Castle Hills Puppy Foundation
Did you recently bring home a puppy or thinking about getting one soon? This is the class for you. With this program, I will teach you "The Art of Raising a Puppy". Contrary to what most people practice when they get a puppy, training starts even before you bring your pup home. Although most dogs still act like puppies in a lot of ways until they are 12 months or older, this course is designed for those with puppies under 6 months of age.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start training my puppy?
To set your puppy up for success, you should consider training before you even pick out your pup. For example, have you considered what breed will be a best fit for your lifestyle? Are you active, have small kids, grown kids? Do you want a dog that will be content chilling around the house or in the yard all day? Have you considered where your puppy will sleep? Do you know what to look for in puppy selection? These are the types of questions to consider before even selecting a puppy. You can ask a reputable breeder to spend time with the litter prior to 8 weeks and observe the puppies' behavior in the pack. I can help you decide which pup is best for your family within a given litter by letting you know what behaviors to look for. As far as when training starts, it starts on day one with the ride home and introduction to the house.
My puppy is almost 6 months old already and I haven't done any training. Am I too late?
It's never too late to start training your puppy! If your puppy is 6 months or less, we can start to implement a training regimen right away. If your puppy is over 6 months, puppies are entering the adolescence stage by this point, and it is a more difficult time to start training. That is why it is important to start training them as young as possible! After 6 months, you will continue training to solidify and strengthen their skills in more public and distracting settings such as parks. For this reason, behavior modification / advanced obedience rate will apply to puppies over 6 months.
What will my puppy learn?
In the Castle Hills Puppy Foundation lessons, I will teach you how effectively communicate with your puppy. We will learn the basics of environmental set up, including crate training, house training, name recognition, sit, down, stay, drop it, impulse control and leash basics. You will learn how to properly discipline your puppy and how to deal with common puppy problems. These will all be valuable life skills that will help you and your dog thrive for years to come. Your friends will be impressed when they see how obedient your 6 month old puppy is compared to their dog!
What is the initial session like?
During your initial training session, we will sit down for a short but comprehensive history of your puppy and any training concerns that you may have. Then it’s time to get to work! From the very first lesson, you will receive and practice training solutions that will make a difference. In addition to hands-on training with your dog during the initial session, you will also receive specific homework to work through until we can meet again. If you're interested in a free phone consultation, feel free to reach out today.
How many sessions will I need?
Depending on your willingness to train and the dog's personality and age, two to four sessions spaced out about once per month should be sufficient for puppy foundation training. Some clients find my private lessons so efficient, they only need two or three lessons to train their dog to the desired level. To be completely transparent, you will be training your puppy all day everyday and you will continue to train your dog through adolescence. Every time your puppy comes out of the crate is an opportunity to train. I simply give you the knowledge and tools to be able to communicate to the puppy effectively.
After puppy sessions are there follow up sessions?
Recommended follow-up training ensures that you are skillfully accomplishing the training goals set for you and your dog during your initial puppy sessions. In a follow up appointment, we can make adjustments to the plan based on how your dog responds to ensure progress towards your unique goals. While follow-up training is your choice, multiple sessions will produce the best results.
How long until my dog is fully trained?
Please keep in mind that training is an ongoing process, and dogs are living beings with thoughts and feelings. Just as humans continue to learn and practice behaviors throughout our lives, so do dogs. Regardless of which program or style of training you pursue, all dogs require continued reinforcement, structure, and boundaries in order to keep their skills intact and functional throughout their lives. Because of this, I recommend having an ongoing training plan beyond one in-home training session. Whichever training program you decide to pursue, I will help you decide what the correct next step is for you and your dog.
Where will the sessions take place?
Initial sessions will be in your home. As the dog progresses, we will graduate to outside. Follow up sessions can be held at your home or in public locations where more distractions are present.
Are you willing to travel?
I am willing to travel almost the entire DFW metro area. Driving fees are based on driving time and not distance.
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Zero to fifteen-minute drive: Included
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Fifteen to forty-five-minute drive: additional $50
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Forty-five minutes to one hour and fifteen-minute drive: $100
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One hour and fifteen minutes to one hour and forty-five minutes: $150
Book a Free Consultation!
I offer free telephone or in person consultations prior to our first walk or training date. Call, text, or email me today!