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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of dog training do you do?Mannerly Mutt's training approach is balanced and designed with the specific dog and individual in mind. I use a wide range of tools, approaches, rewards, and consequences by what I feel best meets the needs of the dog to successful interact with his/her family. Back to Top
How old should a puppy be before training starts?Puppies can start training at about 3 months old. More advanced training will be much easier on the dog and handler when it's started young. Back to Top
If I have an older dog, can he/she still be trained?Except with the most geriatric of dogs or sometimes physically handicapped dogs, the answer is yes. They can learn basic obedience exercises. If they are having behavioral issues, their behavior can be improved. However, the human owner must also be trained, and be open to changing the interaction between them and the dog for long term progress. Dogs that are sick or injured need to recover first before training can begin. In some cases if this is a chronic pain problem, the training can be done with some modifications and great care. Back to Top
How much do you charge?Prices change on an annual basis. Please also refer to our services page. Generally, 2008 prices are as follows: Individual training or behavioral consult at our location $70.00, if this is just a single visit. Individual training or behavioral consult at your location $75.00 prepaid, if this is just a single visit. Package of six lessons in basic obedience or advanced obedience $210.00 prepaid on our site or $240.00 prepaid at your home in approved locations. With an appointment, a free meet and greet consultations can be set up to meet us and our canine helpers. Weekly board & train packages (six to eight weeks always recommended for complete basic obedience training) is $700.00 per week. This service needs to be prepaid. Students who have successfully graduated from Mannerly Mutts training program may take advantage of our boarding services. The cost for any portion of the day to board at Mannerly Mutts is 30.00 per day for non e-collar literate dogs and 25.00 per day for e-collar literate dogs.. Acceptance for either boarding or meeting graduation criteria are at the sole discretion of the owner/trainer. ****Other conditions and rules may apply for acceptance of a training or boarding client. Back to Top
What type of services do you offer ?Behavioral or training consults. Customized training programs (if authorized as reasonable by trainer). Manners training program using basic obedience commands. This is private coaching for the owner to train their dog(s). Board & train programs where the dog stays with us in a family environment while receiving training. Group classes are not offered at this time. Back to Top
What will my dog learn in your typical basic obedience/manners class?I go by the guidelines of the International Association of Canine Professionals, which can be found at this link http://www.dogpro.org/index.php?pageID=201. There is more detail on that link, but the following is included: Sit, Down, Stand (I allow clients to do place instead), Recall (Come), Heel on Loose Leash, Stay (as in maintaining the command until released), Leave It/Off, Sit for Exam. I explain and demonstrate the applications of these commands to improve daily living with your dog. Back to Top
Do you train aggressive dogs?I do not do training for protection or guard dogs. I do help owners with dogs that the general public might term "aggressive", but a professional trainer would not term "aggressive" necessarily. I have done helped owners end dog to dog aggression, dog to stranger aggression, and dog to owner aggression. If in observing the case I feel it's out of my league, I will have a list of names of trainers and other resources that may be able to help you. Back to Top
I only want to work on one specific problem. I don't want to do the basic obedience program. Can we do that?Many behavioral problems are solved by empowering owners with leadership abilities. This is usually accomplished by following a basic obedience program with some specific exercises for behavioral problems. Because of the additional work and no way to standardize to the individual needs of clients who need behavioral or training consultation(s), the fee for these is 70.00 per session at our location and 75.00 plus per session at your location. Problems can not be fixed in one session alone, and the client needs to understand that they are required to work and take follow the plan given in order for a successful outcome. Back to Top
Can you house train my dog or puppy?Private real time coaching for this is tough. This is a seven day a week, 24 hour job. I do have tips and suggestions for how an owner can do this themselves. For owners that just aren't home during certain hours, and need to know what the schedule is (at least) so a dog walker can be arranged, we do offer a Board & Train service. Mannerly Mutts trains your dog or puppy to go outside at our site, and also how to signal to a person who is home that they need to go out. However, the owner is responsible for transferring these skills to their own house, and/or paying for additional private instruction for the transition. Additional follow up lessons are build in for Board and Train contracts of two weeks or more. The amount of follow up lessons that are built in are dependent on the amount of weeks that the dog was Board & Trained. Back to Top
How much time should I spend training my dog outside of lessons?An hour or more of training per day is generally required of the owner outside of classes. Back to Top
Can you train my dog without me? Does my dog come back fully trained?A Board & Train package allows for a dog to come to our facility to board and train. A full basic obedience package takes 6 to 8 weeks. Packages of less can be purchased with the understanding that the exercises learned will be scaled down, or the extent to which the exercises learned will be less. To me, a fully trained dog is one that can compete in a Novice A competition and qualify. This type of competition requires off leash participation of the dog, and also limits what type of collars may be used. A basic obedience package does not go as far as off leash. Additionally, the owner will need to have a training schedule (though not as vigorous as when they are being coached) to transfer that skill and knowledge to themselves. A six week board & training package comes with four follow up lessons to insure this happens. Less weeks purchase will result in less free follow up lessons. Of course, the client can purchase as many follow up lessons as they need. One benefit of a Board & Train package is that the teaching and repetition work that takes so much up front time has been done. What is left is to teach the owners not to let commands slide by without being obeyed, and the proper way to issue a command. Another benefit is if there is a family illness or emergency during the time the dog or puppy needs to be trained, this can be done as the family cares for their human family. This takes away a lot of stress and worry during this time. Finally, many owners do not have access to an ever changing pack of dog, people, and visitors. We have the time and access to these things in order to train your dog around distractions. Back to Top
Where will the lessons take place?The lessons can take place initially at either our location or your location. The fee is different depending on commuting time and gas for lessons at your location. Later on, it's important to move from the comfort zone of a house or quiet yard in order to train around distractions. Back to Top
Why must I practice in different environments after the initial few weeks?Training is more than teaching a position that the dog releases when THEY decide. Training is having a dog that can hold the position, no matter what else is going on when YOU release them. Also, dogs do not generalize well. So although your dog might perform a sit perfectly in your backyard with 20 kids running around, that does not necessarily mean he can do the same thing at a setting away from home. You teach the dog or train the dog to do this by practicing outside of the "safe" zones that you would normally train in only after getting a good base and reliability going. Back to Top
What hours and days are you available to give lessons?Weekdays and Weekends from 9 - 6PM in the summer. In the winter the hours need to be during the daylight, generally from 9-3PM. Please be sure that you have called for lessons, and have arranged these times with the trainer, Robin Rubin, before showing up at our facility. We have private lessons and/or daycare in progress on most days, and these sessions can not be interrupted. Back to Top
If I have signed up for private lessons, do these need to be at the same time and day every week?My schedule does not allow for many "on the fly" changes. I do accept a couple of changes with advanced notice, and if a slot remains free that is suitable for both of us. As a rule, I do expect a client/student to arrange a consistent schedule that can be met each week. However, I do have some students that due to their career choice, need a flexible schedule. I do work with people on this when there is a good reason to do so. Back to Top
Why should I sign up for more than one lesson?Both behavioral problems and obedience training need time and practice to shape. You are not going to push a dog into being trained in one hour, one day, or one week. There is a layering of skills and training language, how it's used, that needs to be taught to the dog patiently. Owners need to be able to understand and improve their skill set over a period of time also. Skills like leash handling, commands, rewards, timing, composure, stance, and all, take time to be learned by the human as well. Back to Top
What is your experience in dog training?My resume and references can be accessed here. Back to Top
Robin Katherine Rubin D/B/A Mannerly Mutts
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