How Much Does Dog Training Cost?

 

The cost of dog training depends on how much you want to be able to do with your dog.

One of the most common questions we hear is, "What is the cost of dog training in Traverse City, MI?". The cost of dog training depends on several factors. You need to consider how much time and effort you want to contribute and how much direct help you prefer.

Also, how big are your hopes and dreams for the life you want to live with your dog? Do you want to include your dog in an active life? Off-leash hiking? Camping? Kayaking? Brunch on the patio downtown? Or do you just need a dog that is good around the house?

The most time effective and easiest solution is to do nothing at all about the problems you are having with your dog. Just live with it. There is zero cost and no time or effort on your part. It sounds crazy but this is the option a lot of people choose.

For a little more time and effort but still no financial outlay, you could watch a YouTube video, read a book, ask a neighbor for advice or watch an episode of Lucky Dog. Your results may be a mixed bag based on your skill and dedication. But if you are persistent, you could make some progress toward having a better-behaved dog.

For around $200 you can probably take a dog obedience class at a local big box store or through your local community education department. Lots of work on your part but not a very big hit to your budget. You will have help from your instructor for the length of your class, but that support usually ends on the last night of class. If you didn't make enough progress, you can usually sign up for another round of classes.

You could spend several hundred dollars to take private training sessions at a local training center. You will get more one on one attention, and if you do your homework, you could progress more quickly than in a group class. Guarantees are usually not included.

Love him or hate him, you can send your dog to world-renowned Caesar Milan for about $6,000 plus transportation costs. Only a little work on your part, and a big chunk of change, but you have the experience of working with a celebrity dog trainer.

Or for $230,000 you could buy a fully trained dog from Harrison K9 in North Carolina.

Yeah, I don’t know what to say about that one, either!

So, you can see that the cost of dog training varies widely depending on your needs, the level of quality you desire and the amount of the trainer's direct help and support you prefer.

Our Fresh Start program is designed for owners who want a high level of dependable results. We will be there to make sure your dog achieves the level of training you are working towards. If hiccups develop later, we will be there for you.

The extra benefits and client support of our program make it difficult to compare us to other trainers in the area based on price alone. We are not a cheap and easy solution but we are also in it with you for the long haul.

And we get great results!

The fees for our comprehensive dog training program are in line with the excellent results, lifetime support and guarantees we provide.

So, if after trying DIY solutions and dog training classes, your dog is still not as well behaved as you had hoped for, don't give up! We would be happy to hear what you have going on and see if we may be able to help.

You can schedule a complimentary phone consultation right here.

Salty Dogs

"Why is my housetrained dog having accidents in the house?"

After spending ten years raising future Assistance Dogs, I know accidents can be one of the most challenging problems dog owners face.

Luckily, the problem sometimes has a very simple solution!

Dogs tend to get more treats during the holiday season; either as gifts or to distract them from the holiday hubbub of visitors and other activities.

Pig ears, smoked bones, rawhide, hooves and similar treats are usually very high in sodium. And increased sodium consumption can increase thirst which leads to increased water consumption.

Increased sodium consumption can increase thirst
which leads to increased water consumption.

And if you increase the intake, there is going to be an increase in output! Some dogs are unable to contain themselves as well as they normally would in this situation.

These kinds of treats can also give your dog an upset stomach and cause another kind of output that is even more unpleasant!

So, if you find yourself asking "Why is my housetrained dog having accidents in the house?", first consider possible dietary causes if your dog has been getting those kinds of treats.

Try limiting the suspected treats for a week and see if the accidents decrease. If so, consider switching to raw or un-smoked treats.

If the accidents do not decrease, consult with your veterinarian to rule out urinary tract infections, kidney problems or other more serious causes.

Some of the special treats I use include raw beef marrow or knuckle bones (available from your local meat market) or stuffed Kong toys. You can also freeze the stuffed Kongs to make them last longer for your dog.

