Why hire a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner?

Dog training is an unregulated industry — anyone can call themselves a dog trainer! KPA CTPs have received a thorough education in evidence-based, force-free dog training. This education culminates in rigorous assessments of our abilities both to train dogs, and to teach humans how to train their dogs.

Why do you offer coaching? Why can’t you just train my dog for me?

We believe in empowering you to understand and communicate with your dog. Plus, we don’t see your dog every single day — you do. And trainable moments are always happening. Dogs are always learning! When you know how to work with your dog, you will see better and longer lasting results. You will have the skills you need to build the behaviors you want to see, not just during your training sessions with us but throughout your dog’s lifetime.

Does virtual training really work?

Yes! Virtual training is just as effective as in-home training, and even has some benefits that in-home training lacks. For example, with virtual training, your dog will not be distracted by the presence of the trainer in the room, and can therefore focus better in a calmer setting. Virtual training clients can work with us from anywhere, and scheduling is more flexible. In addition to their training sessions, virtual training clients receive regular e-mail support, and are encouraged to send video of their training sessions for the trainer to review and offer feedback on between sessions. Virtual clients also have the option to receive recordings of all their sessions to look back on (plus all the standard resources provided to all clients).

What kind of support is offered between training sessions?

Between sessions, all clients have access to e-mail support. You can reach out at any time if you have a problem or concern, and you will get a response within 24 hours. All clients are welcome to send video of their practice training sessions for trainer review and feedback, at no extra cost. After each session with the trainer, you will receive a personalized worksheet outlining what we worked on that day, what the next steps are, and what to work on until our next session. You will also receive detailed written instructions for each exercise, any relevant resources (infographics, videos, etc), and usually a video example of each exercise as well.

Do I need to commit to working with my dog outside of my training sessions in order to see the best results?

Yes, you will need to commit to some amount of working with your dog on your own in order to see the best results. The amount of time you will need to spend training your dog outside of sessions depends on your individual training plan, and can be adapted to your schedule. Many goals can be completed with just a few minutes of training a day, a few times a week. We recommend keeping it short and sweet, and always ending on a high note. You are always more than welcome to send your trainer a brief video of your training, so you can receive feedback before your next scheduled session.

Why should I use positive reinforcement?

Because it works! Positive reinforcement training is highly effective when implemented properly. We use a type of positive reinforcement training called clicker training. If you’re interested in learning more, check out this article about why clicker training is so effective.