Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

  • Not at all!

    It's what I'm most known for and what I love doing, but I also enjoy doing other pet dog training as well!

  • No. Ethical trainers don’t guarantee results any more than doctors guarantee they can cure you.

    The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers prohibits their members from guaranteeing results, and I would have my credentials revoked if I did so.

    I CAN guarantee that I will do everything possible to help you get the results you want and will be honest with you about what you can expect in terms of progress and results.

    Results will depend on a number of factors, including:

    • how often you practice and work with your dog

    • how closely you follow your trainer’s instructions

    • your dog’s health, temperament, genetics, early socialization and experiences, breed, and personality

    • your training goals

    I totally understand wanting a guarantee. I’ve been taken advantage of by trainers, too. It’s frustrating to keep paying money and not getting results, especially when you’re broke - I’ve been there. It’s normal to have concerns, and I’m happy to chat with you, just reach out!

  • 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!

  • Just your dog!

    We may talk about options for equipment at our session, depending on your dog and your goals.

  • It varies from dog to dog and will depend a lot on your training goals, your starting point, and your commitment to training.

    People and dogs all learn at different rates.

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

  • For a very limited number of clients, I will offer a Trained For You service.

  • 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 small business, offering discounts is not feasible, but you can make monthly payments if you’re on a budget!

  • I’m not a behaviorist; I’m a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (even better!)

    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.

    Unfortunately, there are many unethical trainers who falsely call themselves behaviorists despite lacking the credentials.

    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.

    The owners who are committed to the training process see the best results!

  • Absolutely! I’m always happy to talk with you and answer any questions!

    Once you complete the Work With Me form, I’ll reach out to schedule a call if I think I can help.

Private Training

  • No. Payment is due in full at the time of signing up.

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

    Virtual training will be held over Zoom.

  • 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.

    For the small number of cases where in-home is helpful, a per-session travel fee is required to cover my gas and travel time.

  • Each session is an hour.

  • Wednesdays through Sundays.

  • No, but in general I work with one dog at a time.

  • 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.