FAQ

HOW OLD SHOULD MY DOG BE TO START TRAINING?

Your dog is ready to start learning the basics when you bring him/her home (which is probably in the 8-10 week range).  Early training benefits you by teaching you what to do to get the desired results from your dog, but more importantly, what NOT to do.

CAN YOU CUSTOMIZE A TRAINING PROGRAM SPECIFIC TO MY DOG?

Every dog is unique due to their individual drives and character traits.  They also come to us at varying ages with different life experiences.  Because of this, training is customized to your dog.

HOW MANY LESSONS DOES IT USUALLY REQUIRE TO ACHIEVE BASIC OBEDIENCE SKILLS LIKE SIT, LAY DOWN, AND HEEL?

This one is tricky. Every dog is different, but it isn’t uncommon for dogs to grasp all of these basic skills in their first lesson or two.  If you practice these skills at home with the techniques you are shown, the basics come quickly.

WILL YOU USE AN E COLLAR ON MY DOG?

Highly unlikely.  At Camillus K9, an E collar is a last resort that has yet to be needed.  Over the course of my entire dog training career (police and personal), I have used an E collar on TWO dogs.  These dogs were both very high drive Police Service Dogs. After using the collar to elicit the proper behavior, the collar was removed and not needed again.

WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY?

We require 24 hour notice for all cancellations.

CAN I OBSERVE A SESSION?

If you would like to observe a session, I will be more than happy to ask a client on your behalf.  Ultimately, it is up to them.

WHAT WILL BE EXPECTED OF ME?

DO YOUR HOMEWORK! My goal is to get you to the point where you don’t need to hire me anymore (kind of a poor business model, but there it is). The more you practice outside of lessons, the better your dog will perform.

IF I HAVE A QUESTION BETWEEN LESSONS, WILL I BE ABLE TO CONTACT YOU?

Absolutely.  You will be able to call, text or email between lessons if you have a “homework” question.  I would rather take a few minutes and assess any issues you may have than risk potentially hindering your dog's training.