Frequently Asked Questions

The $4,000 Dog Training Lesson

When Mike brought home his eight-week-old Labrador puppy, Max, he thought love was all the dog needed.

Max had a comfortable bed, plenty of toys, and an owner who adored him. What Mike didn't realize was that puppies aren't born knowing what to do when they're bored, stressed, or left alone.

One afternoon, Mike left for work and came home to find a small hole in the drywall near the front door. He laughed it off and patched it.

A week later, the hole was twice as big.

A month later, Max had chewed completely through a section of drywall and damaged the wooden trim. The repair bill came to nearly $800.

Mike figured it was just a puppy phase.

Then came the laptop.

While working from home, Mike left his laptop on the couch and stepped away for a phone call. Max wandered over, lifted his leg, and urinated directly on the computer. The laptop never turned back on.

Replacement cost: $1,200.

At this point, Mike was frustrated but still believed Max would "grow out of it."

Unfortunately, Max had other plans.

One Saturday, Mike returned from running errands to find stuffing scattered across the living room like snow. The puppy had ripped apart an entire sectional couch cushion and destroyed one of the sofa's arms.

Replacement and repair cost: $2,000.

By the time Max was a year old, Mike had spent more than $4,000 repairing damage caused by a dog he loved but never taught.

The saddest part?

None of it was because Max was a bad dog.

Max was bored. He lacked structure. He had never been taught how to settle, what to chew, where to potty, or how to be successful when left alone.

A few weeks of training could have taught Mike how to:

• Manage the environment. 
• Prevent destructive behaviors before they start. 
• Build good habits through reinforcement. 
• Create a safe confinement plan. 
• Meet Max's mental and physical needs. 
• Teach appropriate chewing habits. 
• Prevent indoor marking and accidents. 

Instead of replacing drywall, laptops, and furniture, Mike could have invested a fraction of that money into training and enjoyed life with a well-behaved companion.

The lesson isn't that dogs are expensive. The lesson is that untrained dogs can be expensive.

Training isn't just about teaching a dog to sit. It's about teaching owners how to prevent problems before they become costly mistakes.

At the end of the day, a trained dog doesn't just save money—it saves frustration, protects your home, and creates a happier relationship between you and your best friend.

The Day Bella Almost Didn't Come Home

Sarah never thought it would happen to her.

Bella, her energetic young dog, had always been excited when someone came to the door. Every delivery, every visitor, every family member coming home turned into a race to see who could get through the doorway first.

"It’s cute," Sarah would tell her friends. "She just gets excited."

Until one Tuesday afternoon.

A package arrived, and as Sarah opened the front door, Bella slipped between her legs and bolted.

At first, Sarah thought Bella would stop in the yard.

She didn't.

Bella sprinted across the street just as a car came around the corner. The driver slammed on the brakes and the tires screeched across the pavement. Bella missed being hit by only a few feet.

Sarah's heart dropped.

Fortunately, Bella was eventually caught by a neighbor a few blocks away. Shaken and terrified, Sarah realized how close she had come to losing her dog forever.

That evening she called me.

"I can't do this again," she said. "I thought I was going to watch my dog get hit by a car."

We immediately started working on door manners and impulse control. Instead of practicing when guests arrived, we taught Bella what we wanted her to do before the door ever opened.

She learned:

• That sitting calmly made doors open. 
• That rushing the doorway made the opportunity disappear. 
• To wait for permission before crossing thresholds. 
• That staying near her owner was more rewarding than chasing excitement. 

We practiced at the front door, back door, car doors, and even gates.

Within a few weeks, Bella had a completely different understanding of what happened when a door opened.

A month later, Sarah sent me a video.

The doorbell rang. Bella ran to the door, stopped, sat, and looked back at Sarah.

The front door opened wide.

Bella stayed exactly where she was.

The dog that once nearly got hit by a car now calmly waited for permission.

Sarah later told me, "The training paid for itself the moment I stopped worrying that opening the front door could cost me my dog."

That's the thing about dog training.

Sometimes it isn't about having a dog that sits perfectly.

Sometimes it's about making sure your dog comes home every night.

Because all it takes is one open door, one moment of excitement, and one passing car.

And sometimes the most valuable thing training saves isn't money.

It's a life.

Debbie's Dog Training
Teaching dogs that an open door is not an invitation to run away. 🐾❤️

Our trainers are certified professionals with Certification Council for Professional Dog trainers CDPT-Ka as well as Victoria Stilwell Academy, PDT-VSA, QAQ Level 5   with years of experience working with dogs of all breeds and temperaments. Training family pets, Rescue dogs, and training service dogs.

The honest answer: it depends on the dog, the goals, and the owner's level of involvement. 

Some clients achieve their goals in a single 3-hour session. They leave with a clear understanding of their dog's behavior, a training plan, and the skills they need to continue successfully on their own. Others prefer ongoing coaching and support, reaching out regularly as new challenges arise or they progress to more advanced goals.

Dog training requires time, consistency, and participation from both the trainer and the owner. Because training services are provided as scheduled and time is reserved specifically for each client, refunds are not available. My goal is always to provide the support, guidance, and coaching you need to achieve your training goals.

Lifetime support includes guidance, check-ins and refresher recommendations. Additional in-person sessions beyond the hours included inthe program are available at the standard hourly rate.