Private Training
In-home private dog training for people and dogs living in the Upper West Side and Upper East Side
Our Training Method
All of our dog trainers are trained in the LIMA Dog Training philosophy. LIMA stands for Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive and is all about training your dog in the way that is most pleasant for your dog. All of our training plans start with a Positive Reinforcement approach where we set up your dog for success and guide them through the path we carefully lay out for them.
Positive Reinforcement is the best training method for most training goals, and the vast majority of our training plans succeed using 100% Positive Reinforcement.
​
Some behaviors in some dogs can't be corrected with Positive Reinforcement alone. In these fringe cases, our trainers are trained and prepared to employ gradually more intense training methods if and only if the behavior warrants it and the owner approves it. Again, we only escalate beyond positive reinforcement training when it is necessary for the health and safety of the dog and those around them.
When to Choose Private Training
Aggression and Reactivity
If your dog lunges, snaps, barks, or otherwise acts out around dogs or people, a private training plan can desensitize and counter condition your dog to their triggers. If your dog seems to react randomly, our trainers can help determine the root cause of your dog's reactivity to provide targeted, effective training.
Complicated Scheduling
Our private training plans are written from scratch based on your dog's needs and your schedule. For owners that don't have time to reinforce the training by themselves, we offer Solo Sessions that can be used to practice most skills. (Although all of our training plans require at least some owner participation)
Anxiety and Nervousness
For dogs struggling with anxious behaviors, such as fear of going outside, avoiding or running from people and animals, panting, pacing, and hiding, our private training plans can help. Our trainers work hard to build your dog's confidence in themselves and in you so they can live and play fearlessly.
Specific or Unusual Goals
Private training plans can be tailored to your dog's individual needs. Some of the goals we've accomplished in the past are:
-
Teaching a dog to ring a bell when they need to go potty
-
Desensitizing a dog that was reactive to men, but only when they wear hats
-
Teaching a dog not to eat the wall
-
Socializing a dog to their owner's pet turtle
Parts of a Private Training Plan
Initial Consultation
An Initial Consultation is a 1 hour and 15 minute meeting between you, your dog, and our trainer.
​
During the Initial Consultation, we'll assess your dog, discuss your goals, and teach you some training techniques you can start using immediately.
After the consultation, we draft a custom training plan for your dog.
​
$200
Private Session
Private Sessions are 1 hour training sessions that include both you and your dog.
​
These are the core of our training plans, and comprise the entirety of most plans. During a private session, our trainer not only trains your dog, but also explains the techniques they use so you can reinforce your dog's lesson at home.
​
$180 each
Solo Session
Solo Sessions are 1 hour training sessions just for your dog and our trainer.
​
These sessions are used as supplements to a training plan. Most often they're included when a dog needs to work on skills or confidence separate from the family, or if the family needs or wants help reinforcing the lessons taught in Private Sessions.
​
$150+tax each
Example Training Plans
Every plan we write is customized for your dog. A large number of factors go into writing a plan, such as your dog's personality and history, the family's availability to reinforce the lessons, and the goals themselves.
Even if an example plan matches your own goals, there may be other factors that change the exact number of sessions our trainer recommends for your plan.
(The names in the below plans have been changed for privacy)