Training Options

Fidelio has the right dog training option for you

Training Options
Individual Dog Training Consultations
For dog owners needing help with specific issues

This is the perfect solution for dog owners needing help with specific problems like:

  • Housebreaking a new dog or puppy
  • Learning how to walk your dog without getting dragged around
  • Training your dog not to bark at the doorbell

These sessions are also useful if you don’t know what your dog’s specific problem is, and need help figuring out what’s wrong and how to correct it.

During an individual consultation, we’ll discuss your concerns and devise a plan for you to carry out on your own. I’ll help you practice commands to adjust your dog’s behavior. If you need further assistance, we can schedule additional sessions or switch over to one of the other dog training options.

Individual consultations are 50 minutes long, and there is a minimum of one full session.


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Puppy Training Classes
Teach them the right behaviors quickly
We’ve said it before and we will say it again – puppies learn fast. This makes them ideal candidates for dog training. Most of our clients have gone through group puppy training courses with limited success, and here’s why: just like babies, puppies get distracted very easily. It’s hard for a pup to learn new commands with thirty other barking dogs in the room. Since our lessons are taught at your home, it’s easier for your puppy to focus and learn good behavior in the environment where it lives.

During these sessions you can expect to learn:

  • How to teach the puppy not to bite
  • Effective housebreaking techniques
  • Keeping the pup’s attention during lessons (“Look at me”)
  • Place (“Stay”)
  • Recall (“Come”)
  • Sit
  • Down
  • Stand
  • “Leave it”
  • Walking on a loose leash

I guarantee you’ll thank yourself for giving your new puppy a head-start on good manners and obedience. Well-trained puppies grow up to be terrific companions.Close


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Quick-Start Package
A three-lesson package that covers the basics
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This is far-and-away our most popular dog training program. In three sessions, spread out over a period of weeks, we’ll cover all the basics needed to train your dog. Each lesson builds on the commands taught in the previous one, helping you and your dog link everything together into a complete code of proper behavior. Please understand these lessons are really about teaching you how to work with your dog. Everything you learn in the sessions has to be practiced consistently and actively with your dog for it to learn the commands thoroughly.

During these three sessions you can expect to learn:

  • Sit
  • Down
  • Place (“Stay”)
  • Recall (“Come”)
  • Walking on a loose leash
  • Heeling
  • “Leave it”
  • Dog Manners and proper behavior when greeting people

We will also address any specific issues or requests you may have regarding your dog.

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Monthly 'Fast Track' Training
An effective alternative to 'Doggie Boot Camp'

You’ve probably heard of “Doggie Boot Camp” or other programs that require you to send your pet away for months. We provide the same level of intensive dog training, but your dog will stay at home with you and practice what they learn right where they live. Most importantly, as your dog learns new skills, you’ll also be learning how to reinforce those lessons – which means no “back-sliding” after training is complete.

This is a very personalized service, and is designed for busy people who still want their pets to have the best learning opportunity available. Our “Fast Track” schedule involves two or three visits per week for at least one month, giving your pet continuous exposure to quality training. One visit each week is done with you and your dog together, while the other lessons only involve our team and your dog working alone. This arrangement allows your dog to learn exercises and commands thoroughly during our one-on-one sessions, and then show you how to reinforce those commands in a “family lesson”. The ultimate goal of this package is to provide enough training for your dog to begin working off-leash.

This package covers:

  • Sit
  • Down
  • Place (“Stay”)
  • Recall (“Come”)
  • Walking on a loose leash
  • Heeling
  • “Leave it”
  • Dog Manners and proper behavior when greeting people
  • Beginning off-the-leash training
  • Beginning work on any dog tricks you desire

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Specialized Training
Advanced Specialized Training
Off-leash and tracking lessons

Over the years at Fidelio we’ve had requests for lots of specialized training. The most common one is off leash work which is a direction Steve tries to guide most people anyway. We’ve done stranger things though.

Steve has trained dogs to track wounded deer, find snakes in the field, get service dogs certified for both health related and medical related programs, track lost children, and even been hired to teach dogs to skateboard. Not every dog can do every task, but if there is something you want your dog to do, we’ll guide you down the path of training, and give it our best shot to make it happen.

We offer specialized dog training lessons that teach your dog how to behave off-leash while outside. A dog that understands and obeys your commands in a natural setting will enjoy their “outdoor time” much more, and so will you. If you like to take your dog to the park or go camping, this training is a must.

We can also teach your dog how to track both people and objects. Tracking is a fantastic way to have fun with your dog by allowing it to use its most valuable and highly developed sense – smell.  We can teach you and your dog how to locate objects with a specific scent on them, as well as how to follow a human trail. A dog that gets to exercise its natural tracking ability will be happier than one who just sits around the house all day.


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Canine Good Citizen Training and Testing
The American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen program

The Canine Good Citizen dog training program was developed by the American Kennel Club. Their lessons teach responsible pet ownership and good dog manners. The goal of this training is to ensure your dog is well-behaved around new people and environments, even if you’re not with them.

We are fully-certified trainers and testers for the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen program. We offer training classes to prepare your pet for the CGC test, and can also conduct their final exam. When your dog completes this program you can count on them to always behave properly, regardless of the situation.

You can find out more about the American Kennel Club and their Canine Good Citizen program by following this link: http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm


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Correcting Specific Behavior Problems
House training, shyness/fear, aggression & separation anxiety
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Most of our clients need help with a particular behavior issue. If your pet displays any of the common tendencies listed below, we have the dog training solution.

Click on a behavior issue to learn more:

House/Potty Training

This is the most common issue people face, especially with their puppies. We can teach you a variety of techniques to make this learning process as short and painless as possible. You’ll understand when your pet is trying to tell you they need a potty break, and your dog will learn that outside is the right place to take care of that business.
Shyness/Fear
We’ve found a psychological technique called “desensitization” works best for dogs that are nervous or afraid. This process repeatedly exposes your dog to situations that arouse their fear response. Over time, they learn there’s nothing to be afraid of and calm down. In extreme cases, we may consult with your veterinarian to decide if prescribed pharmaceuticals are an appropriate step.
Aggression
This behavior is often linked to fear. We will examine your dog’s reactions first-hand to understand their motivation for lashing out. Then, we can create a gentle training method to control and eliminate their anger response.
Separation Anxiety
Dogs that destroy things when you leave home hurt themselves as much as the household. It’s important to find out what’s happening while you’re gone in order to address this issue. The goal is to build your dog’s confidence while you’re away and teach them you’ll always come home again.

People learn in different ways based on their personalities, and that’s also true for dogs. Whether your dog is sensitive, feisty, curious, or “excitable,” We’ll find the best teaching method to match their unique temperament. We’ll help you understand what motivates your dog’s behavior, and show you how to maintain their obedience with gentle, loving methods. There’s no dog we can’t teach in a fun and compassionate way.

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