FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
What do you want to know about our training?
Here are some questions people often ask. If you do not find you answers here, use the ‘Contact Us’ tab to send a note or call.
Aggression: Do you work with aggressive dogs?
Yes. Aggression often grows from the dog’s fear. Your dog needs training to build confidence, learn what you consider ‘appropriate’ behavior and recognize that you are in charge, and you set the priorities. Without training, the aggression will get worse. Consider our Sassy Dog Program.
Classes: Can children and other family members come to training?
Yes. We welcome others. You are responsible for your children’s safety and behavior. It is a good idea for other members of the family to teach the dog to work for them, too. Often, our one-on-one coaching sessions can help others learn training skills with the dog.
Classes: How do I enroll?
Use the “Register Online” tab for class registration, private lessons or Membership. If you want to discuss your priorities and how we might help achieve them before you register, use the “Contact Us’ tab to send a note or call. You and your dog(s) may begin at any time that fits your schedule. In some cases, it is not necessary to wait for the start of a new eight-week session.
Classes: How many dogs are in the classes?
The average through-out the year is about 10 in the beginning classes; however, the number varies week to week since one can attend any of the in-person or online sections, and it varies by times of the year with the January and September sessions often the busiest.
Classes: What happens in severe weather situations?
Severe weather conditions (thunderstorms, or winter ice, snow or cold) may cause us to cancel a class for a day or more. We add that time to the end of the session.
Classes: What do you do in case of emergency?
In case of human emergency, we call 911 for help. In case of canine emergency and when one cannot contact one’s own vet, we contact the 24-hour emergency service now provided by Horton Discovery Service.
Classes: When are classes offered?
We offer classes nearly year-round in eight-week sessions primarily on weekday evenings and Saturdays. Some of the specialty classes are offered on an as-needed or as-requested basis. See the school schedule for the regularly offered classes. If you do not find the class you want on the schedule, ask us about the possibility of our offering it to you.
Cost: How much does training cost?
The tuition of $285 covers unlimited continuous enrollment in Puppy Kindergarten or Level 1 classes and in the graduation class – Level 1+. Access to advanced classes and other activities is through annual Memberships in our school. We have four, annual membership types – Columbia area ($875), Long-distance — for those living more than 50 miles from the training center ($785), Columbia area senior ($735) and Long-distance Senior — for persons 65 or older ($645). More about the Member fees.
Drill Team: What is Drill Team?
Team members create dance routines with their dogs in the tradition of free-style obedience, develop tricks and unusual moves choreographed to music. Team members perform frequently throughout central Missouri at fairs and festivals and for school children and senior citizen venues. They often combine performances with therapy visits at those venues. Here is an example.
Equipment: Do you require a particular collar?
No. The choice of collar, harness and other equipment is yours; although, we may recommend one or another depending on the dog and the train objective. The collar and other equipment will also vary depending on the specific training task. The major goal is to have the dog work with and for you with no collar or leash.
Equipment: Do you use prong collars?
Yes – in some situations. The prong collar gives the dog strong ‘pay attention’ signals that are useful in early stages of training for excitable dogs. As the dog learns to pay attention, one weans the dog off the prong collar.
Equipment: Do you use e-collars?
Yes – occasionally. They are not a substitute for training and should not be used in teaching new behaviors. They can be used to signal a dog away unwanted behavior and toward returning attention to the dog’s person.
Lessons: Do you offer group lessons?
Yes. Our scheduled classes – beginning, advanced and specialty are delivered as group work. In addition, for those enrolled for the group work, we offer at no additional cost one-o-one coaching sessions to help with specific training issues.
Lessons: Do you offer private lessons?
Yes – in two formats. We offer no-additional-cost private lessons (in-person or online) for Members and for those enrolled in our group classes. For others, we offer private lessons or problem-solving consultation. The fee of those sessions is $90 per hour.
Location: Where is your school located?
