What is positive reinforcement training? Positive reinforcement training uses rewards to reinforce good behavior, and reduces bad behavior by taking rewards away. It is the method of training endorsed by the Humane Society of the United States and a highly effective way to train. Our positive reinforcement methods will strengthen the bond between you and your dog. All family members can participate in this training, and any age dog benefits. Positive training does NOT mean that your dog will be encouraged to perform bad behavior, though – all behavior has consequences. Our experience is that positive reinforcement training produces the most stable and loving dogs, while still establishing rules and boundaries.
What is your background? Holly has trained dogs in a professional capacity for over 20 years. She was the Director of Training at three locations of a well-attended dog daycare in Westchester County, NY, for 12 of those years. Her work with dog daycares has provided invaluable insight into dog behavior, packs and relationships. Holly's education started with volunteer work at several different animals shelters (both dogs and cats), and a certificate from the Animal Behavior College in 2002.
Will you come to my house? Dog Done Good will schedule private sessions to come to your house to help you with your dog. We service Northern Westchester and parts of Putnam County, see our Service MAPS page (sorry we don't train in CT). While our primary business is private training in your home, we do offer occasional group classes (weather dependent).
Do you conduct virtual training? Yes! Through the Zoom app, we can observe your dog's behavior in your home without the "car mechanic syndrome." Just like when you bring a car to the mechanic and it doesn't do anything bad, some dogs don't perform bad behavior when they are being watched or given attention. On the other side, some aggressive behavior will only be seen at certain times or with particular triggers, and online counseling can catch the issues. Virtual Training can also help with scheduling conflicts, or customers who have moved outside of our training area.
Can my whole family attend training? Dog Done Good encourages children and all members of the family to attend dog training sessions. It's important that your dog learns to listen to everyone in the family. A fun learning environment for kids benefits both child and dog. However, some conversations about behavior and training are best left for the adults in the family. Parents must establish rules for the children to interact with their dog.
Will you housetrain my dog? We can coach you through the process. We've seen many different reasons why a dog would take a long time to housetrain, and we've probably seen your dog's quirks before. But housetraining requires someone to be with the dog for a good part of the day, so we cannot come to your house and make your dog stop peeing on your rug in one hour. Dogs learn through repetition and consistency.
Can you certify my service dog? This is a tricky question. Service dogs do not need official certification, but do need to be well-trained, able to handle many situations, and perform a specific task to benefit the human's disability. Dog Done Good has helped many dogs prepare for service dog training by instituting good manners and listening skills with their owners. Depending on your needs, we might be able to train your dog on their specific disability related task. If you are looking for certification just to travel with your dog and don't have an actual need for a service dog, we cannot help..
Do you offer board and train? No – and there's a reason why. Your dog will need to learn to listen to you in your environment to flourish in your home. Our homes are different than yours and not the best place for your dog to learn your rules. However, we offer Home Tutoring, where we come to your house while you are at work or away from your home. This saves you time and leaves the timing on training to the experts.
How can I pay? Do you offer Gift Certificates? We take cash, checks, and Zelle. Gift Certificates are available at any time by contacting us directly.
What are your prices? Prices are listed on our Services page. Discounts are given for multiple sessions - dog training is a patient and repetitive process and almost all cases will need more than one session. Please contact us if you have questions about pricing.
I have questions – how do I contact you? We are always happy to talk DOG! Please call, email or text us at 914-432-2428 or holly@dogdonegood.com for more information. In addition, we offer support between sessions by phone, text or email in case you have a pressing question. Not many trainers will do that!