Group Training and
Private In-Home Training

In-Home Private 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. I frequently train in Hammonton and Mays Landing, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Voorhees, Marlton, Medford, Mt. Laurel, Moorestown, Sewell, and Mullica Hill just to mention a few.

Please note that if it takes more than 30 minutes for me to get to your home, I charge $7.00 per each 15 minutes of additional travel, round trip,  plus reimbursement for any tolls, if they apply.

Fees for in-home training:

For basic obedience training for puppies and dogs, I charge $115.00 per visit (plus travel charges + tolls, if applicable). Our first visit together will be about 2 hours. If you decide to have additional training sessions, the average amount of time is 1-1/2 hours per session.

For aggression (bite) cases, both dog on human and dog on dog, I charge a minimum of $145.00/visit (plus travel charges + tolls, if applicable). I do not require that you sign up for any specific amount of sessions. However, please be aware that there is NO quick fix to rehabilitate a dog that has been biting! Your dog needs to go through behavior modification training. You also need to learn how to work with him/her to gain 100% trust in your relationship. This takes time, patience and commitment from all family members. The harder you work with your aggressive dog, the more improvements you can achieve in many cases.

For "reactive rovers" who have not bitten, but who habitually show threatening behaviors to humans or other dogs, I charge a minimum of 125.00/visit (plus travel charges + tolls, if applicable).

If you are having a problem with aggression or extreme reactivity, 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, as well as the breeder! (Visit www.dogbreedinfo.com to find an excellent source for breed information). 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  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 at least 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. They may also be lacking in dog-dog social skills! If a breeder seems too anxious to release the puppies before then, that is another 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. One more bit of absolutely free advice: make sure to teach your puppy how to be be alone! From day 2, begin leaving puppy in the crate alone for 10 minutes, then 20 minutes while slowly building up to longer periods of time. Rule of thumb for leaving dogs alone in the crate go something like this: At 2 months, leave pup alone for no longer than 1 hour (after doing some "alone" training); at 3 months, leave pup alone for 2 hours, at 4 months, leave pup alone for 3 hours, and so that's how it goes. I can't tell you how many dogs develop severe separation anxiety because owners neglect to teach the dog to be alone when they're very young puppies.

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.

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 trusted guide and teacher, you control all the good and necessary resources in his life, and you make all of the critical decisions that affect his safety and well-being.

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 group classes by clicking on the following links:

Teaching the "down" cue

Loose-Leash Walking

Training a Solid Recall

River Practicing her New Skills

If you train your dog at a very early age (you can begin training puppies at 8 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
• Digging holes in your yard
• Stealing things just to get your attention
• Excessive barking both in the home and outside
• 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