Preparing For Your First Session!

​You’ve booked your first session with the Best Dog Training Company in Pittsburgh. What do you need to do, know, and have for your special day. 

First off, breathe. You don’t need to be nervous for your training session. Remember, we are absolutely NOT coming to your house to judge you. We are coming to your house to help you and your dog reach your potential, build your relationship, fix the behavioral issues you are having, and give you the confidence it takes to be the leader your dog desperately needs. I have so much respect for owners who know when it’s time to call for help, and we cannot wait to be the help you desperately need. 

What do you need to have for your session?
Every dog is different, as well as every household environment, but there are a few things that should be in every house. Whether you have a puppy, or a dog with a behavioral issue, you will benefit from having the following. 

• A good dog bed (we use elevated cots, they are $20 on amazon, and have tremendous benefits for training, but any distinguishable dog bed will do!) 

 

• 6 foot leash that is firm, with no give or flexibility. You may see us frequently use slip leads and training collars. This is something I do NOT want you to order ahead of the training. There are quite a few sizes and variables based off size, coat, and other factors. We will bring anything needed to train on this front, so don’t worry. 

 

• If your dog has bit, attempted to bite, or is a risk to bite (whether it be people, yourself, other dogs etc. it doesn’t matter) you need to get a properly fitted basket muzzle. There is a link on our website in the video tab, as well as our Youtube page on how to condition your dog to the muzzle. By getting this ahead of your session, you can save your dog from any unnecessary stress, and save time during our session. 

 

• A size appropriate crate. For the peeps who already have the crate in house, great! Set it up, you can even throw treats in every now and again to make sure your dog loves going in. For the peeps that hate the crate and do not want to crate your dog. Remember, you called me for a reason. I’m not saying we are going to be sticking your dog in the crate 24/7, but giving your dog a crate for structured down time and decompression after exercise and any stressful activity is a life changer. Get one, and we will show you how to properly use one!

 

• You will absolutely want a notepad for your session. Remember, we are not a cookie cutter program. This will not be a training session that has printed out guidelines, because your dog will need different rules and exercise to be practiced that fit their needs and your lifestyle. At the end of our session, we will have you write down some notes so you can refer back to them during your training. 

 

• Water. It’s hot out there.

Two very important notes! Make sure you don’t over exert your dog before our training session, and do not feed your dog directly before our training session. Even if they miss a meal, or only eat half, it will help. Remember, in order to train, we need some energy, and we definitely need food motivation! 

What should you do when your trainer arrives at your house? If your dog is a bite risk, we put these particular dogs in the crate, or a back room when we get there. Remember to condition your dog to the Baskerville Muzzle before the session! If your dog is human friendly, even if they are a pain in the butt at the door, let them do their thing! We will coach you through it, just have a leash handy. The first 10-15 minutes your trainer will sit down with you and have a conversation at the kitchen table, get to know you and your best friend, and explain the layout of the session before starting the hands on portion of your training.

As the owner of the company, and have been training dogs for the past 10 years in this beautiful city, I want to thank you very much for trusting our team with your dogs. I know how much they mean to you, and it’s my honor to help you and your dog achieve balance, and reach their true potential. Happy training! 


Cancelling and Rescheduling Fee: 
We always send a reminder for appointments 7 days in advance. Cancelling within 3 days of the appointment has a $45 rescheduling fee. Cancellations the same day as appointment is 50% of appointment fee.