When do you know you need help from a professional? If your HVAC breaks, you call that guy, and he recommends regular maintenance to make sure you aren’t in a pickle in the future. Dog trainers are the same. We can come in and fix a big issue or help with a bit of maintenance to help you avoid issues down the road.
Got a big problem
Here at TFP we have lots of experience dealing with the big issues like aggression, flipping out on the leash, or resource guarding. Those clients are a majority of what we see, especially the flipping out on a leash part. Our trainers are going to give you a path that works to help you reach your goals. Since the majority of the stuff we see is complicated, we can also show you how to avoid other issues down the road.
Discuss your goals
We talk in depth about the life you want to live with your dog before we get started. Our intake form gives us a glimpse into what challenges you are facing, and then we work to really envision what you want your life with your dog to look like. Your goals may not be our goals if your dog lived with us so we want to make sure we are on the same page to give you the life you imagined.
Quickly pin point the root of the issue
Often we find the challenge owners are facing is actually the symptom of the problem. Barking, for example, could be caused by lots of different issues so we unpack why the behavior is happening. That way we get to the root of the problem for your dog and you are not always suppressing a behavior or fighting against the real reason your dog is acting out.
Outline a Plan
We know a lot (like a whole lot) about dog behavior and we know that not all of our clients want to be dog experts. They just want their dog fixed. It is our job to break down your training plan into pieces you can handle, and help you master those pieces as we work together. As we outline our training plan there might be challenges we did not expect. Staying in contact helps us adjust or modify the plan so it works for both your dog and your family. We know changing behavior can be challenging and we want to make it as easy as possible for you and your dog to be successful. We are all on the same team!
Disclaimer: Dogs are not machines and training is not “programming” them to always be well behaved. They are sentient beings who have feelings and desires of their own. We are essentially teaching you how to do the “maintenance” so you won’t need us again in the future.