Polite Pup Program (PPP)
One on one private coaching sessions with one of our trainers, yourself and the pup. Each program starts out with a virtual Initial Behavior Consultation.
Remaining are held in person at the home or our facility in Salem.
This is a foundation building program. With a focus on attention, your dog's basic needs and trusted communication, this program will give you and your pup the start to a bright training future. Exercises covered may include: name games, sit, down, target touch, puppy push ups, stay, recall and loose leash walking, “choosing to heel”, and place/ mat work, and more.
During each lesson you build off the skills that are already successful and reliable, and add more challenges such as distance and distractions. Then move on to learning new behavior and management tactics as well. Training sessions are spaced out about a week apart.
5 sessions - $575 (one virtual consultation and 4 in person sessions)
8 sessions - $875 (one virtual consultation and 7 in person sessions)
"While You Work" Day Training
We work individually with your dog while you are working, and then pass on all the information to you in a private coaching transfer session. Your dog will learn foundation basics, communication skills, generalization of behavior in various environments, and appropriate social skills.
- Initial Behavior Consultation
- 8 in person sessions with your dog
- 2 transfer coaching sessions
- Handouts and virtual support for troubleshooting and problem solving throughout the program.
Program Investment: $975
*Additional advanced training is an option after this course has been completed, on an individual basis.
Behavior Modification Programs
Customized, individual programs for adolescent and adult dogs that may be struggling with challenges such as fear, anxiety, reactivity and aggression.
Initial Behavior Consultation - Virtual: $125
Introductory evaluation consisting of a dogs' history, temperament and analysis of behavior patterns. Followed by an orientation of positive reinforcement training and methodology, learning theory, canine body language and cues, and management practices. We leave you with realistic short term and long term goals and recommend a specialized training program to help meet those goals.
Each follow up in person coaching session: $125
Hand out resources and unlimited email support throughout the program provided.
Phone Consultation: $45
Group Class Training
We offer fun and interactive group classes that are held in one of our two locations:
Walk A Pup Training Facility
41 Mason St Unit #4&5, Salem MA
Everydog Training Center
29 Andover St #3e, Danvers, MA 01923
Our classes range from Puppy Beginner Basics to Advanced Adult Levels 1-4. Specialty classes and clinics based on inquiry and demand. Popular clinics we have run are a 4 week Loose Leash Walking and Recalls and Proper Greetings and Group Walks.
Classes Offered
- Puppy Beginner Basics
- Adult Obedience Level 1 & 2
- Adult Obedience Level 3 & 4
Specialty Clinics Include:
- Loose Leash Walking
- Recalls and Proper Greetings
- Tug and Find It Games and more
Training Tips
The Training Pyramid: Is what I’m expecting realistic?
Training your dog can be a ton of fun! It can also quickly become frustrating when it’s not going according to plan.
There are lots of little rules of thumb out there to think about when training. Remembering sayings like, “Leave them wanting more”, and “end on a high note” are a great help. Pushing your dog past their comfort zone, whether it’s working on a new difficult sequence of behaviors, or trying to walk past a kid on a skateboard, often ends in frustration for both the dog and the handler.
When approaching a new training task, it is helpful to look at the whole concept in a training pyramid built with three layers.
The base layer of behavior for an animal to learn anything new is simple. Comfortability! So the first question we must always ask ourselves is: “Is my dog comfortable, safe and having fun”? Only when you have successfully determined your dog is in this stage, can you even attempt to move on!
Does the dog take food? Can they look at me? How’s their body language look? Tense with tight muscle tone, or loose body and relaxed? Are they hyper aware or sensitive to surroundings or are they just taking it all in?
The second layer in this training pyramid is clarity. Is the information the dog is getting clear and understandable? Have my directions been clear? Do they have the right information to even get this right? What does my body language look like? Do they find my reward reinforcing? Is my criteria at the right level? Is this still fun for the dog??
The final layer is precision and accuracy. Have they performed quickly? Are they in the exact position? Have they stayed focussed throughout the task? Does the focus last?
As we train our dogs, we should be asking ourselves, “Is this getting better?” Understanding this pyramid helps in setting up successful training sessions that get us closer to our goals. After all, our pets merely do what they feel is good for them, and what they PERCEIVE AS REINFORCING.
They are doing the best they can do with the information that is given to them, in the environment that they are in! Thus, if you are finding yourself frustrated, drop your criteria of what you are asking, simplify to give your dog the ability to easily succeed, change your environment and remember tomorrow is always another day and another opportunity!!
Next Sessions
Puppy Beginner Basics
6 Week Class, Start Date: Oct 15; Time: 6:00PM; Cost: $235; Location: Walk A Pup Training Center; 41 Mason St. Salem (Unit #4)
A beginner class for young puppies, providing exposer to other dogs and people, in a controlled and safe environment. This class covers all the foundation behaviors and exercises needed to start and build on your training relationship. We follow a positive, scientific approach based on reinforcement and long term trust building. With this approach to training, dogs learn quickly, efficiently and most importantly it is fun for both handler and dog! This class will cover several different attention exercises with distractions, sit/down/stand sequences, puppy push-ups, moving with attention, loose leash walking, recalls, target touch, and the beginnings of stay, wait and leave it.
Outdoor Calm and Relaxation Clinic
Dates: Sept. 13, 20, & 27; Time: 10:00 AM; Cost: $135;
We're taking regulation of arousal outside in the real world to help you and your dog relax and enjoy your time together peacefully in the presence of distractions. This is a great option for pups that are easily excited, nervous, anxious or just have trouble around stimuli. With a focus on both emotional state and physical behavioral response, we work towards creating an opportunity for your dog to make choices to calm and relax with reinforcement and reliable cue response.
Adult Manners Step 1
6 Week Class, **New Start Date: Oct 8th; Time: 7:00 PM; Cost: $235
This is a class designed to work at the beginning ability and skill level of Adolescent - Adult aged dogs ( 8 months and up). In contrast to the Puppy Beginner Class, we set a progressive pace and build on foundation behaviors that extend to more advanced work using longer duration, more challenging distractions, more use of "life rewards" and weaning out lures. Handlers are introduced to shaping more advanced behaviors and capturing techniques for reliability. Covered is foundation behavior sequences “ sit/stay/stand", targeting with touch, spot/bed cues, leave it, loose leash walking, polite greetings, take it/ drop it/ leave it, duration stays.
Canine Good Citizen Prep Class * 5 Prep Sessions with an evaluation test at the end
6 Week Class, Start Date: Sept. 10th; Time: 4:30PM; Cost: $275; Location: Walk A Pup Training Center; 41 Mason St. Salem (Unit #4)
The Canine Good Citizen Program teaches good manners to dogs and responsible dog ownership to their owners, this is an AKC recognized standard of polite dog behavior.
This Class has a prerequisite of Adult Manners Step 1 Class or equivalent.
The 10-step CGC test is a non-competitive test for all dogs, including purebreds and mixed breeds.
The CGC test includes:
- Accepting a friendly stranger
- Sitting Politely for Petting
- Appearance and Grooming
- Out for a Walk (walking on a loose lead)
- Walking Through a Crowd
- Sit and Down on Command and Staying in Place
- Coming When Called
- Reaction to Another Dog
- Reaction to Distraction
- Supervised Separation