DOG TRAINING PROGRAMS
Training Programs to Fit Your Needs
We offer a variety of different training programs, all of which can be customized to fit your training goals and needs. Your evaluator can help you customize one of the following programs:
Family Pet and Behavior – “Basic Obedience”
Control Walking – “Let’s Walk” is the command your dog will hear to walk. During training, your dog learns casual walking manners. Getting a little ahead, lingering behind and sniffing around are allowed as long as your dog remains off to your left side and does not pull on the leash.
Usage: Taking a casual walk around your neighborhood.
Heel with Auto/Sit – “Fido, Heel” This command is a more formal and focused version of walking. Your dog should be paying attention to you, keeping your pace (their shoulder even with your leg), turning with you, etc. We teach your dog to automatically sit down at your side when you stop walking.
Usage: Walking in a crowd or around distractions and children.
Sit/Stay – “Fido, Sit” When properly taught, this command teaches your dog to sit on the first command. Once in the seated position, your dog will hear the command to stay. After your dog hears the stay command, he must remain seated until you give him the release command or password. Our trainers will teach your dog to stay with few distractions. Once we are certain your dog understands the command, then we can ask him to maintain his stay for longer periods of time. Your dog’s first stay will only last 2 seconds; after the training your dog should stay for at least 3 minutes. “Fido” should be able to maintain a stay even if he would rather jump on your company.
Usage: In front of food dish, at doorways, veterinarian office and sitting calmly for petting.
Daisy doing an excellent sit/stay command
Down/Stay – “Fido, Down” This command teaches your dog to lie down. Just like the stay in sit/stay, your dog will wait for your permission before getting up. You should be able to step over your dog while he is in a down position. Being told to lie down can make a dog nervous – once your dog sees that lying down pleases you, he will accept it better and have a higher degree of trust for you.
Usage: Helps to build trust, assists in gaining leadership, and used to calm and relax your dog.
Come – “Fido, Come” is the most important command your dog will learn. We teach this command using several different techniques to ensure your dog learns it very well. When given the command to come, your dog should be able to break away from distractions and come directly to you and hold a sit in front of you until given the formal release command. We like to think of your dog’s commands as a game that your dog must play. His life may depend on how well he does this command.
Usage: To call your dog away from danger, also used during games and retrieving.
Doorway Entry – “Fido, Wait And Back” This is a two part command. First, we teach your dog to do an assumed wait at all open doorways to the house and or car. Second, we teach your dog to back away from the doorway about 5 to 6 feet, allowing you to open the door and sign for a package and not worry about your dog.
Usage: Control your dog when company comes over and assert pack leadership.
Place – “Fido, Place” is the most-used command we teach. This command teaches your dog to go to his bed, from anywhere in the home, on command. Once there he can lay down, play with toys, or just nap. This is not punishment, your dog will see it as his play pen with no walls. Place is a happy command. Your dog can learn to place for up to 1-1/2 Hours at a time.
Usage: During dinner, signing for a package, and as a calming command.
Willie and Crockett on Place
Hand Signals– “Visual Cue” During training our instructors will use a hand signal with each command. Your dog will learn the commands faster when a unique hand signal is taught for each command.
Usage: Speeds learning of commands, extends your dog’s range to follow commands and teaches your dog to watch you more in anticipation of commands.
Problem Solving– During our programs we address very specific behavioral problems; your instructors set up and initiate procedures to bring your dogs problems under control.
Any or all of these problems are addressed during training…
Common Behavior Problems
Housebreaking | Leg Hiking | Fence Jumping | Barking |
Playbiting | Door Crashing | Car Sickness | Begging |
Jumping on People | Mounting | Digging | Chewing |
Pulling | Stealing Food | Piddling | Biting |
Won't Come | Going Through Trash | Growling | Separation Anxiety |
* Ask about our 100 % Off leash option — Life Time Guarantee *
Family Companion – “Intermediate Obedience”
In addition to Family Pet commands and more time is allowed for behavior modification.
Emergency Come Command – “Rhythmic whistle blast” Your voice can only carry for about one city block. We teach your dog to respond to a rhythmic whistle blast as an emergency come command. This will allow you call your dog when you are unable to reach him with the sound of your voice.
Usage: Great for hiking, beach conditions and for lost dogs!
Long Distance Commands– During basic training, we start your dog off at a close distance. This portion of the training is designed to start getting your dog to obey at greater distances. Have the freedom to walk and play with your dog off the leash!
Usage: More reliability off the leash and better control.
Problem Solving– During our programs we address very specific behavioral problems, your instructors set up and initiate procedures to bring your dog’s problems under control.
Stand/Stay– “Fido, Stand” This command teaches your dog to stand on all fours and stay for grooming, bathing and for the conformation show ring.
Usage: Helps bathing and brushing also used in the show ring. Also allows you to easily wipe off muddy paws.
Extended Place– “Place” Once your dog masters the place command, extending the time up to 1 1/2 hours is the next step.
Usage: Family game night, dinner, movies, packages at doorway and anytime you need your dog under control and quiet.
Anya and Leopold in down/stay for extended times.
Extended Stays– “Stay” During basic training, most dogs learn to stay for a short time frame. Our extended stays are built upon those shorter stays. Your dog can learn to hold some stays as long a 20 minutes and more.
Usage: During long walks, if you stop to speak with a neighbor for 10 minutes, your dog can maintain a stay the entire time.
All American – “Advanced Obedience”
In addition to Family Pet and Companion commands. More time allowed on behavior problems.
Emergency Stop– “Fido Down” This command is possibly one of the hardest to teach. Your dog learns that even on a full run to stop and drop into the down position when the command is given. Because of the difficulty, this command is taught in several stages and takes longer than most other commands.
Usage: To stop your dog from coming to you if something dangerous is in his path, as well as being a control gaining command.
Basic Retrieving– “Take it” and “Drop It” Some dogs will chase and grab a moving ball. Here we teach your dog to take any object you point at and bring it to you, then drop it in your hand.
Usage: This more advanced form of retrieving is often used in handicap assist, training shows, and is great for the kids.
Silent Hand Signals– “Watch me more often” Your dog will learn to respond to commands with just a hand signal.
Usage: When your dog is trained to silent signals, it teaches your dog to keep his eyes on you. Focused attention is our goal.
Off Leash Stage 2– Teaching your dog to respond to all the commands is relatively easy. However, teaching him to respond to the commands OFF the leash is a unique challenge. Our trainers are taught many methods for breaking your dog dependency on the leash. During the training, there are 3 phases of off leash training. You can choose the level needed for your situation.
Usage: Safety concerns, handy when playing ball, and allowing your dog to run free at the beach or on hikes.
Distraction Work– Distraction work is done in all of our programs. However in this program we ask for ridged stays with huge distractions.
Usage: Training for a highly distracted environment makes your dog more reliable and confident of your wishes.
**We also offer even more advanced programs and basic family protection options. **
Tricks can be added onto any program.
Please ask your evaluator for more information.
**All programs come with our Lifetime Better Dog Warrantee and Tune-up Classes**
Call today for your FREE evaluation: 803-561-9090
Or, simply fill out the form below and we will give you a call to set up your FREE in-home evaluation:
Related: Cost of Dog Training
We can also help you in the following areas – just let your evaluator know if you need it.
Therapy and Service Dogs
Multi-pet households
Dogs and Babies