Frequently Asked Questions
are you a registered 501(c)(3)?
The IRS awarded us with our tax exempt 501(c)(3) status in June, 2018. This means making a donation to help provide baby gates, muzzles, dog bite safety board games, enrichment toys, training treats, etc. may be tax deductible. Check with your tax preparer or attorney to verify.
What kind of training methods do you use?
Because we work with complex behavior problems, we choose to use methods that cause the least amount of stress to the dog. We use a lot of desensitization, counter conditioning, teaching alternate behaviors, management (muzzles, gates, crates, back ties, tethers), environment adjustments, people training and education, and treats.
What do you charge for your services?
Our tax exempt status still allows us to charge fees for our services; it’s how we can help service those clients on fixed and low incomes.
Our current prices are as follows:
Initial consultation: $100
In-person sessions: $100/hour
Virtual sessions: $100/hour
What is your service area?
For in-person services, we service Marion and Polk counties only. If you live outside of those counties and need in-person services, email us and we’d be happy to provide you with a referral.
For virtual services, our service area is endless.
Do you guarantee results?
That’s a tough one. Learning new skills and ridding some old habits are really hard sometimes. A lot of factors play into a dog’s overall prognosis and likelihood to succeed. It would be impossible to guarantee that a dog won’t bite again given the same situation.
We do understand that you want results, and we have a proven track record for getting them. If, however, you’re still not happy, you can terminate our services whenever you’d like. No fees, no penalites, and we don’t lock you into any prepaid packages.
What is your cancellation policy?
All of our services must be pre-paid and require 48 hours notice to reschedule or cancel. Failure to provide 48 hours notice will result in a forfeiture of your payment.
Do you have a physical location to train in?
We don’t currently. All of our training happens with the family in the home. Complex behaviors are often a product of genetics, learning history, environment, and so much more. Training in those contexts helps us make adjustments to the people, places, and things impacting the dog. Then, we can start working with the dog to teach alternate behaviors and provide specific training that meets the dog’s needs.
Why is the behavior questionnaire for our initial consultation so long?
It is rather long. We agree. However, the information you provide helps us prepare for our consultation so that your time with us is spent making a plan, not gathering information.
What if I can’t afford the initial consultation fee?
Reach out to us via email. Our contact information is listed at the bottom of each page on our website. Be sure to disclose in your email to us what you can pay. We do not offer free services.