Thank you for visiting our FAQ page. Here you will find many of the questions often asked by potential or existing clients searching for a qualified dog trainer.
If you still have questions, feel free to call us or visit or Contact Page.
We provide exclusively private in-home dog training at your location or in public places.
We only practice science based, positive reinforcement, force-free dog training without the use of aversive methods such as pinch collars and e-collars.
All trainers are required to have a minimum of 1-year of dog training experience in a professional environment such as a shelter, private dog training business, or retail setting.
All of our trainers have passed, completed, and have been approved as AKC Evaluators.
All documents and payments are due in advance.
Smart Dog Pet Training can begin puppy training in your home as early 12-weeks old for basic training such as potty training, nipping/biting and basic cues such as “sit” and “stay”.
First begin to introduce your puppy to the crate as a safe and relaxing place to go being comfortable with a bed or mat and a few toys to keep busy. Always keep the crate in the area of your home you spend the greatest amount of your time so the puppy does not feel isolated. It’s ok to feed your puppy in the crate while gone, but keep in mind try to avoid keeping your puppy in the crate for no longer than a few hours if possible for potty breaks and exercise.
As trainers, this is referred to as “Leash Reactivity” and defined as otherwise friendly dogs off leash, reactive on leash. It is important to teach your dog how to avoid distractions anywhere you may be by offering an alternative behavior such as the cue “Watch Me” and have the dog focus on you using high value treats (high value is defined by the dog) when distracted. Most commonly used by trainers may also be what we call counter-conditioning and desensitization to reduce dog reactivity.
Dog’s are incredibly intelligent animals, and once owners understand how to properly communicate with their dogs, a dog can be taught pretty much anything. When dogs bark, we often ask “why is the dog barking?” If we know why the dog is barking, it is much easier to provide a solution to teach the dog to stop barking, such as using an alternative behavior, the “Watch Me” command, or maybe the “Quiet” command.
Nipping and biting puppies is a very normal behavior and can often stop or reduce as they begin to get maturity if handled properly at a very young age. Teaching your dog the “Leave-It” command is something you should teach your puppy very early on, in addition to bite inhibition.