TGD Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don’t get the results I want from the training? Is there a guarantee?

Due to the many variables involved to create a well-behaved, balanced dog, including owner commitment, consistency, and follow-through, it would be unethical for us to offer a 100% guarantee. However, we only choose the most dedicated and diligent owners so, in our experience, no matter how severe the issues, we consistently see breakthrough results and amazing transformations. We work hand in hand as a team in your dog’s rehabilitation. This process of teamwork and collaboration begins before we even meet your dog, moves through the training process, and continues long after your dog has gone home. Once you hire us, we consider you part of The Good Dog family, and your success is our utmost priority.

Who will be working with my dog?

You will be working with one The Good Dog Training Team. All trainers have been personally trained by Sean. In some situations, Sean may be on hand personally, but this depends on travel and schedule and can not be guaranteed. Sean will be involved in all training dogs programs and problem solving via email/text/phone with his team.

Will I get to see my dog during the Board and Train?

We don’t allow for visits during the board and train program. Although we understand it can be hard to be away from your dog, we find the owner’s presence to be counter-productive. It slows the progress of the program and can actually move the process backward.

Does The Good Dog use treats to train dogs?

We don’t rely on a food or treat-based training program. Our approach is far more geared towards relationship based training. We’re looking to avoid the overly-fixated, amped-up dog that is waiting anxiously for the next command or food reward. That said, we will use food when we find it helpful to the individual dog, and then fade it before the dog goes home. Human-aggressive dogs and highly unmotivated dogs are good examples.

Why do you use prong collars?

We use prong collars because we find them to be one of the best tools for gently communicating and connecting with the dog. Even though they’re often portrayed as dangerous or harsh tools, they’re far from that. Don’t let the appearance or the uninformed opinions of others mislead you. Prong collars are actually one of the safest and most gentle ways to effortlessly communicate both during training and after.

What is a day in the life at The Good Dog Board and Train look like?

All dogs sleep inside, in our climate-controlled kennel. We only work with a small handful of dogs at any given time, which allows us to give every dog the personal attention they need, as well as maintaining a calm, relaxed, and quiet environment. First thing in the morning, all dogs go for a long structured walk. After that dogs will have some downtime in the crate. From there we start the training day, with each dog receiving 90-120 minutes of training. While this might not sound like an enormous amount of time, it’s more than enough for dogs to make significant, consistent progress without overwhelming them or burning them out. We don’t allow free roaming or interactions with other client dogs. Only our personal, 100% safe personal dogs will be involved, so your dog won’t be at any risk for injury. And most importantly, every moment of the day is training – this means crate behavior, thresholds, feeding, potty breaks, and every interaction are all a huge part of the overall training process, and why we’re so successful.

Why do you use E-Collars?

Because it’s so neutral, mild, and involves very little mechanical mastery, modern e-collar training allows for the very best communication and transferring of skills from trainer to owner. While many are concerned that the dog is being “shocked” into listening, the truth is, contemporary, high-end e-collars are based on the same technology as TENS machines used for physical therapy in humans. Which means, your dog feels a mild, benign sensation that is not harming to them mentally or physically. Amazingly, most dogs work at levels that most humans often can’t even feel. In addition, the e-collar enables many challenging issues (reactivity on walks, jumping, barking, stealing food) to be resolved quickly and easily. It’s also the ONLY way to safely have your dog off-leash and maintain reliability. The ability to recall your dog back to you, even at great distances, is something unavailable with any other tool.

How do you train with an E-Collar?

We’ve created a very unique approach to e-collar training. Our e-collar DVDs and videos are purchased and viewed all over the world because the program works so well for so many. Like any high-quality training, we start by first guiding the dog through the new behavior and slowly build the dog’s understanding through small, incremental steps. Eventually, when the behavior is solid and understood, we begin to hold the dog accountable in order to ensure reliability and consistency. Fairness and helping the dog succeed are our highest priorities.

My dog is fearful and nervous – I shouldn’t use an E-Collar with him, right…?

Actually, modern e-collar training, combined with our unique approach to it, is the very best solution for seriously fearful dogs. Although counterintuitive, we’ve turned around hundreds of severely fearful/insecure/nervous dogs when all other approaches had failed.

My dog is really aggressive. Do you work with aggressive dogs?

Yes. We specialize in serious aggression rehabilitation. We’ve designed unique protocols that are able to turn around even the most severe cases – whether human aggression, dog aggression, resource guarding, or aggression on walks. We are considered the number one aggression specialists in Los Angeles and New Orleans.

My dog is uncontrollable on the walk – pulling, lunging, barking, growling – can you fix this?

We’ve become known as THE specialists when it comes to all manner of walk issues. Whether you’ve got an unstoppable puller, a super prey-crazed dog, or severe leash reactivity/aggression towards dogs/people/cars/bikes, etc., we’ve created socialized approaches that solve even the most challenging walk issues.

I have tried other trainers before and didn’t get the results I desired – what makes your program and approach different and more effective?

We are often the last stop after clients have been through multiple trainers. Unlike other training approaches that only focus on developing rehearsed behaviors, bribing with treats, or merely managing/bandaid-ing the problem, we have developed a unique approach that fundamentally changes the dog’s state of mind. Once we address the dog’s state of mind, the sky’s the limit for what we can create. By cultivating new habits, teaching the dog to make better choices, training calmness instead of excitability, and employing our unique duration work, we are consistently successful with dogs that others are unable to help.

I can’t afford your programs, but I’m in a bad situation with my dog – what can I do?

Most clients qualify for PayPal’s Credit program which allows for easy loans with zero interest if paid within 6 months. Beyond that, in some special situations we can sometimes arrange payment plans for clients. If these options don’t work for you, we have free training videos and training advice on our Facebook page, YouTube channel, Instagram, and Sean’s blog.