“I’ve Tried Other Dog Trainers in the Past…What Will YOU Do Differently To Bring Me Success?”

Nearly every Atlanta dog trainer has heard this…I know I have plenty of times! I have had clients hire me after several instances of unsuccessful training with other dog trainers in the area. Some owners have had the whole smorgasbord—private training, group classes, board and train, all positive training, e-collar training, compulsion training, treat training, dominance training, clicker training…the list goes on forever!

Barkley here has worked with another trainer for over a year and still cannot “come” to his owner when outside.

So it’s no shock that at their wit’s end, dog owners are sitting there during our initial consultation, asking me these questions: “What will you do to get me the results I want? What will you do differently compared to all these other trainers?” I even get that question from people who have never hired a trainer before but are shopping around, trying to find the best fit for them and their dog’s behavioral issues.

While I consider my success rate pretty impressive and consistent, I will not say that I am the trainer for everyone. My main requirement of a client is that they must be ready to commit and work hard. I make it abundantly clear before they even sign a contract that a client must be committed to the behavioral progress of their dog, and willing to demonstrate consistency, patience, and effective communication all around. If they are unable, if a client is expecting to put in zero effort, I move on so we do not waste each others’ time.

To me, with my training it is reward-based, commitment-based, and results-based. I’ll break all three of those down here:

–Reward-based training: What I mean by this does not necessarily mean “treat-based” (this is a common assumption I get from potential clients). I have no qualms about using treats sporadically but what I mean by reward-based is simply that I encourage setting the dog up for success and eliminating the opportunity to fail as much as possible. Reward-based dog training is about clear communication with the dog, and creating situations where the dog can learn the right behaviors and generously receive sincere praise and affection. Through these reward-based techniques, I work with the owner to show them how to handle their own dog, by slowly building a solid foundation of obedience and focus in the dog, and then after that, reintroducing major distractions and triggers that cause the problematic behavior (so that they may be more equipped to deal with such intense stimuli). Reward-based dog training is not about dominance or bribery, it’s about building the relationship between dog and owner, and teaching the dog that appropriate behaviors bring rewarding results for them.

-Commitment-based training: Honestly, ALL dog training should be commitment-based. Simply put, all parties involved in the training structure must be committed. If a dog owner is committed but the trainer is not, it is going to be extremely difficult for the owner to learn how to shape and teach their dog how to behave. Likewise, if a dog trainer is committed but the dog owner is not putting in any effort into the training, the dog will ultimately fail. I know I can train any dog to being obedient and happy. However, that truly doesn’t mean anything is the dog’s owner does not have those same capabilities. The dog could be a complete angel with me because I know what I am doing and the dog knows that I know what I am doing. Even with a list of some follow-up instructions, if an owner cannot maintain the consistency that the trainer demonstrated for the training, then there is great risk of the dog falling into their old bad habits, because the owner does not understand how to handle their dog.

Whether it is in-home, board and train, whatever, the training must be based on commitment from both owner and trainer. If an owner chooses not to work with the dog consistently or to use some bogus method that they read on the internet, then they are showing a lack of commitment. If an owner works hard, communicates with me any questions or concerns (which I always address before we continue on) and follows through with the protocol, then I am committed to them until we reach our training goals. Which then brings me to…

-Results-based training: This is why my committed clients are basically guaranteed success when they sign up with Peachtree Dog Training. If they are committed clients, then I commit to their case until we reach the results they want. Many of my clients who have been with other trainers in the past have had a limited structure. For example, I have a client who signed up with a trainer that charged $100 per private lesson (lasting 1 hour). While this seems like a steal of a deal, my client soon saw the classes and the fees adding up, as the dog required more than the usual predetermined five class package. Instead of expecting to pay a total of $500, she paid more than double that, because the classes were not sufficient enough for all of her dog’s issues.

Isa has seen some of the most famous trainers in the Atlanta area, and while she’s amazing with basic commands in a distraction-free environment, she still exhibits severe aggression to other animals and strangers.

I don’t care if you are just trying to teach your dog to sit or not to bite the mailman. If you sign up with me and are committed, then we work together until we accomplish our training goals. I charge a one-time fee that basically lasts a lifetime. If a dog exceeds five lessons, I don’t add extra fees to the bill. You pay once, and that is that. Even if we finish training, and then call me months later because the dog suddenly developed a new issue, that is included with the original fee and contract. As long as the client is committed, I am there as a “trainer on retainer” for that dog, for life. If the commitment is there, then the client is essentially guaranteed positive results, because we go down every avenue and work together until we get those results.

So when you are searching for the right trainer, or if you are wary and reluctant after several failed trainers, remember that as a professional dog trainer here in Atlanta, I offer the following: a reward-based training structure that empowers and teaches the committed owner how to achieve and keep success for the dog’s lifetime. I want commitment from a dog owner, and if a dog owner can provide that, then I will provide the results they need.

To sign up for any of my available training programs, call me at 800-649-7297 or write me at training@peachtreedogtraining.com. Get you and your dog on the path to behavioral success!