Training Options

Initial Consultation / Behavioral Evaluation

• Initial Consultations are for first-time clients.
• When you call to setup the appointment, we'll take a brief history over the phone to help you determine which options are available to suit your needs and then setup your Consultation. At the consultation we will then evaluate your pet’s temperament, obedience history and training relationship with you. If there are current behavioral problems, we'll try to address those first by helping you gain more verbal control over your pet in fun ways. This is where problem behaviors start – a lack of understanding and mis-communication or too much required through force or too fast. We keep our training programs fun so that our dogs LOVE listening to us! We'll then start the pet on a suitable training program with recommended interval follow up sessions for any behavioral concerns.
• These initial consultations can be anywhere from 90 to 180 minutes. We'll establish goals and personalized lesson plans suited to meet you and your pet's needs. All ages, personalities, & breeds welcome!
• Fees include travel time, consultation and training time, mileage, written follow-up homework exercises and any items we may use during our visit (treats, toys, etc). There are neither hidden fees nor minimum training session requirements.

Aggression and/or Anxiety Modification (Storm Phobias also)

• For any Aggression or Anxiety Consultations, you will be scheduled with Julie specifically due to her experience and success in modification of these types of behaviors. Your consult will be scheduled as soon as possible, so that we can help redirect these behaviors into more desirable ones. Julie attends continuing educational seminars, can contact mentors and professional training colleagues for opinions if needed and has a vast resource network for helping each patient individually succeed. She works with foster dogs from various rescues when they have these behavioral concerns and has a high success rate of being able to re-home these individuals at the end of their programs.
• For first-time clients, the first session would be an initial training consultation where we can come in and evaluate the extent of the behavior and offer a gameplan to follow up on in 10-14 days. Due to the nature of these concerns, generally more than 2 sessions are needed for follow-up and we offer package options for this reason. Consistency and proofing are critical for success in these cases.

o        Please call us to discuss your current situation in more detail.

• Fees include travel time, consultation and training time, mileage, written follow-up homework exercises and any items we may use during our visit (treats, toys, etc). There are neither hidden fees nor minimum training session requirements.
• Due to their nature, Aggression and Anxiety appointments are scheduled as soon as possible, so that the problematic behaviors can improve quickly.

Refresher Session / Follow-Up Training

• Refresher Sessions are for follow-up training, proofing of the initial game plan and an overall continuation of training. We then setup new homework lesson plans to help you continue the training at your own pace. Most of our clients will purchase Fun Passes for field trip proofing, teaching tricks, etc, to continue their training. See our Fun Pass section for more descriptions.
• Fees include travel time, consultation and training time, mileage, written follow-up homework exercises and any items we may use during our visit (treats, toys, etc). There are neither hidden fees nor minimum training session requirements.
• Fun Passes or Courses can be purchased for those desiring multiple training sessions, which can help reduce cost.

In-Home Training Courses (We Travel to You for Class!)

• In-Home Courses are similar to obedience classes at a training facility, but in your home environment instead.
• Most people start with beginning manners: Attention, Name Recognition, Sit, Down, Stay, walking nice on leash, proper greetings, and Leave It/Get It.
• Others are able to work on intermediate or advanced manners and competition preparation. Even it you're not sure, we'll help design a program that's right for you!
• Weekly spaces are limited, so reserve your spots soon! Arrangements for every other week lessons are commonly scheduled, and due to these sessions being at your own pace, they are flexible!
• Current course fees for Basic Obedience Training include travel time, consultation and training time, mileage, written follow-up homework exercises and any items we may use during our visit (treats, toys, etc). There are neither hidden fees nor minimum training session requirements.
• Pre-Requisite: If a clear understanding of reinforcement techniques is present, none. If the owners are not sure how to reinforce each behavior to progress, an initial consultation may be required as the first session and can be done for a reduced fee with the course package.

Group Training Classes

• Now offered through Cudahy Kennel Club. 3820 South Pennsylvania Ave, Saint Francis, WI 53235. Call 414-769-0758 for next enrollment dates.

Fun Sessions / Fun Passes

• Fun Sessions are mini-sessions directed at teaching certain pinpointed behaviors or can be simply used to try new things! They can include (but are not limited to...let your imagination be your guide!):
• - Rally – These sessions are focused on teaching the basics of Rally obedience exercises so that owners may start to run thru courses to potentially compete.
• - Tracking – These sessions are done so that the basics of tracking can be started and then built upon for potential trials
• - Tricks / Fun Obedience – These sessions are based on just having fun with your dog and teaching useful (and not so useful, but fun) tricks. Some include: Wipe Your Feet, Get me a Kleenex, Pick up my Keys, Hi-5, Play Dead, Roll Over, Get It, being able to direct your dog to go get something, teaching basic agility obstacles and movements so you can attend a class with a head-start, and Much More!
• - Canine Good Citizen Preparation – These sessions take you through a CGC Test so that owners can see what their dogs already know or need to proof before taking the test. A Certified CGC Evaluator from Awesome Paws can administer the test at a later date. CGC Testing is only $15
• - AKC Competition Preparation – These sessions are helpful in going over the Rules and Requirements of the standard trials and tests and evaluating the dogs for potential faults.
• - *Schutzhund Preparation (and now AKC's Working Dog Sport) – From the BH on, these sessions will go over the Rules, Patterns and Requirements for all three phases. Evaluations can be done for the Tracking and Obedience Phases.
  (*Protection work will not be taught nor tested by the instructor. This phase needs to be tested by your helper. Awesome Paws can recommend a helper if you do not already have one.)
• Fun Passes have been designed to offer discounts for owners who would like to try different areas of training without dedicating their time to a set class, but would like more than just one session. These sessions are done in a field trip setting and are good for ANY Fun Session and one session can even be used for one Field Trip session.

Individual Sessions for $45-60, depending on your location.

Fun Passes:
- 5 Session Fun Pass – Good for 5 sessions - $190 ($38/session)
- 10 Session Fun Pass – Good for 10 sessions - $350 ($35/session)

Typical sessions are 30-60 minutes and you and an instructor will generally meet at a pet-friendly location at a halfway travel point.

• Pre-Requisite: A clear understanding of reinforcement techniques. If an owner is unsure of reinforcement techniques, an Initial Consultation may be required as a first session.

Field Trip Sessions

• Great for proofing under distractions.
• Similar to Refresher Sessions, but at a field trip setting, like: a pet store, recreation park, dog park, family member's house, even the vet's office!
• These CAN be substituted for a fun pass session, or purchased individually, depending on location, $45-60 per session.
• Instructors set up sessions with owners ahead of time and then meet with the pet at the specified location to work the pet under new distractions. Initial Consultations are required or pre-requisites are determined on an individual basis.
  • Pre-Requisite: A clear understanding of reinforcement techniques. If an owner is unsure of reinforcement techniques, an Initial Consultation may be required as a first session.

Competition Performance Critiques (Run-Thru Sessions) (AKC and Schutzhund)

• These sessions are done at a local training facility or kennel club at one of their Run-Thru matches. The benefit of this is that the trainer is with you, evaluating you and your pet, and making suggestions. A final progress report will be made so that follow-up training can be provided to enter an upcoming trial.
• Current fees are determined by location of the Run-Thru

Typically:
Waukesha Area - $20
Milwaukee Area - $25
Racine Area - $35
Kenosha Area - $45

Pre-Adoption (Pre-Purchase) Puppy Consultation and/or Temperament Testing

• Pre-Purchase Consultations and/or Temperament Tests are for new owners or owners that want to ensure that they are receiving the best puppy fit for their family. An instructor will meet with you and the breeder (if a breeder doesn't want to temperament test the puppy, then beware - as this typically means you should go elsewhere!) and help determine which puppy will fit best into your family.
• Not sure what breed is best for your lifestyle? Phone Consultations are available to discuss just that!

Nail Trimming Series (Making Nail Trims Easier!)

• Nail Trim (This is the trim plus polish with Dremel Drill)
  - w/ In-Home Training Session - $20
  - w/out In-Home Training Session - $45 to cover gas expenses
  - “Just-the-Nails” Nail Trim Training Session to teach owners - $75 (includes step-by-step guide to help keep sessions fun and easy)

Seminars

• Would you like to be informed of our next Seminar?
• Give us your name, e-mail address or phone number and we will contact you with upcoming dates and times!
• Or visit our Home Page for our events listing!

In-Our-Home Training School (Boarding School / Boot-Camp Option)

