FAQs

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Feel free to call Michelle at 317-727-0342, or email directly to animalnut66@msn.com.  You can also fill out a registration form (see the link on our menu) and the form will email directly to Michelle.

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NOW!!!!

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While dog training is not difficult, it can be time intensive.  By this I mean you need to commit at least 6 months to a year to fully train your puppy or dog.  The actual time you spend practicing will have a direct impact on how quickly and how well your dog learns his cues.  The good news is that success can be achieved by using multiple short training sessions each day.  You can take 10 treats, practice a handful of cues and be done when the treats run out.  The more short sessions you do a day the faster the dog learns, but if life gets crazy and all you can manage is once or twice a day to practice, you can still look forward to having a trained dog who understands his place in his "pack" and is easy to enjoy and live with.

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Puppy classes are a good thing, but consider this.  When you bring a new 8 week old puppy into your home, you have committed to trying to communicate with this puppy.  What this means is that the puppy has to learn some basic cues so that he or she can understand what is expected.  The best way for a puppy to learn these core cues is in a safe, quiet environment with very low distractions. This gives you a set of tools to use when the puppy is in an environment that is way more interesting than you are.   Once you and your puppy are beginning to understand each other, then by all means join a puppy class.

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1. Mother Knows Best - Carol Lea Benjamin, Howell Book House
2. Don't Shoot The Dog - Karen Pryor, Sunshine Books
3. A Dog and A Dolphin 2.0 - Karen Pryor, Sunshine Books
4. The Culture Clash - Jean Donaldson, James & Kenneth Publishers
5. Beyond Basic Dog Training - Diane L. Bauman, Howell Book House
6. Dog Tricks - Capt. Arthur J. Haggerty and Carol Lea Benjamin, Howell Book House
7. The Canine Good Citizen - Jack & Wendy Volhard, Howell Book House
8. Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook - Delbert G. Carlson, D.V.M. and James M. Griffin, M.D.
9. Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul - Health Communications, Inc.
10. The Genius of Dogs - How Dogs are Smarter Than You Think - Brain Hare and Vanessa Woods, Plume Publishing
11. Excel-Erated Learning - Pamela J. Reid, Ph.D., James & Kenneth Publishers
12. I'll Be Home Soon! How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety - Patricia B, McConnell, Ph.D., McConnell Publishing, Ltd.
13. Fired Up Frantic and Freaked Out - Laura VanArendonk Baugh, CPDT-KA, KP ACTP, AEclipse Press
14. Control Unleashed - Leslie McDevitt, MLA, CDBC, CPDT, Clean Run Productions, LLC
15. Behavior Adjustment Training - Grisha Stewart, M.A., CPDT-KA, Dogwise Publishing

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Training a service dogs takes a lot of time and energy and starts with picking the right puppy.  If you have already chosen your dog and have completed basic obedience A Wag N'Time can help you finish your dog's training.  Expect to train with the intent of passing a pubic access exam, and be sure that your dog is clearly mitigating a disability for you or your family member.  There are a number of very reputable service dog organizations…even here in Indianapolis, so try to exhaust this avenue first before trying to tackle training a service dog on your own.  ICAN - The Indiana Canine Assistance Network is a great place to start and you can find more information at www.icandog.org

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The majority of training provided by A Wag N'Time Companion Dog Training takes place in the client's home or out in the community at dog-friendly venues.  Occasionally we do offer classes at the PetPeople pet store in Nora Plaza and other partner locations.  Please feel free to contact Michelle or sign up to receive our email newsletter that comes out about 4 times a year to learn of new class start dates and special events.  You can just fill in a registration form and put email list in the notes box.

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Private In-home Lessons

Evaluation and Meet and Greet 

You and I meet to discuss your training goals and expectations, if you like me and like my methods, lesson packages are available. For customers more than 25 miles from Carmel, IN, there is a  per lesson travel charge.

In the first session we spend an hour getting to know each other and evaluating your dog's skills and gaps in training.  We can cover all topics including training, problem areas, house training and manners.  We will also start teaching new cues immediately so you can determine if you like my methods and feel it is a good fit for you and your dog's needs.

Supplies needed: 4-6 ft. leash of leather of nylon, a large number of very small, very soft training bites, a fanny pack to carry the treats, a clicker.

Starter Package - 4, lessons 

These lessons are scheduled to meet your calendar availability and are paid in full in advance.

Supplies needed: 6 ft. leash of leather or nylon, appropriate training collar, a large number of very soft training bites, a fanny pack to carry treats, clicker optional.

*Once you complete your initial package of 4 lessons, you may "pay-as-you-go" for follow up lessons at $60 per session, or opt for the maintenance package (listed below)

Maintenance Lesson Package - 5, 45-minute lessons pack 

Once you and your dog have completed the starter package, you have just scratched the "tip of the iceberg" in training. To fully cement the new commands, your dog will require a full 6 months to 1 year commitment of your time. To help ensure your training stays on track, you can purchase this maintenace package at a reduced rate. Lessons will be scheduled at minimum 2 times per month, or as mutual schedules allow. Your cost per lesson is greatly reduced, and as an added bonus, lessons can be scheduled at your home, or at high distraction locations.

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YES!  Even children as young as 5 can learn to give puppies and dogs basic commands.  In fact I encourage children to join in the training process so that they can establish themselves as higher up in the pecking order.  Especially if you have a large breed puppy and a small child, you need that pup to understand that your toddler is not another puppy. By incorporating children into training and general care, the dog learns to trust and respect all family members…regardless of age.

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Treats and training go hand-in-hand.  The treat helps you pair a word - such as the command DOWN, with an action - the dog's belly laying flat on the ground, with a reward - the treat.  You are teaching your dog to understand your spoken language…in this case English.  By pairing the sound, the action and the reward, you dog learns the connections and when repeated over and over, learns what is expected of him.  Even seasoned, professional trainers with trained dogs use treats to maintain and teach new behaviors.  Treats are your friends!