FAQ

What neighborhoods does Raise the Woof cover?

Currently, Justis is not taking new clients on the West Side of Manhattan.  Malia can help any new inquiries on the East Side of Manhattan from 14th St to 86th St, with some exceptions in Chelsea, Greenwich Village and Tribeca.

What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, checks, Zelle (preferred) and Venmo.

Do you use a clicker?

We love a clicker!  A clicker is simply a marker that lets an animal know it got it right.  However, we have found that handling a clicker complicates training for many owners. With most of our clients, we use a verbal marker word, like “yes” or “good,” instead.  We will definitely use the clicker in case-specific situations, and for advanced trick training.  If you and your dog have a background in clicker training, and want to utilize it in our work together- wonderful, please let us know.

How many lessons will it take? How much will it cost to fix my dog?

Without meeting your dog, we cannot give any recommendations as to timeline of progression. Additionally, when you’re trying to change behavior, once a training plan is set in motion, progress is rarely a steady upward slope. We are not just teaching and coaching one animal, but TWO: the dog and the human. Owners who do all their homework and are committed to changing their regular routines with their dogs have the most expedient path to success.

How involved do I need to be?

In order to see any change in behavior, it’s crucial that owners are involved and meeting with us regularly. There will always be work that owners need to do at home- and we want to foster the most important relationship the dog has which is with YOU.   Dogs are opportunists, and they easily figure out what they can get away with with different people. A trainer could work with a dog so frequently that she is connected, calm, motivated, and engaged with them and behaves perfectly. However, if the owners can’t keep up their share at home, success will be limited.

Can I give my dog to you, have you train him, and then give him back?

We do not provide a “board and train” service, but occasionally have worked with some providers who can. Any kind of “board and train” will only set ground rules in motion. If the owners are not committed to doing work as well, the dog will not thrive in its home.

Does this mean you only use treats?

We utilize whatever is valuable to a dog (food, praise, treats, toys, play, sticks, etc), harness it, and use it as reinforcement. We know that behavior that is rewarded will be repeated and that is at the core of how we approach our work.  As the dog becomes more fluent in the desired behavior, we gradually reduce the frequency of reinforcement but we will always want to communicate to our dogs that they are making good choices.   They are on this earth for far too short a time to not give them our very best.

Are you a “positive dog trainer?” What kind of methods do you use?

We use positive reinforcement, science-based methods, and refrain from using fear, intimidation, and punishment techniques to get results.  We are committed to setting our dogs up for success to make good choices and prevent the rehearsal of behaviors we are trying to change.

What age should my puppy be to start training?

Right away. Every interaction your puppy has with you, he is learning something. It’s important for him to be learning the right things from the get-go!

How do I know if Raise the Woof is the right fit for me?

Raise the Woof specializes in creating personal relationships with their clients. We pride ourselves on being relatable, communicative, and non-judgemental. We never want our clients to feel bullied or intimidated, because if we alienate the client, we lose the chance to change their lives, and their dogs’ lives. We liken ourselves to a cross between a personal trainer and a family therapist, for dogs and owners.

How do I find a dog trainer?

We know, it’s hard for the average consumer to know where to start since dog training is a generally unregulated industry. Fifteen years ago, there was no “certification” that was widely used, but currently, the most widely seen certification is from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.  Their link on finding a dog trainer can be found here: http://www.ccpdt.org/dog-owners/how-to-choose-a-dog-trainer/.  We recommend looking for certifications that require continuing education and asking lots of questions of your trainer to make sure your values are aligned.