Frustrated with your dog’s behavior? Feel like you’re in over your head? Wish the world could see the sweet, loving dog you know at home?
The Glow-Up is our behavior modification one-on-one lesson program. Similar to our Bestie program, the Glow-Up is a hands-on option that will get you actively involved in training your dog. Over the course of 15, 1-hour long lessons, we will work through your behavioral concerns as well as our standard obedience training.
What types of behavioral issues may warrant The Glow-Up over the Bestie? Every situation is unique, but generally if your dog has a bite history, has shown aggression towards animals or humans (has escaped and attacked an animal, has lunged at passersby or guests in your home, etc.), has severe reactivity (overpowers you to the point that you can’t control them, redirects onto you out of frustration, can’t be taken on walks, etc.), or exhibits severe resource guarding (has harmed another dog or a person while guarding a resource), then we will recommend a behavior modification program.
The main difference between The Glow-Up and the Bestie is TIME. An additional 5 lessons gives us more time to build a relationship with your dog, address their behavior, build their confidence, apply their training in a variety of environments with different types of triggers, and more. If your dog is fearful, they may need more time to warm up to your trainer. If they are over threshold the moment you walk out the door, it’s going to take time to work up to higher stimulation environments, etc.
The beauty of the Glow-Up program, and our approach to all training, is that we do not believe one size fits all. We do have a planned curriculum of behaviors and life skills that we believe every dog should know, but the progression of this program is highly customizable based on individual needs, as are the specific methods that we use.
Without knowing and working with your dog, we can’t tell you the exact training methods we’re going to use. As a whole, we believe in a balanced approach to training. We foster confidence and relationship above all else. We place a heavy emphasis on implementation of structure, development of play, and counterconditioning and desensitization to triggers. We are always sensitive to keeping your dog under threshold, particularly in early stages of training. There is a time and place for appropriate, fair use of punishment, but we will not intentionally bring dogs over their stress threshold for the sake of punishing their behavior.
It is important to note that obedience is a part of the Glow-Up, but it’s not the main focus, at least not at first. We must first address behavior, then obedience. This process will look different for every dog and we will customize our approach as we observe your dog, build their confidence, and tap into their sources of motivation.
If you believe the Glow-Up may be the right fit for your dog, or if you’re not sure, we recommend scheduling a virtual consultation (free of charge) with one of our trainers. We typically will follow that up with an in-person consultation with one of our behavior modification specialists (Rachel and Nicole). If you proceed with a training program, the in-person consultation will be considered your first lesson and deducted from the cost of the package.
When it comes to behavior modification, honesty is the best policy. We request that you share as much information as possible about your dog’s history and your concerns, and in return we promise to always be realistic with expectation-setting, have tough conversations with you when necessary, and advocate for your dog always!
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
EXAMPLES OF PROBLEM BEHAVIORS THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED WITH THIS PROGRAM:
- Aggression towards people or other dogs
- Resource guarding
- Leash or barrier reactivity
- Fear or anxiety
- Pulling on leash
- Not coming when called
- Excessive barking
- Whining or barking in crate
- Jumping on people or furniture
- Counter surfing
- Mouthing or play biting
- Chasing cats or prey
- Destructive chewing
- Marking in the home or on walks
- Not following through on commands when distracted
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, we still have options for you! We have trained dogs from as far as Canada and Europe. Check out our Out-of-State Dogs page for options that may be a good fit for you!
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.
Will I work with multiple trainers or just one?
- We have two trainers who focus on behavior modification - Rachel and Nicole. You are welcome to book with either of them. Given the nature of behavior mod, we recommend scheduling with the same trainer for all of your lessons, though more than one trainer may attend your lessons depending on the severity of your dog’s behavior and/or the nature of what you’re working on in lessons.
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?
- Speaking in general, 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. Behavior modification is complicated and nuanced. We cannot make any blanket statements about the methods that will be used, but we place a heavy emphasis on structure, play, counterconditioning, desensitization, and sensitivity to keeping your dog under threshold, particularly in early stages of training.
What if my dog has a bite history?
- We don’t shy away from working with aggressive dogs, but we do want to know ahead of time if your dog has a bite history, and if animal control has ever been involved. We will work with you to plan a safe approach to your dog’s first interaction with your trainer. We may have you start work ahead of time on muzzle conditioning, meet in a neutral environment, give you special instructions for how to handle your dog, etc. For your reference, here is a scale to help you inform us of the severity of their bite history:
- Level 1 - No skin contact
- Level 2 - Skin contact without puncture
- Level 3 - Shallow punctures
- Level 4 - Deep punctures and bruising
- Level 5 - Multiple bites with serious injury
- Level 6 - Fatal attack
How quickly can I expect results?
- Working through behavioral issues takes a significant amount of time. We will give you immediate recommendations (sometimes even before you’ve started training) and you may see significant progress in as little as your first few lessons, but it’s important to understand that every case is different, and most behavioral issues will require lifelong management.
Will my dog ever be “fully” trained? Will they ever love other dogs, be safe with strangers, not guard resources, etc.?
- Probably not and we believe strongly in being up front about this. There are lots of trainers who will tell you that they can “fix” your dog in 3 weeks. Behavioral issues are almost always lifelong issues that require dedication to management, advocacy, and continued training. We cannot make any guarantees that your dog will make a 180 and never have issues in the future, but we will be here to support you and your dog even after you’ve completed your training program to ensure continued success.
Will my dog have to wear a muzzle during training?
- This is entirely dog and situation dependent. We think muzzles are incredible tools that can play a very important role in behavior modification. It’s crucial, whenever possible, to slowly introduce the muzzle and build a positive association. Ideally, we’ll introduce the muzzle together over the course of a few lessons, but in some cases (i.e. if your dog has a known bite history), we may send instructions for starting this process prior to your first lesson so that your dog can be comfortably muzzled for their first interaction with us.
What if I am unwilling to make changes that are recommended to me?
- If you are unwilling to make changes that your trainer feels are critical to your dog’s success (like crating them, muzzling them for certain situations, advocating for their space, etc.), KeenDog may not be the right fit. If this is the case, we may refer you out to another trainer.
Will KeenDog ever recommend medicating my dog for their behavioral issues?
- We are not behaviorists so we cannot prescribe medication. Additionally, medication is rarely, if ever, the first step we take towards addressing behavioral issues. If for any reason we think medication could be beneficial, we will refer you to a behaviorist who may recommend a prescription pharmaceutical and/or a supplemental training plan. We will then work with you to integrate this plan with the Glow-Up program.
Will KeenDog ever recommend rehoming or euthanasia?
- These are obviously sensitive topics and we will always approach them with care. We never want to recommend such drastic measures, but we do believe in having honest conversations and confronting hard truths when necessary. There are many, many avenues to explore before situations escalate to this point and, as long as you are committed to putting in the work, we are committed to helping you exhaust all of your options in hopes of producing the best possible outcome for all involved.
Is an e-collar included with this program?
- Yes! The Glow-Up 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.
Is a training manual included with this program?
- Yes! The training manual is a comprehensive reference PDF that covers all obedience-related content covered 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). Depending on the nature of your dog’s behavioral issues, boarding with us may or may not be recommended.
Are KeenDog group classes included with this program?
My dog already knows some commands. How will that impact training?
- We will start by assessing your dog’s obedience foundation. If they already know some commands and perform them well, we’ll adapt our training to accommodate these commands (i.e. if they know the command “Come” and recall reliably to that command, we’ll keep it!). In most cases, owners come to us because their dogs don’t consistently respond to commands. If this is the case, we’ll typically choose a new word to use (like switching from “Come” to “Here”) and retrain the command.
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!