Questions I get asked

Now. Whatever age your dog is, he is learning something today, and it is easier to teach him what you want than to undo what he has taught himself. For puppies, training starts the day they come home, and socialisation cannot wait for the last vaccination.

Neither exists. Puppies can start learning at eight weeks, and old dogs learn perfectly well, they just get tired sooner. The only thing age changes is what we work on and for how long at a stretch.

For pet manners, most people do well with the package of four. Behavior modification is harder to predict, because it depends on how long the problem has been rehearsed and how much you are able to change day to day. I would rather tell you honestly after seeing your dog than guess on the phone.

I offer private training only, in your home, which is better for almost every problem that is actually bothering you. If your dog is reactive or frightened, a group class is usually the worst possible starting point.

All of them, but not all for the same reason. Some need manners. Some need a job. Some need help with something that frightens them. And some owners just want to understand what their dog is telling them, which is a perfectly good reason to call.

No. I train with positive reinforcement. If you have been told your dog needs to be corrected into behaving, I am happy to explain why I work differently and what I would do instead.

I cover Kent, Queen Anne's, Cecil, Talbot and Caroline counties in Maryland, and Middletown through Dover in Delaware. If you are not sure whether you are in range, just ask.