Frequently Asked Questions

Balanced training is exactly what it sounds like, a balanced approach in coaching and training your dog. Simply put, when a dog does something good, it is rewarded by having something positive given or something negative removed. When a dog does something undesirable, something negative is added (usually an e-collar tap or leash pop) or something positive is removed. Balanced training is the most successful because it speaks the language of dog and how they behave as nature intended, behave well and get rewarded, act poorly and get consequences. Any good balanced trainer is open minded and always willing to try different tools and techniques to find that right combination to help both owner and dog work together in a fair and loving way. 

Dog training is a team effort. This means that not only will I put in 100% effort into transforming your dogs behaviours, I need you and every adult in the dogs life to be 100% on board. If you are ready and willing to make the changes at home but your spouse, parent, roommate etc is not going to follow the new rules/ homework/ guidance, my program is not the right fit for you. It is incredibly unfair to a dog to be given different rules by various people, every single adult in the home that handles the dog should be involved in the training and be willing to learn and grow as a dog owner. I only work with owners that are 100% comfortable in the training tools I use (e-collar, prong collars, crates), I want you to be excited for your dog to get training, not anxious and worried about the tools or approach I have. The owners I choose to work with have already done their research on what proper balanced training can do and are EAGER to get started. If you are the type of owner that is open minded, ready and willing to make the necessary changes in order for your dog to be successful and you are kind, respectful and motivated, you are the right owner for me! If you are looking for a quick fix or for me to fix your dog for you, I will not be the right trainer for you. 

No. All of my board and train programs are done out of my home which is one of the main reasons owners feel comfortable sending their dogs here. They get to live in a clean, safe and welcoming space working with me 1:1 every single day. That being said, I do not offer tours to the public. However, you WILL get to come inside my home when we complete our transition sessions together before your dog goes back home. I also post a lot of content on my Instagram page @thebalancedlab where you can see where your dog will be staying and learning behind the scenes.

I take 2 board and train dogs at a time in addition to owning 2 dogs myself. I also offer short-term boarding for my graduates (if needed) so your dog will not be the only dog. That being said, every dog in my house will have their own crate and will only meet the other dogs once I get to know their personalities so I can choose what dog(s) will be a good match. 

No. As hard as it is, you have to let your dog go for a few weeks and trust in the process that you are doing this FOR them, not TO them. My program is very immersive and for some dogs, they require many days to settle in/ fully bond with me, if I let them see you before they are ready, progress could easily be derailed. You will get to see your dog during the last week of their program as we complete 2 or 3 transition sessions together. 

The training tools your dog will use are designed to make your dogs life better, more fulfilling with an emphasis on trust & safety. The goal shouldn't be to stop using them, but to not need to rely on them as much. My own personal dogs wear their e-collar's every single day (specifically when they are off leash), and although I don't need them anymore, I still feel way more comfortable knowing I have 100% control in that "what if" moment. Think of your e-collar as your seatbelt, you might not need it every single time you drive, but the one day you do need it, you are thankful you had it. 

Yes! If you are putting in the work and making a solid effort post-training, I will be your BIGGEST support. After a board & train, I offer free monthly in-person refresher sessions for up to 6 months. I also offer unlimited virtual support whether that be a quick text, phone call or email. I want you and your dog to succeed just as much as you do (sometimes even more haha) so I will always be available for support as long as you are trying. 

In today's world, everything you want to know about anything is one click away but that also means there is a TON of bad advice out there too. If you are interested in learning more about the balanced training method or dog psychology in general, go follow the following accounts on social media: @TheBalancedLab (myself) @packleaderdogs @Toddlangston @TheGoodDogTraining @Kane9DogTraining @WalkingDogTraining @LarryKrohn @Sayitoncedogtraining @Nobaddogs @MethodK9 (there are so many others but I would start here). You can also check out Sean O'Shea's book "Love Them by Leading Them", as well as Larry Krohns book "Everything You Need To Know About E-Collar Training".