DIY Dog Training

To the novice owner, DIY dog training is not attending any classes, not consulting any professionals. They may consider a book, DVD, TV show or other less personal (and, unbeknownst to them, less accurate) reference.

They want the pride of having trained the dog themselves.

Sadly, dog pros know, this is NOT an intelligent approach to DIY. The truth is, even if you have a consultant in your home once a month, a group class once a week, and a dog walker every day-- the dog's behavior is STILL determined entirely by the owner.

In fact, most dog pros will tell you that even having a dog trainer come to your house every single day will not necessarily result in the dog behaving for you! Dog ownership, by its very nature IS DIY. There's no need to deprive yourself and your dog of the experience and direction that pros & group classes can provide.

As a former PetSmart employee, in contact every day with scores of dog owners -- I have yet to meet an exquisitely well-trained dog who belonged to a novice owner who had never had ANY instruction. I met nice dogs, great dogs, lovable dogs -- even the occasional naturally well-behaved dog-- but... The dogs who knew what to do and would do it with alacrity, without hesitation, always belonged to someone participating in at LEAST one dog-related activity, often more.

No pro dog trainer I know and respect would consider starting a dog with absolutely no participation in a formal activity of some kind.

If you've gotten yourself into a corner, where your dog's behavior prohibits you from participating in a group activity, get some private help. In-home or at a facility.

If you simply cannot manage right now, sending a dog away to board & train is a short-term solution that can jumpstart your success together IF you are able to begin private work LITERALLY the moment the dog returns to your home.

It's still all you.