attending.