Starting a puppy off on the right foot (or paw!) is the absolute best thing you can do to ensure their life-long success and well-being. If that feels like a lot of pressure, have no fear! We are here to tackle all the hard parts for you - housebreaking, crate training, confidence building, environmental exposure, safe socialization, obedience foundations, play development… Puppy Pre-K is the jumpstart every puppy needs! But then what comes next?!
If you want to be hands-on and learn the ins and outs of training, there’s no better option than our one-on-one lesson program, The Bestie! With this program, we come to you! Over the course of 10, 1-hour long lessons, we will teach YOU how to train your dog.
Puppy Pre-K and The Bestie represent opposite ends of the spectrum - Puppy Pre-K is hands-off - we do the heavy lifting for you. Having a young puppy in your home can be very disruptive! If you work long hours, travel a lot, or have competing priorities like young children, it can be hard to dedicate the time needed to form good habits. Puppy Pre-K is a 3-week board-and-train. Your puppy will come to live in-home with one of our trainers and they’ll lay a strong foundation during those critically important early weeks. You’ll get daily updates during their stay and, when you come to pick up your puppy at the end of the 3 weeks, we will do a go home lesson with you to go over everything they’ve learned.
Once Puppy Pre-K concludes, you’ll immediately jump into the rest of your lessons! The Bestie is more hands-on and covers basic and advanced obedience, both on and off leash (e-collar included!). Among other things, we will teach your dog to walk nicely on and off-leash, recall consistently regardless of distractions, behave calmly in your home, focus and engage with you, interact politely with people, respect doors and thresholds, navigate the world with confidence, stop unwanted behaviors and more!
As we progress through training, we’ll move from quiet, calm environments (such as your home and neighborhood) to busier, more distracting environments. We want to proof your dog’s training in the exact environments that you envision spending time with them. Want to hike with your dog? We’ll go on a hike! Want to hang at a brewery with them? We’ll go to a brewery! Want to improve their comfort level at the vet? We can do a training session in the lobby!
This program is a great option for owners who feel overwhelmed by all that comes with the early weeks of puppyhood, but still want to play an active role in training their dog. Owners will get the most out of this program if they’re willing to spend some time between lessons practicing behaviors and holding their dog accountable. This program includes a training manual that will serve as a reference between lessons, making sure you’re not just practicing, but practicing correctly!
While we do have a planned curriculum of behaviors and life skills that we believe every dog should know, this program is highly customizable based on individual needs. If there are behavioral issues you want to work on, problem areas you want to dedicate more time to, tricks you want to teach your dog, etc., just let your trainer know!
INCLUDED COMMANDS WE BELIEVE EVERY DOG SHOULD KNOW:
- NAME RECOGNITION – look to you for direction when name is given
- HERE – recall to handler
- SIT – sit and remain in position until released, automatic sits at heel position
- DOWN – down and remain in position until released
- PLACE – go to a specific boundary and remain until released (bed, crate, etc.)
- HEEL – walk on left side, nose to knee, auto sit when handler stops walking
- SWITCH – switch from left side to right when heeling
- LET’S GO – follow along, less structured loose leash walk
- WATCH – make eye contact with handler
- TOUCH – two paws on object, i.e. a rubber feed bowl
- OUT – drop a toy
INCLUDED MARKERS WE BELIEVE EVERY DOG SHOULD KNOW:
- KEEN/CLICK – terminal marker / release word for food reward direct from handler; builds drive, enthusiasm and engagement
- GET IT – terminal marker / release word for toy reward or food reward delivered indirectly by handler (tossed out)
- YES – terminal marker / release word for toy reward direct from handler (optional)
- FREE – terminal marker / release word with no reward (freedom is the reward)
- GOOD – duration marker; let’s your dog know you like what they are doing and to keep doing that behavior; food, affection, or praise reward
- NICE – duration marker; let’s your dog know you like what they are doing and to keep doing that behavior; no reward (optional)
- EH-EH – lets your dog know that they are on the wrong track
- NO – stop unwanted behaviors
Frequently Asked Questions
What areas does KeenDog serve?
- We primarily serve the Charlotte, NC / Fort Mill, SC area. Surrounding communities we serve include Pineville, Matthews, Monroe, Huntersville, Concord, Indian Land, Tega Cay, Rock Hill and more. If you are not local to the Carolinas, Puppy Pre-K may still be a good option for you if you’re willing to drop off and pick up in the Charlotte area. We would recommend combining Puppy Pre-K with Keen Camp if you’re not local. Please schedule a virtual consultation with us so we can discuss in greater detail!
What is the wait time for Puppy Pre-K?
- We try our best to get puppies in for training as soon as possible. On average, our wait time is 1 to 3 weeks for puppies, but this can vary. We always recommend reaching out as soon as possible, even before you bring your puppy home!
Will I work with multiple trainers or just one?
- When you sign up for Puppy Pre-K, a trainer will be assigned based on availability, breed experience, and client preference. Typically puppies stay with one trainer for the duration of their stay, but occasionally they will work with more than one due to availability. Once you progress to lessons, it’s up to you which trainer you work with. You are welcome to book all of your lessons with one trainer or you can bounce around. If you choose to work with multiple trainers, we will do our best on the back end to communicate any individual needs and priorities, what has been covered already, etc.
When are lessons available and how are they booked?
- We typically have lessons available Tuesday - Saturday. Our trainers each keep individual hours, but generally we have lessons available from 9am to 7pm. Lessons are booked through our scheduling platform, Booksy.
Are lessons the right fit for my dog?
- Lessons are generally a good fit for all dogs, but not necessarily for all clients. Before signing up, we encourage you to consider whether you have the bandwidth to spend a small amount of time each day practicing with your dog, and whether you’re committed to holding them accountable for behaviors you want to change. If so, then lessons are a great option!
What training methods are used?
- We take a modern, balanced approach to training. We do not use a one size fits all approach; we train the dog in front of us, utilizing all four quadrants of operant conditioning.
Why is Puppy Pre-K not offered as a standalone program?
- At KeenDog, we finish what we start. We don’t just want to just potty train your puppy and send you on your way… there are trainers out there who will do that for you. We want you to live an optimal life with your dog. We want to holistically train them to be the best that they can be, and we want to train you as well, so that you can pick up where we’ve left off and hold them accountable long term.
Is an e-collar included with this program?
- Yes! This program includes a professional grade e-collar from E-Collar Technologies. Not familiar with e-collars or how they’re used in training? Schedule a virtual consultation and we’d be happy to talk you through our beliefs on e-collars, the conditioning process, and our training methodology. The e-collar will not be introduced until later stages of training.
Is a training manual included with this program?
- Yes! The training manual is a comprehensive reference PDF that covers everything taught in lessons.
Is KeenDog boarding included with this program?
- Yes! Access to boarding with our KeenDog trainers is included with this program (additional fees apply).
Are KeenDog group classes included with this program?
Do you offer discounts for completing training with multiple dogs?
- Yes! We offer a $500 discount for the second dog if you are signing up two at once. If you would like to complete training with more than two dogs, please reach out before signing up!
Not sure which program is right for you and your dog? Schedule a virtual consultation with one of our trainers. They’ll be happy to discuss your needs and point you in the right direction!