Intro Lesson

The Intro Lesson has two main goals: to see if I am the correct trainer for you and your dog, and to create a plan to shore up any base needs that may need improvement.

When I talk about "base needs", these are all the things like exercise, mental enrichment, heath, etc. that all animals need. Often this is called an enrichment plan. "Enrichment" in the dog world has come to mean puzzle toys, which are excellent, but only a subset of what a dog needs to be fully happy and healthy.

It can be helpful to think of base needs or enrichment needs like a young student that can't pay attention if they haven't had recess and a snack. Once those base needs are taken care of, it's so much easier for that student. They may not be perfect, but they'll have a much easier time focusing and therefore learning.

In the Intro Lesson, we'll be discussing your dog's life, environment, and routine. We'll assess what's working, what could be strengthened or changed, what could be added, and what could be eliminated. Above all, I work with you to make the plan actually doable for you and your life! Sometimes it can be very difficult to meet the needs of dogs with behavioral issues.

I also want to mention that no one has a perfect life and plan! And if you're currently not meeting a need your dog has, this doesn't mean you're a bad person or uninformed. Part of this is that your dog's needs will change regularly, and to be alive is to have needs.

Some behavior issues completely go away when we meet those base needs. That is the easiest and quickest way to change "bad" behavior! And even if the unwanted behavior doesn't stop, it creates a fantastic foundation for the behavioral training to begin.

In Part 1 of the Intro Lesson we'll:

• meet virtually for 1 hour (using Google Meet)

• confirm what your priorities are for your dog's behavior

• go through your dog's current life to see what needs are and aren't being met

• create a list of potential activities to do

• prioritize what activities likely have the biggest "bang for your buck"

• create a realistic implementation plan

In Part 2 of the Intro Lesson we'll:

• meet in your home for 1 hour

• demo activities we talked about in part 1

• discuss how to make sure the plan is working, and how to tweak what isn't

• start on basic foundational behaviors that will be critical for future behavior training

The Intro Lesson is a stand-alone service. It is followed by either the Reactivity Coaching Track or the Pro Daytrain Track.

For cost please see Service Area & Pricing

To get started, fill out the Intake Form: