What age do you recommend starting young dogs with obedience training?
The younger the better! Your puppy needs to be exposed to new things, people, dogs, and situations on a daily basis! I use very gentle training methods, so puppies as young as 8 weeks of age can begin to learn the basics to become a valued family member!
How long does it take to get a fully trained dog?
That depends on a number of factors, including the breed of dog and how much time you put into training. Basically, you get out of a dog what you put into a dog. This is where the day boarding is beneficial, because I can work on obedience throughout the day along with providing proper exercise!
What is learned on a daily basis?
Come, Sit, Down, Kennel (crate training), Walk (don't pull on leash), Easy (gentle treat taking), and Name Recognition
How much does the training cost?
I charge $25.00/day. This includes exercise, boarding and multiple short (20-minute) training sessions throughout the day. ($35 for an overnight visit)
How long have you been in the Osseo-Fairchild area?
I purchased this property in the summer of 2006, but I spent the better part of 2006-2007 traveling to dog competitions (field trials, hunt tests, and shows). In late 2007, I decided to turn my passion into a business, and began accepting 1-2 puppies at a time for monthly board/training programs, while still attending competitions. The longer I was in this area, and the more I began to see a need for a daily one-on-one training.
You're called Baby Bird Dogs, but my dog is a Coonhound (or Poodle, or mixed breed), can he still attend?
Yes! Baby Bird Dawgs was formed when I began training pointing dogs. The basic training principles are the same, no matter what breed of dog. Since I only use positive training techniques, I can just as easily train an Italian Greyhound as a Labrador Retriever puppy! Even though all breeds have their own distinct behavior tendencies, ALL BREEDS respond best to positive training versus traditional "yank and pull" methods. I am especially partial to the sporting dogs, sight hounds, and scent hounds, though.
If you are a dog trainer, why do you take the puppies in the monthly program to Puppy Kindergarten class?
Socialization. The more dogs and people that puppies meet in different locations, the better-balanced they will be as adults.
What experience do you have training?
I have been involded with competition dogs since 1990, and I am a Certified Dog Obedience Instructor, am a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (#78926) and and a certified AKC CGC & STAR Puppy Evaluator (#82280).
