This is from the ARCHIVES!!

I began as a dog walker and the dogs were a mess. So I was training all these dogs just to get through my day. And instead of sending a cute photo, I was sending a 30 second to 1 minute video of the 5 minutes per day I was spending each day to keep their dog from injuring my arm. Hahaha. Eventually someone asked if I would please train to their goals as well and spend a little bit more time each day. So that began my model. I was still a dog walker but just adding 15 minutes per day of training time to each walk. So I was only getting paid as a trainer for 15 minutes or 30 minutes but really I was maintaining instructional control for 45 minutes to 1 hour. I began listening to books during my day - headphones during walks and in the car running to appointments. And I devoured the whole dog journal. Any sort of question a person had - I went to the whole dog journal. I still carried myself as a walker... who could help train. Eventually I went my own way and became a dog training company. We really were doing something different by showing up everyday doing small increments. Later I found out were weren’t the only ones. Day-training became a whole new wave in dog training and a bunch of us were trying it!

When we broke off we did another thing differently. We sold only packages. We did not sell our time per se. You could not buy an hour of my time. I came. I evaluated the situation. We discussed where you were at... honestly we observed you and your dog. Then we asked where you wanted to go. NOT what you didn’t like presently. What is your dream relationship with your pup. What do you envision happening when you come home etc. We went through each item. Then I made a quick napkin training plan of what it would take to get there. Then we both put skin in the game. We were both on the same team. They paid up front. All cost were in one BIG lump sum. I was the tasked with making it happen. They just put big money on making it happen. The packages are big enough and long enough that the clients show up. They are involved. I am not inflating them. In fact, I usually cut them very close because I literally continue to show up until we get it done. I never make guarantees. I don’t make promises I can’t fulfill. But I say I will be on your team. We are on the same team and will stick together until we can complete the agreed skills on the evaluation to 80% and it’s up to the owner to bring it home and perfect the skills. The owner is the handler in the evaluation and the final say. In the end we give them a certificate of completion (we really do have a rigorous completion process) and we throw a graduation party. (If we can get it done close to on time and there is a little money left over, we take them out to dinner too) - we make a big deal out of the completion of the program. It’s not easy. Not a ton of dog have been churned out.

Because the cost is so heavy up front, we tend to work with those that are well off. Our clients are business people that can do the math and see more than just a big number but what it all represents. These folks make great clients!

We include everything in the packages. I used to have to fight to educate my clients on the value of the treats and that’s why we need A. To actually have treats. B. To have different kinds of treats. So this allows me to be in control of the treats. I don’t have to ask for money to buy their dog treats or ask them to buy treats. It’s in the budget upfront. Then there is the leash. I got to test a ton of leashes/harnesses/collars when I was a dog walker so I had my favorite brands, then I had my favorite for training. And then the dogs were chewing on my tools. Etc. So instead of providing my own tools to be destroyed by a client that didn’t care... because it wasn’t hers. I added it into the cost up front everyone got a box of stuff that I would need to work with their pup up front. Also, I no longer needed to haul junk from place to place.

So these savvy business people would say “oh thanks for the treats again, do I need to pay you for them?” - Nope it’s included.

“I love that leash. How much do I owe you for it? Can I buy it from you?” You already did. It’s yours.

And I would leave enough room in the budget for a plenty of wiggle room. Anything left over was used for treats, puzzles, snufflemats, ets. But sometimes it would take a couple tries to get the right collar or harness or leash for the pup. And the leftover when back into circulation for team or for me to use. Everything got used.

We ended up focusing on just one building to keep the running around downtown to a minimum. We really were doing great. It was a great business model... until I got injured. And we found out that the clients didn’t want the team they only wanted me to show up. If we would’ve had foresight to put all this up then... we would’ve been sooo ready for the pandemic. We didn’t. So we just fought our way right to here - the inevitable.

It’s been a long journey from this first training request to here... So what’s next. I want to be able to help more people. I answer the same questions in the dog park so maybe now I can help more people. Hopefully I can still find a way to give the same individual attention I was able to give and still answer questions on a broader scale. Maybe the question you have someone else has, and by answering I help you both - but by asking it, you both feel not alone.

In terms of training. I was holding Walker in place, simply waiting for eye contact. This helps with impulse control. But also helps him understand that when in doubt - look at me for more information. I never want to end a stay where the pup stays engaged with the food the whole time and is release with his gaze locked on the food. I really need a break, look at me. I release you from the stay. My eyeballs. Not the clock. It’ll help down the road. I have better videos to come... stay tuned.