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!
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