• This is a GREAT option for when you are going on vacation or out of town.
• In-Our-Home Training (like a Boarding School or Boot-Camp Option) is where we will take your dog into one of our homes for boarding and training purposes. Since the owner previously worked with dogs in a kennel-like training facility with a boarding school program, she understands that transitioning to the home environment after training in a kennel is hard to do...not impossible, but harder to do. It requires at least the same effort, if not more, from the parents to help in that transition. It is also very hard to work on problem behaviors like: counter-surfing, housebreaking, chewing, getting or staying off of furniture, chasing other household pets, barking at cars/squirrels, or even perimeter barking, etc, in a kennel situation. Most "problem" behaviors occur while the pet is off leash in your home or yard...and in a kennel, they are commonly on-leash. Most pets do not seem to feel as if the kennel is "theirs" and therefore rarely offer the territorial problems that are occurring on your property.
• This is why we also recommend a minimum of 2 weeks, if not 3, in our homes, so we can spend that first 1/2 to full week bonding with your pet and having them accept our home as theirs. During this initial phase, we play a lot of learning games and starting the fun experience of eye contact and attention to us in all situations. Food rewards, learning your dog's preferred "magnets" (food, toys, freedom, praise/massage, cuddle time, etc), is all in this period of time...some dogs take longer to bond then others, so this phase varies in length. Then, the next phase is spent teaching your pet the agreed upon beginner cues. We'll start the process of cueing the behaviors in as many environments as possible (this is why we require full vaccination programs because we may go to pet stores, veterinary clinics, dog parks, and other dog friendly environments). The third phase is then spent adding more distractions, more variable situations, and proofing the new cued behaviors. You'll hear our instructors say "it takes 3000 to 7000 repetitions for a dog to typically start to understand a cued behavior...3000-7000. That's a lot of repetitions!" But the reason our program works is because we try to do as many FUN and REWARDING repetitions as we can, multiple times a day, in many environments, so your pet can begin to understand the cue applies everywhere, before ever going home...then we introduce variable reinforcement theory, so that you shouldn't have to pay every time...but we'll explain this in more detail at your consultation so that you understand the program fully.
• We do not use choke chains, pinch collars, or electric collars. Regular collars and leashes are used for walking, but we firmly believe in also teaching the concept of "naked" obedience as often and in as many environments as we can, because you rarely see an emergency happen when your pet has a leash on. So we use positive, motivational techniques based on learning and reinforcement theory, not on coercion or punishment. We use fenced in areas and other safe environments to help your pet learn the Rules of a Recall, Name Recognition, and basic cues. You WILL have to do follow-up work at home to help your pet transfer what he/she has learned over to you...but the games we will show you will make it easy and fun...a few minutes here and there over the course of a day is all it takes to refresh your pet that the new game applies at home too. If your dog could talk, he/she would probably even thank you for it, as now they have a way to get your attention and Communicate with you...in ways that are not destructive.
• Our life's goal is to help you build a better RELATIONSHIP with your pet, not just teach them to "obey"...obedience can come with equipment from any trainer. A relationship comes from trust and understanding. Your dog just doesn't know how to communicate with you...yet.
• Whether for beginning, intermediate, or advanced training, conformation, anxiety or aggression issues, or simply that you're going on vacation and want your pet to have an Education while you're away, we can help. Whatever your goals, Awesome Paws Academy can help your dog learn new (or modify old!) behaviors.
• Goals are determined at a consultation, usually prior to the requested boarding date so that we can meet you and your pet, have a fun mini-session, and take care of any paperwork. The fee for this consultation is $50 and will be credited towards your boarding program upon completion of the program.
• Fees include:
  - An everyday home environment. Complete with TV and couch time, play with other pets (dogs and cats) if you so choose, walks, games, and so much more...We can truly provide your pet with a home-away-from-home environment.
  - Multiple training sessions each day will provide your beloved friend with stimulation and an education for when you arrive back home!
  - Miscellaneous Services: Laundry Care, Dishwashing Service, Tug Toys, Tennis/Other balls for retrieve games, Snack-times, Socialization, their own Kennel area, Chew Toys, Bedding & Bowls. We request that each owner provide the food, as switching diets can cause stress related colitis. Our food can be used for an additional $3 per day. (Depending on the time of year, we feed a mixture of Purina ProPlan & Royal Canin or Wellness & Merrick Blend that is chicken based and tends to be an easy transitional mix).
  - One free In-Home Private Lesson for each week the pet is in the program (i.e. 3 week program = 3 in-home lessons) 
  - Free Phone Consultations throughout your pet’s training life
  - Natural Balance Training Treat Rolls (used as treat rewards)
  - Daily Stuffed Kong
  - Training Field Trips for Socialization and Proofing (This includes going to veterinary hospitals, pet stores, dog parks, recreation parks, visiting family and friends, and even on other in-home consultations!)
  - Written homework instructions
  - Program pictures and sometimes even training videos!
  - Lifetime E-Mail Newsletter Signup
  Pricing:
  - First week in the program $700 ($100/day)
  - Each additional week $595 ($85/day)
  * Ask about any monthly specials or multiple week discounts!

Not sure what the best option is for you?
Call 262-308-2523 to speak with a trainer for a recommendation.

 

If you are not sure which program is the right one for you or have any additional questions or concerns, please just give us a call:

262-308-2523

Or e-mail us at:

awesomepaws@wi.rr.com