Thursday 24 September 2015

How Much Is This Going To Cost Me?

After “can you help with this type of problem?” the second most common question I receive is “how much is this going to cost me?” 

The answer is, as usual: it depends. 

It depends on the severity of the problem.  It depends on the time and resources the people are able to put into doing their “homework” (management, practice, and follow-through), on how many people are involved, and how consistent they are.  

It depends on how long the problem has been occurring and how often the dog practices the unwanted behaviour.  

It depends on a lot of things.  

That said, once a trainer has developed a relationship with you and your dog and has done a thorough history, assessment, and started some initial training, they should be able to give you a general prognosis and/or time frame.  This is not set in stone and depends on all the aforementioned factors.  


At time of writing, our training rates are currently $100 for an Initial Consult & Assessment and $70 for follow-up appointments.  

The initial consult is an hour and a half long.  You should expect to sit down and talk with me for 20-40 minutes, depending on the severity and complexity of the issue.  We need to get a detailed history and in-depth information on the behaviour of concern.  Then you should expect to get started laying down the foundation of our program.  

Why $100?  No, I and other trainers do not make upwards of $66 per hour on an average day.  I can assure you that most trainers are making a very humble living.  An hour and a half spent with the client and their dog is not an hour and a half of work.  There is much preparation put into that first meeting: time spent emailing or phoning to get basic information, arranging the appointment, and researching and preparing for the consult.  Then the consult.  Then the trainer goes home and reviews notes, emails follow-up information and/or questions, and is available for ongoing support as needed.  There are operating costs such as fuel, travel time, business insurance, phone bills, website, advertising, etc, etc.  When you factor in the additional expenses and time spent on each case, a trainer makes closer to $25-$30/hour, and most trainers are only able to do 3 or 4 consults a day, depending on the types of services they offer. 

I have two University degrees, my CPDT-KA, and have spent countless hours attending workshops, conferences, seminars, classes, and reading training & behaviour books.  I put in a total of 6 years of formal post-secondary education and have been training dogs professionally and continuing my education in various ways for more than five years.  Some professionals with comparable educations are earning $50-$100 per hour in a secure, salaried position with benefits.  I have no job security, no benefits, and no paid vacation or sick days.  Oh, and did I mention that I LOVE what I do?  

I do.  I LOVE my work.  I get to meet amazing people and their incredible dogs, I get to help people improve their relationships with their dogs, and help dogs overcome difficulties in their canine lives.  I get to make my own hours and be my own boss.  I work hard and reap the benefits of my own hard work (most of the time).  I learn on the job every day, am fascinated and challenged by these wonderful dogs, and every work day is different.  I love learning about animal behaviour and using that knowledge to help people and their pets.  Sometimes I get to play with adorable little puppies.  I love my work!

But I digress.  

Getting back to what you should expect, the follow-up appointments are one hour long.  You should expect a shorter sit-down to catch up on how things have been going, to evaluate the training plan, and to review training goals.  As much of the hour as possible will be spent doing hands-on training and applying what we’ve been learning.   

If you are contacting me for private training, please expect to spent at least $170.  At least one initial consult & assessment and at least one follow-up appointment is a reasonable expectation to address a minor to moderate training concern, to help work out any kinks that come up during your practice, and to give you the tools and resources you need to continue the training on your own.  If the issue is more severe, well, we’ll probably need more time.  

Consider training an investment in your dog.  Pay a little now to avoid major costs, difficulties, or even heartbreak down the line.  Training should be a necessity in your dog’s life, like food, exercise, love, and veterinary care.  You pay a smaller amount annually for regular check-ups at your vet in the hopes of preventing more expensive and serious health problems down the line.  Pay a little now to attend training classes or have a private trainer work with you to avoid more difficult behavioural problems surfacing in the future.  Training can start as soon as you get your pup!  The more you invest in our dog’s behaviour now, the better his quality of life will be, and the better your relationship will be with him.  


Your dog is an intelligent creature, you will be amazed at what he is capable of when you give him a chance to learn :) 

If you're having a behavioural issue with your dog and live within our service area, please contact us.  If you're not within our service area we may be able to refer you to a qualified trainer or class near you. 



Visit our website to learn more about us and the services we offer.  Happy training! 

