Our priority is YOU and your PET. Our promise is to establish a long lasting relationship between you and your pet that you can depend on. We want to provide YOU and your PET a successful learning environment and a memorable experience. We are providing you with frequently asked questions we feel are vital to YOU and your PET. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.
1) YOU ASK: “How old does my dog need to be to start training?”
WE ANSWER: Great question! Our recommendation…start training as soon as you get your dog, no matter how old your dog is!
The sooner you start training, the more beneficial it will be for YOU and your PET. If you are going to a group class or a public place/environment where other puppies are likely to be, it is important to follow the recommendation of your vet as to the safety and welfare of your puppy. Vaccination schedules and vet recommendations vary, but in general a puppy needs to have completed their vaccine schedule (especially the parvovirus vaccine and boosters) and their bordetella vaccine before being exposed to potentially infectious environments. Fortunately because we are training in the safety of your own home we can start training as soon as you bring your new puppy home. Remember older dogs need training, too!
2) YOU ASK: “When can I schedule my training session/s?”
WE ANSWER: Our training hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. We accept a limited number of clients per day in order to provide quality training and service. Please book your appointment at least a week in advance. Please note that these are not our phone or office hours. We answer and return calls from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you are having trouble getting in touch with a “live” person, please email Rachel with the best time to call you back!
3) YOU ASK: “How much do private lessons cost?”
WE ANSWER: Prices vary depending on the training and behavior goals you have so please call or contact us for an estimate. If you have have adopted your animal from a non-profit rescue group such as the Brazos Animal Shelter, we offer one free training session and 10% off each additional training service you purchase from Good Paws!
4) YOU ASK: “Who will train my dog?”
WE ANSWER: YOU and Rachel will! Rachel is the only trainer that Good Paws! Training & Behavior Center uses or sends to clients’ homes. On occasion, Rachel may bring an assistant. If an assistant is involved, you will be notified in advance and have the option to decline the assistant’s presence. Rachel will help you learn to train and modify your dog’s behavior so that you know what to do when training problems arise. For more information on Rachel, please contact Good Paws! Training & Behavior Center.
5) YOU ASK: “Where does training take place?”
WE ANSWER: We are built on convenience for YOU and your PET. Training takes place in the comfort of your own home and neighborhood. It is important for you to know how to train around the distractions and variables of your home and neighborhood. It is also important to know how to manage the specific obstacles of your home and neighborhood. For some, this is NOT an option and we can accommodate you with our private indoor/outdoor facility. We provide a safe, indoor, climate controlled environment as well as several outdoor puppy-proofed yards for practice with both home settings and outdoor settings. We provide an environment that is realistic to day to day living by incorporating animals and people to create distractions. Good Paws! Training & Behavior Center also offers agility. Our agility equipment is set up at the Good Paws! location so any agility sessions will be held at the Good Paws! location.
6) YOU ASK: “Do I have to use a clicker?”
WE ANSWER: NO, of course not! The clicker is a great tool for positive reinforcement training, however, it is not for everybody, not for every dog, and not for every behavior/training situation. You can train with positive reinforcement methods and not use the clicker.
7) YOU ASK: “How will my dog get socialization if we only train at my home?”
WE ANSWER: Because socialization is so important we will incorporate it on your daily walks, at your neighborhood park, the local pet stores, coffee shops, the Good Paws! Training & Behavior Center location, and more. Your dog will be as social as YOU!
8) YOU ASK: “Do you train any kind of dog?”
WE ANSWER: Yes. We train any size, shape, breed, or color; from puppies to senior dogs. Always know, an old dog can learn new tricks. If you have a senior dog and would like to strengthen your relationship with him/her, we can assist with that.
9) YOU ASK: “Do you still train cats, horses, chickens, rabbits, fish, reptiles, mice, rats, birds, etc.?”
WE ANSWER: Yes, of course. We love the challenge of working with different species. People often don’t know that their rabbits can be litter box trained or that their horses can be trained with positive and negative reinforcement, not punishment. Cats can be taught to sit and fetch. (Cats can also be re-trained to use the litter box if they have stopped using their litter box.) Goldfish can be taught to do tricks like swim through hoops or play basketball (in the water!) Hamsters and guinea pigs can be taught to come back to you after having some free time loose in a safe room—in other words, we can train a Reliable Recall for your rodent!
10) YOU ASK: “Do you board while training?”
WE ANSWER: No, we do not provide this service. Dropping your dog off with a trainer and picking your dog up at the end of the day, week or month is not an option. If you are expecting a lovely, trained dog that will listen to your commands, then YOU are just as important as your PET and it requires involvement from both parties. If you don’t know how to train and maintain the behaviors you want from your dog, he/she will resume those unwanted behaviors as soon as you stop training. That is why we emphasize that training happens all the time. We want to give you the tools and knowledge to train your dog so you don’t have to continue to turn to a professional trainer for the rest of your dog’s life.
11) YOU ASK: “Do you board dogs as an additional service?”
WE ANSWER: No, we do not provide this service due to not having boarding facilities. We recommend that you consult your vet for the best and safest option for your pets while you are on vacation. Usually vets are able to provide boarding for their clients. This is a very safe option. We can help give you tips to make your pet’s stay more comfortable. We have other recommendations as well as the” dos and don'ts” of boarding.
12) YOU ASK: “I want to train with you but I’m confused. Do I purchase one private lesson or buy a package of lessons?”
WE ANSWER: We’re flexible and want to build around what is right for YOU and your PET. We recommend you purchase one lesson and be sure this is the right training for YOU and your PET. If you are satisfied with the service provided, then the next step would be to purchase a package or ask for a personalized plan that fits your pet’s needs. If you have reviewed our website and researched information on this topic and are sure you want one of the “pre-packaged” plans then you definitely have the option of getting started right away. Keep in mind that an introduction of the training methods and an evaluation of your dog do not come with the purchase of the pre-packaged plan.
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