Day Training Done Better

One of the top complaints I hear from other professional dog trainers is about client follow through, particularly in reference to hands off services like board and train or day training. 

Most of our clients start out with the best of intentions. They sign up for a program thinking that they’ll be able to commit to the follow up training. We create the plans. We train the dogs. We tranfer the skills.

Then it all falls apart. Why?

Short term programs require busy owners to make huge life changes in order to maintain their dog’s training. These programs appeal to busy dog owners because they offer an opportunity to outsource their training problems. Expecting them to then put in the effort required to continue training at home is unreasonable and sets these clients up for failure.

As business owners it can be hard for us to let go of this traditional model. Clients are willing to pay top dollar for short term day training or board and train services because they believe it will be a one time investment.

To move to the long term day training model we will have to adjust our prices down but we will also be drastically reducing our client turnover. This makes a massive difference in the money, time and energy spent recruiting new clients.

Long term day training programs allow us to not only train new skills but to maintain them, instead of putting that responsibility on the client.  

Of course there are limitations here. We can teach and proof all the fancy obedience in the world but unless our client has the skills to use it, it won’t actually do them any good.

Luckily for us, many problem behaviors can be improved without much homework for the owner.

For instance, using desensitization and counterconditioning programs for reactive dogs can create lasting change without requiring the owner to do any of the work themselves. You’ll still need to create a realistic management plan for that client, but considering we’ll be there to help exercise and enrich the dogs life for them, that management could simply be halting outings until the dog is ready. From there we can use protocols like Grisha Stewart’s BAT method to help these dogs learn to self regulate and feel all around more comfortable with triggers.

We can also be the ones to start socializing and creating good habits in young puppies. The confidence we build in new environments will carry over in outings with the owner, and the reinforcement histories that we build for desired behaviors will increase their likelihood across the board, giving our client’s a very easy opportunity to reinforce those behaviors without ever needing to learn how to shape them.

We can make a huge difference in a dog’s behavior and quality of life just by offering appropriate enrichment and exercise. Off leash hikes, dog sports and the like can all help satisfy the mental welfare needs that often contribute to behavior problems in pet dogs. Many owners turn to dog daycare or walking services to exercise their dogs, but these services often end up making behavior problems worse in the long run. We can provide that same exercise in our training programs AND improve behavior long term.

I genuinely believe that this style of day training not only helps us as trainers create more sustainable business models but provides a much needed service to pet owners. That’s why I created the Day Training Done Better Webinar Package, to help other qualified trainers jump start their programs, find more joy in their jobs and help more pet owners. 

You can check out the webinar here: https://www.pawsitivepupsacademy.com/daytrainingdonebetter

Subscribe to be notified of any upcoming virtual training webinars, classes and other offerings here: https://www.pawsitivepupsacademy.com/virtualtraining