About
I get so much satifaction out of seeing a bond being created between dog and owner thru training. I take pride in being a dog teacher as well as a human teacher because as mentioned before, dogs do not train themselves. dogs need guidance, proper discipline (not to be mistkaken with fear induced actions), lots of exercise, and love and understanding. They live in a human world which is so different from their world.
I specialize in good manners training and behavior modification. When a customer presents me with an unruly dog, not matter the age, I get excited because I know I can teach this dog to be calm and well loved member of the family. There are many breeds and mix breeds that are very high energy, and often too much for the owner to handle. These dogs need training in order for the owner not to throw in the towel and give up on their dog.
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Teresa G.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Before I meet a potential new customer, I have them fill out a questionaire in order to get an idea of the dog's background, what in their training they want to focus on, how much dog training experience the owner has etc. I meet all of my new customers either at their home or in a local park. Again the location is based on what the customer wants to work on with their dog. All sessions last one full hour.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Having grown up in a family with hunting dogs, I learned from the very beginning that a dog doesn't train itself wants to have a leader. My father was was role model with his training of hunting dogs which must have excellent obedience skills. I have owned dogs for 22 years, and have shared my father's passion for dog training. Over the years I have attended many training and dog behavior seminars, have trained with many different trainers, and lately due to Corona Virus have attended webinars presented by well known dog trainers /authors such as Pat Miller, Karen Pryor, Sue Sternberg, Ian Dunbar, and more. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to teach a dog a new trick (after all, all commands and behaviors should be looked at as a trick) and see the dog understand what it is that I am teaching him.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your services? If so, please share the details here.
My sessions are one full hour with owner and dog. (unless the owner does not want to be present)
The cost is $75 for a private session in your home or a local park.
How did you get started in this business?
I started training my first dog 22 years ago and have since then trained many more. I love to be in the company of dogs and teach owners how to work with their own dogs, build a rapport and a bond thru training.
What types of customers have you worked with?
I have had a wide range of customers with different personalities. My job is to educate them about dog training, their dog's needs and wants. I have worked with individuals that were afraid of their own dog's strength and rambunctiousness and have helped them be more confident and assertive regarding their dogs, all thru training the dog. Dog training is really all about teaching the owner first to give their dogs clear signals and prevent confusion in the dog's brain.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
My neighbor recently welcomed a Golden puppy into his family. He kept the puppy isolated until she was almost five months old . This was his vet's recommendation in order to prevent contagious diseases. When I went to visit the puppy, I was the first person other than the family, it ever met in her own home. She was totally scared and hid under the table for the longest time. I ignored it completely. About 30 min into my visit, she finally started to approach me carefully. I still ignored er until she was starting to sniff my leg. I was so happy to see that even a fearful dog will eventualy overcome fear if you give them enough time and let them figure things out. All it takes is lots of patience.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a pro in your area of expertise?
I recommend getting references from previous customers, and check the ratings that customers leave on HomeGuide and other sites. Make sure you know what type of methods the trainer uses.
What questions should customers think through before talking to pros about their needs?
Dog owners should have a clear idea and recognize what issues their dog presents. Also the owner needs to decide whether he wants to send his dog off to a four week long doggie bootcamp or if he wants to be actively involved with his/her dog's training. Length and frequency of session and cost should all be part of the first discussion beyween owner and dog trainer