Frequently Asked Questions
“My dog is XX years old, can they still be trained?”
A: Absolutely! Our methods can be used with dogs of any age, from puppies to seniors. It’s a myth that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. We can help you get your puppy off to a great start, fine-tune obedience commands and manners, and address bigger issues with adult dogs.
“My dog is a {insert breed here}, they are known for being {insert breed stereotype here], can they still be trained?”
A: While breed can have an effect on your dog’s behaviour, it doesn’t mean they can’t be trained. The methods we use have been proven on dogs from Chihuahuas to Great Danes, and breed is no barrier!
“Will this type of training turn my dog into a robot?”
A: Definitely not! Dogs trained using these methods can actually have more fun, as they can be trusted in, and taken to, more places, when less well trained dogs would have to be left at home. While they are expected to listen when required, they still get lots of free time to relax, play and just be a dog!
“Where are you located?”
A: We offer our in-home dog training throughout Christchurch and Selwyn, with other areas in Canterbury by arrangement. Travel is included as part of our dog training programmes for Rolleston and the surrounding areas such as Lincoln, West Melton, Darfield and this side of Christchurch (e.g. Riccarton, Halswell, Avonhead, Fendalton). Travel charges may apply to areas further afield, but we try to keep these to a minimum.
“You talk a lot about “Obedience Under Distraction” - what does that actually mean?”
A: Obedience under distraction basically means that your dog still listens to you, even in situations when their ears would usually turn off. Our training focuses on teaching dogs to listen first time, every time, regardless of what’s going on around them. For examples of this in practice, check out our videos page.
“What does a dog training session with you look like?”
A: Our dog training sessions are super hands on. Rather than spending three hours talking to you about methods that may or may not work in practice, we take the lead (literally) and show you the methods using your own dog, and explaining as we go. Once your dog understands the process, we hand the lead over to you and guide you through using the training method so you can get the same results.
“What kind of dog training do you offer?”
A: We offer one-on-one training in your own home. This means everyone in the household is on the same page, and we can teach things specific to your home (like staying out of the kitchen). We offer this training in ‘programmes’ rather than on an hourly basis. This means we can get better results, as we return multiple times to troubleshoot any issues that might have popped up, and build further on the training we’ve already done. The time included in each dog training programme is based on what a typical client requires to achieve a certain result, meaning you have a much better idea of what you’re actually buying, versus buying an hour of a trainer’s time (with no results specified).