What is a concept?

A dog’s brain is made of different building blocks that I call concepts. These concepts are the things that help create a dog’s personality and they also affect how a dog will respond to things or behave. Examples of concepts include: optimism, flexibility, disengagement, focus, thinking in arousal, and calmness (this is not a complete list).

What type of training do you teach/use?

The training techniques used are strategies or games that teach the concepts. In teaching the concept, we reinforce the dog’s choices with a variety of things. They can include food (we encourage the use of a dog’s daily allowance of food and, for certain things, treats), toys and play, and even encouragement of activities the dog likes. The reinforcement used is also helpful in enhancing the relationship between dog and owner. In development of the concepts we want, more permanent real-life results are seen.

I don’t have a lot of time to train. How long does it take?

A typical class is usually 45 minutes to an hour and is scheduled based on the owner and trainer’s availability and needs. Some owners will start with a class every 2 weeks while others only want to meet once a month. Between classes I recommend that owners play the games we learn in 3 minute increments (yes, only 3 minutes). How many times a day and when you play is up to you and your lifestyle (and what your dog needs). I teach ways to incorporate training into your everyday life, 24/7.

Is there a certain age that a dog has to be to really learn well?

Actually, no. Some people think that if you don’t do training when a dog is a puppy then they won’t learn things well. A dog can learn at any stage. It is true that if a dog has rehearsed a certain behavior for a long time, it may take time to develop the concepts needed to counteract that rehearsed behavior.

Do I have to live near you to take classes or attend workshops?

No. I offer many options for classes and workshops. You can attend live, all online or a hybrid of both online/live. Between 2 Pines is committed to finding the most optimum ways to bring dog training/care education to you.

What are your prices?

Prices vary depending on the services you choose. A one-to-one class with an instructor is $35 per class or you can purchase a block of classes for a discounted cost (e.g. 5 classes for $135). Workshops and group classes vary in price depending on the length of the course and if there are supplies needed. Please contact us for a calendar of scheduled classes. You can also purchase a subscription and pay $30 a month for ongoing learning. See our classes section for more information.

Do you sell any others products?

Yes. In addition to my personal training value that I offer, I also offer some video training programs and feed-through supplements. You can find out more about these things on this website or by contacting me for more information.