(Sorry, the sale on private lessons has now ended.)To enroll in this course just add this course to your shopping cart at the top of the page and check out. If using a gift certificate or coupon towards your payment, please hit "other" during checkout and contact Bette to make arrangements for the balance.
Our group courses are an excellent way for most puppies and many adult beginners and adopted dogs to get an economical introduction to the basic dog training cues that all dogs living amongst humans need to know.
However, in some situations, private dog training lessons are the more appropriate choice:
* Use private lessons to fit the basics around your busy schedule when you simply can’t fit group courses in.
* If your dog is uncomfortable around other dogs and/or new humans, private lessons are the better starting point.
* In Home/On Location private dog training is the best dog training choice for dogs with very specific training needs within a certain environment or situation (for example, your dog drives you nuts when your nephews come to visit, or only when a neighborhood dog walks past your living room window.)
* Some humans just prefer to learn in a personalized environment with individual attention and fewer distractions.
* Some topics are better suited to one on one sessions. While an instructor can lecture a group about the general training and behavior modification process for topics such as housetraining and chewing of forbidden items, it is less efficient to try to troubleshoot these topics in a classroom far away from where the problem behavior is happening. Sometimes it is crucial to see the layout of the home and become familiar with family dynamics in order to make the best suggestions on such topics. Private lessons allow your trainer to collect information specific to your own situation, and tailor the dog training process to your specific needs.
* Private lessons are a good option for students transferring to Picture Perfect Pets from other dog training programs. Since different dog trainers often use differing methods and terminology and since our entry level courses rarely cover exactly the same material, private lessons can help us to “get on the same page” efficiently without a student having to go through one of our entry level group courses which may review some material a student does not wish to spend review time on. (Picture Perfect Pets no longer takes students transferring from other programs directly into our Level 2 – Doggy DoBetter course.)
More About Private Dog Training Lessons with Bette Yip
Certified Pet Dog Trainer, Bette Yip, is available to meet with you and your dog in person for private lessons by appointment in the Boston Area. The schedule tends to fill up two to three weeks in advance. Weekday evenings and weekends are “prime time slots” and usually fill up the fastest. Booking ahead is strongly recommended.
Please Note:
* Tuition fees are non-refundable. Please opt for session by session training unless you are sure you’ll want all of the sessions of a package.
* Double sessions are recommended for some dog training endeavors.
* Rates listed are for one dog. If you need training services that involve more than one dog, please inquire.
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Additional notes about private dog training with Picture Perfect Pets:
Age: open to puppies and dogs any age
Pre-requisites: required vaccinations
24-hour notice is required in order to reschedule or cancel a session without being charged tuition for that session.
All private training sessions are 45 minutes long. It is possible to book a double session, if needed, as the schedule allows.
Please note: tuition fees are non-refundable. If you are not sure about committing to all the sessions of a package offer, you should opt for session by session training instead.
Please mail or fax your enrollment form and a copy of vaccine history to Picture Perfect Pets prior to your first lesson.
About Vaccines:
ADULT DOGS: rabies and the distemper comb vaccines are requirements. Make sure your veterinarian knows your dog will be entering a group class environment, and follow their advice regarding the bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine. The bordetella vaccine is not a requirement for enrollment, but your veterinarian may recommend that your dog have this vaccine.
PUPPIES: Picture Perfect Pets follows the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's Position Statement on Puppy Socialization: "In general, puppies can start puppy socialization classes as early as 7-8 weeks of age. Puppies should receive a minimum of one set of vaccines at least 7 days prior to the first class and a first deworming. They should be kept up-to-date on vaccines throughout the class."
"...The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior believes that it should be the standard for care of puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated." Please click here to read the full AVSAB Position Statement on Puppy Socialization including references to other resources along with additional advice on how to socialize a puppy.
You may bring friends/family to classes if you wish --the more the merrier, and the more consistent your dog's training will be.
Once you sign up for your training, you’ll be given the links to the hidden pages on our site where you can download reading material and access video material we may refer to during your course. In order to get the most out of our first session together, please read the Orientation chapter of your Level 1 Study Guide and/or watch Video Presentation 1: Orientation.
The book, The Culture Clash, by Jean Donaldson is recommended supplemental reading for all Picture Perfect Pets dog training students. There is so much information we wish we could just transfer to our students instantly! But reading this book as you begin your training is a good start. The author is really tough on humans, but if you can get past that, the information on canine behavior and preventative training in terms of behaviors likely to develop without prevention is excellent. . . the most concise, complete and readable version we've found so far. It isn't a book readily available at many bookstores these days, but the Bookrack just upstairs from Picture Perfect Pets is stocking it for us. You can also order through www.amazon.com or www.dogwise.com
