Calendar of Classes and Events

Click the month to change the calendar display to the period of interest. Classes and events are listed on the days they occur; click the daily link for full information. All group classes will resume on September 14, 2008. Please click on the Calendar of Events to get the exact schedules of each class.

List View
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

< July 2008 >
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

How Do You Know When Your Dog Needs Training?

All puppies and dogs need at least basic training in manners and self-control. An untrained dog is like an untrained child. As with our children, dogs must learn that there are rules to follow in their lives in order to live successfully with us in a domestic environment. Your dog needs to learn that you are his benevolent pack leader and that you control all the good things in his life.

If your dog won't listen to you, train him to pay attention! If your dog won't come when called, train him to come to you! If your dog pulls you when you walk, train him to walk on a loose leash! He will not figure out how to perform good behaviors unless and until you teach him!  

View a sample of Renee's classes by clicking on the following links:
Teaching the "down" cue
Loose-Leash Walking
Training a Solid Recall

If you train your dog at a very early age (you can begin training puppies at 9 weeks), your dog will be much less inclined to develop major behavior problems throughout his life. If you neglect early training, you may experience some of the following problems with any breed at any age:

• Jumping on guests and children
• Pushy and demanding behaviors
• Nipping and mouthiness
• Rude behavior with other dogs
• Anxious and fear-related behaviors
• Dog can become out of control
• Food and object possessiveness
• Pulling on leash
• Will not come when called
• Inattentiveness to you
• Dog to dog aggressiveness
• Dog to human aggressiveness

In-Home Obedience Training

I train in several locations in the South Jersey area, including Camden County, Gloucester County and Burlington County as well as Cumberland County.

Please note that if it takes more than 45 minutes for me to get to your home, I charge $5.00 per each 15 minutes additional travel time, round trip.

I offer obedience training for puppies, adolescents and older dogs. My basic in-home program includes:

• Teaching the dog to Pay Attention to you
• Housetraining
• Crate training
• Inappropriate "play biting"
• Teaching you how to read canine body language
  
• Teaching the dog to Relax
• Teaching the dog to Sit and Lie Down on cue
• Teaching dogs Not to Jump Up on people
• Teaching the dog to leave things alone that don't belong to him/her
• Teaching the dog to Drop It (relinquishing things from his mouth)
• Getting the dog to Come When Called everytime you call him
• Loose-Leash Walking
• Teaching the dog to Greet People Politely in Public and at the Front Door
• Teaching extended sit and down/stays
• Reduction of Barking
• Teaching humans to become good "doggy parents" by showing good leadership to their dogs

Fees for In-Home Training:

For basic obedience training, my fee for the first visit is $85.00 and $80.00 for all subsequent visits (unless travel time is more than 45 minutes (see notation about this above). A session can last between an hour to an hour and a half, depending on your dog's attention span.

Fees For aggression cases, both dog on human and dog on dog, I charge $95.00/visit (plus travel charges if applicable). I do not require that you sign up for any specific amount of sessions. If you are having a problem with aggression, we can save a lot of time if you email me directly with (1) a detailed history about your dog, (2) when the behavior occurred and (3) how you've been responding to it up until now. Once I receive your email, I will call you and we'll discuss your dog by phone prior to setting up our first appointment. Make sure you give me all available phone numbers and the best time(s) to contact you. I also need to know your location.

Payment is due at the time of our appointment; I accept checks and cash -- sorry, no credit cards.

Behavioral Counseling/Behavior Modification Training

The best time to contact a professional trainer is when you're just looking for that special puppy or older dog. I would be happy to help you select that right companion dog for your particular life-style.

To avoid having behavioral problems develop in the first place, avoid getting your puppy during the winter months. You will have a difficult time housetraining your pup to go outside due to bad-weather days and nights. You will also have a much more difficult time getting the puppy out for walks and socialization, both of which are hugely important for all puppies! Avoid giving a new puppy as a gift unless that recipient is with you to select the puppy. Make sure you research the breed that you are thinking about getting! (Click on this link to find an excellent source for breed information: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com). Your puppy's breed will determine some of his future behaviors. If you're shopping for a puppy, be sure to meet and interact with the puppy's mom and dad. Afterall, they are the basis that forms your puppy's genetic makeup. Even if you see a puppy that you fall madly in love with, think "Red Flag" if (1) the breeder won't allow you to meet the parents, (2) you see any unfriendliness from either of the parents, or (3) you notice that the puppy you are most attracted to is not so attracted to you! Avoid bringing your puppy home before s/he is 8 weeks old! Dogs need to be with their moms and littermates until then in order to learn important things, like dog to dog social skills and bite inhibition!  Puppies who are taken from their litter before 8 weeks will play-bite using a lot harder pressure than puppies brought home at 8 weeks. If a breeder seems too anxious to release the puppies before then, that is another "Red Flag" that the breeder just wants to get rid of the pups and get paid.

Make sure you're going to be able to get your puppy out for frequent potty breaks. Crating puppies for long periods of time is very counterproductive and can actually cause significant behavior problems to develop. Make sure you have the time to exercise your new puppy, get the kids off to school, go to work, and still be able to meet your puppy's basic needs.  Puppies are a lot of work! You will need to devote time for your new puppy if you want to avoid housetraining accidents, chewing and other destructive behaviors.

When you get your new puppy or you adopt a new adult dog, do not make the mistake of spoiling him. All too often, we rescue dogs that have had unfortunate past lives and we feel that we have to make it up to them by giving him everything they want. Spoiling a dog will not show him you love him and it will not make up for all that went wrong in his life before he came to you! By spoiling him, you will only be telling him that you're weak and can't implement rules. Dogs absolutely need to know there are rules to follow. If you give your puppies or dogs everything they want, they will become obnoxious and demanding! Avoid allowing your dogs to get up on furniture or to sleep in your bed or your children's beds without getting permission. Avoid giving your puppies and dogs treats just because they're cute! Also, avoid mindlessly petting your dogs. Use treats and petting as a reward because they've offered appropriate behaviors that you like.

Once behavioral problems develop, I can help you with Separation Anxiety, Food and Object Guarding, Shy and Fearful Behavior, Re-Socialization with Humans and other Dogs, and Teaching Self-Control for those Hyper, out-of-control Dogs. If you're having trouble Housetraining a puppy or an older dog, I can certainly help you with that. If you've rescued a dog from a shelter or rescue organization, most of these dogs are untrained adolescents and need benevolent leadership and guidance from you. Sometimes these dogs require a little extra patience and understanding. Positive training will help them feel more comfortable and secure while they adjust to their new environment.

Group Obedience Classes (CLICKER TRAINING)

For information about clicker training, please review our Clicker Training FAQ. You may also want to visit the following websites:
www.clickertrainusa.com
www.clickersolutions.com
www.karenpryor.com I am one of only a few in the South Jersey area who offers this unique, positive method of training dogs.