I reserve these higher value raw and stuffed treats for special occasions and usually offer them when the dogs are crated to make sure there are no jealousy issues.

For day to day use, I offer antlers, Nylabones or Kong toys like the Kong Dental Stick . 

I hope you find this information helpful!

Halloween Safety Tips for Dogs

Trick or Treating can be a lot of fun.

For people.

For dogs is can be a very scary time!

He is a pure bread dog!

There will be an unpredictable parade of odd-looking strangers yelling outside of your front door and maybe even knocking and ringing the doorbell. If your dog’s front door behavior is not so great on a regular day, it is likely to be even worse with all of the extra excitement of Trick or Treating.

When afraid, dogs can act out of the ordinary and may growl, snap or even bite at visitors. With all of the noise in the neighborhood, they may also bolt out the front door or escape your yard. Make sure your dog is wearing an ID tag with your current contact information just in case.

Consider crating your dog in a quiet room with some background music or television until the commotion of trick or treating is over. A treat-stuffed Kong or other special goodie may help distract your dog.

Chocolate can be harmful to dogs. If you are giving out treats instead of tricks, keep an eye on the snacks. And if you have trick or treaters in your family, make sure their loot is stored in a dog proof location. (It would probably be safest if Mom and Dad just went ahead stowed those Reese’s in their bellies! You know, for safety reasons!)

If your dog does ingest chocolate, contact your veterinarian immediately!

And if you like to dress up your dog for the holiday, make sure the costume doesn’t block their vision or prevent them from moving comfortably.

I hope these hints will help you AND your dog to have a safe and enjoyable Halloween.

Toddlers Don’t Blow Up Mailboxes

And why you don’t need puppy training. Yet.

It’s true. They may be a little mischievous or get into trouble because they don’t know any better sometimes, but toddlers usually do not commit felony criminal mischief. Oh, we joke about the Terrible Two’s and the Tyrannical Threes but toddlers are mostly just cute little dickens.

This is what I keep in the back of my mind when people are telling me how well behaved their new puppy is.

The puppy follows them everywhere, pays attention to everything they say and other than mild behavior problems like chewing on things or not yet knowing where to go to the bathroom, they are mostly just cute little dickens.

But then the day comes when things change.

For puppies, this is usually right around sixteen weeks of age when they enter the exploratory development stage. They have realized that there is an amazing world out there full of fun things to explore. They start to exert their will and act independently.

Answering the Call of the Wild

This all makes sense when we look to the dog’s wild canid cousins. Young wild canids are tasty little snacks for all of the hungry predators in their world. There is safety in numbers so they tend to stick close to family members and don’t stray far from the den.

But once their motor skills are developed, off they go to explore the world! Not such a problem for wolves and coyote puppies; big problem for domestic canine puppies.

That puppy that used to follow you around the front yard is now darting across the street to visit the neighbor or to follow the jogger going by the house. Left unchecked, this behavior can turn into a game of chase, bite and wrestle. This is not the way you want to meet the neighbors! Or your local animal control officer.

When you bring your new puppy home, there are two possible courses of action. You can enjoy all the cute and fluffy adorableness of your new puppy and deal with the problems as they come up later.

OR. . .

You can get ahead of the curve and prevent problems before they even begin.

Learning Machines

Young puppies are wired for learning! Think about how much they have learned from birth until the time you take them home. And they can keep on learning! The first sixteen weeks of your puppy’s life are magical. This is the time to teach them what you expect from them as a full-grown dog.

You can teach many of these things on your own and the process is pretty simple. Reward the behaviors you want to see in your adult dog and correct the ones you don’t. There is no need to be overly harsh; just find a way to get your message across that is meaningful to the pup.

If your pup has gotten the jump on you and you want help getting back on track, we would love to talk to you. You can schedule a phone consultation with us here to talk to us about the problems you are having with your new puppy.

Our Fresh Start Puppy Training Program has helped Traverse City puppy owners just like you!