Thursday 17 September 2015

Understanding Dog Reactivity

Why Are So Many Dogs Leash-Reactive?

On-leash reactivity is one of the most common reasons people contact me for private training.  Many dog lovers are puzzled by their dog’s aggressive displays (or otherwise anti-social or embarrassing behaviour) when passing dogs on leashed walks, especially when that same dog can get along just fine with other dogs in the home and some are even social butterflies off-leash at the dog park.  So why is meeting other dogs while on leash so problematic?  

There is not a simple answer and there are many factors at play when dogs become reactive, but I will focus on the main issues.


Curves are IN

Firstly, in polite dog society dogs do not meet face-to-face (head on), instead they approach each other circuitously to show that their intents are friendly, then often they circle-sniff with each dog’s nose meeting the other’s rear end.  Dogs can get so much information from a sniff and from observing the other dog’s posture.  When dogs are approaching face-to-face their postures are often stiff, heads held high, coming in a straight line with no opportunity for appropriate body language and doggy etiquette.  As they are getting closer the tension is already building before they’ve even come in contact.  

Walking along a sidewalk most people are walking in a straight line with not much room.  It is wise to give the dogs a wide berth so they can pass each other in a curved pattern rather than a straight line.  Always ask the other person if the dogs can meet, please do not allow your dog into another’s face, and if the other person’s dog is on leash and you’re not in an off-leash park, the polite thing to do is leash up.  It’s so hard for trainers, walkers, and owners to work with reactive dogs when they cannot control the environment and it sets dogs back quite a bit when they have an off-leash dog not under control approach them.  Often these off-leash dogs greet enthusiastically, and although they may be very friendly, it’s not polite and the off-leash dog may not heed the signals from the reactive dog to please back off.  

Frustration

Many reactive dogs started off quite social and eager to play and interact in a friendly manner.  Unfortunately, being on leash limits the ability to do so and can cause frustration in young, playful, social dogs.  A lot of dogs also spend time barking at their window at dogs passing by, further adding to these frustrating experiences.  Over time the dog associates seeing other dogs with frustration and as the occurrences accrue, the dog ends up acting out whenever he sees another dog.  

If you have a friendly, social dog right now - great!  Keep it that way by arranging play dates with other social, friendly dogs who are a good match for your dog.  Socialization is a continuous process and dogs need to continually practice their social skills and have an outlet for their playful energy.


If you have a dog that is reactive contact a certified private trainer or attend a group class specifically for reactive dogs.  If your dog is reactive but has some friends he gets along with, arrange as many supervised play-dates as you can so that they have an opportunity to exercise their social side and have positive experiences with other canines.  These play dates are best done in a large, fenced area with one adult for each dog in case the dogs start to get overly rambunctious.  If they do, call them away with treats, ask them to sit or down, reinforce them for settling, then allow them to return to play.  Continue interrupting and reinforcing for calm every few minutes so the dogs don’t get over-excited and start playing too rough, remembering to reward them by allowing them to get back to their fun. 

Provide Alternatives

In the mean time, when you are out for walks you can help your dog develop a more positive association with seeing other dogs.  Whenever he sees a dog (further away is better so that he remains calm) give him treats.  You can ask for alternative behaviours such as sit, lay down, watch me (eye contact), touch (target) or anything he knows that he can do easily.  Being rewarded in the presence of other dogs helps create those positive associations and gives your dog something to do with his nervous energy.  

If your dog is too worked up to focus on you or to take treats that means you are too close and he needs more space.  

Avoid Punishment 

It is not advisable to punish your dog for acting out, no matter how frustrating or embarrassing it may be.  This will further add to the negative association being developed and can worsen the reactivity and increase the risk of aggression.  Try to keep your tone light and positive when you are working with your dog, if he sees you are relaxed and having fun this will help him understand that there’s nothing to be worried about.


You Are Not Alone

As I mentioned, this is one of the most common reasons people contact me for private training, there are also many books written on the topic.  To further illustrate this point, out of 11 blog posts, this is already the second on reactivity.  Know that, as difficult as this issue can be, you are definitely not alone and there is help and hope!

If you need help and are within our service area, please feel free to contact me, and if you are outside my service area I may be able to provide an appropriate referral.

Jillian Enright, CPDT-KA


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