Our physical address is 325 E Dripping Springs Road, Columbia, Missouri, 65202. That is off US Highway 63, about nine miles north of its intersection with I-70. Our online address is https://dogschooling.com/.
Membership: What is a Membership?
Membership is an annual commitment to training (like a gym membership) With the membership, you may participate in any of our classes that fit your priority and use our facilities including our dog parks for play and practice outside of the classes. Membership includes all the dog’s and people in your immediate family. – We have four, annual membership types – Columbia area ($875), Long-distance — for those living more than 50 miles from the training center ($785), Columbia area senior ($735) and Long-distance Senior — for persons 65 or older ($645).
Puppy: How early should I bring my puppy for class?
Bring your puppy to class as early as possible – when your vet says the puppy can attend, given the puppy’s vaccination routine – usually 7 to 10 weeks.
Puppy: What will my puppy learn in kindergarten?
You will be teaching them to pay attention and follow through on your commands. Our Kindergarten will also help curb common puppy problems – biting, jumping, etc. Kindergarten includes lots of socialization with other puppies and other people in the class. It builds the puppy’s confidence. Kindergarten should be fun for the puppy and you. Here’s a list of training topics
Registration: Can I observe a dog class before I register?
Yes. You are welcome to any of our classes. It may be helpful to talk with us to match your priorities with an appropriate class and to ensure someone will meet you to answer questions you may have.
Registration: Can you meet with me and my dog before I register?
Yes. We are happy to schedule an appointment to meet your dog, learn more about your priorities and have you your dog see the school facility.
Registration: Does your building have AC and heat?
Yes – air conditioning for the warm parts of the year and heat for the cold parts.
Registration: Do you guarantee your training?
No. However, you may stay in Puppy Kindergarten or Level 1 for as long as it takes for your dog to learn the material and you may go on to the graduation class (Level 1+) and stay in it for as long as you want to. From our end, we will work for you at these levels for as long you continue to participate. Our refund policy includes return of some of the class or Membership fee depending on time of your refund request.
Registration: Do you keep my personal information confidential?
Yes. We do not keep credit card information, and we only share other information (name, address, etc.) as required by law.
Registration: What dog shots do you require?
We require the shot-list our veterinarian has recommended for us. In some cases, your vet may recommend changes in that list. We accept a record of the shots your vet has given.
Registration: What is your refund/cancelation policy?
For class registration, we refund the full registration tuition for cancellations before the session of classes for which the registration was made has begun. When the cancellation occurs during the first two weeks of a session, we provide refund of the registration tuition minus the equivalent of a private lesson: currently $90. When we receive the cancellation request after the second week of a session, except for illness or incapacity of the handler or dog, there is no refund. We have similar policies of private lesson and Membership. Here is a link to the policy.
Registration: Which forms of payment do you accept?
Card, cash or check
Service Dog: Do you provide service dog training?
Yes. There are two elements in service dog training: One is the foundation training in basic obedience, so the dog learns and values working with and for you. The second are the specific tasks the dog must learn to do for you. We can often help with both; however, in some cases the specific tasks (like blood work) may be so specific that you will need to find specialized training resources. We may be able to help with that search.
Therapy: Do you train therapy dogs?
Yes. Therapy dog service is a major part of what we do in our school. We begin training for the certifications in the primary obedience classes (Puppy Kindergarten, Level 1 and Level 1+) – training for the Canine Good Citizen test which is the foundation for the therapy dog certification. The more focused prep for that work is in our Therapy/Service Dog prep class which is available through Membership.
Training: Can you train a deaf puppy?
Yes. We have deaf dogs in beginning and advanced training. Since dog’s primary communication is with body gestures – tail wagging, lip-licking, staring, leg lifting, turning away, etc. – they can learn from us with gestures we use. See this puppy work after five months of training.
Training: Do you customize your training to achieve my specific training needs?
Yes – within the context of the training and facilities we offer. For example, we do not offer hunting and other gun-work training. For the classes we do offer, we invite students and Members to schedule one-on-one coaching sessions to deal with specific issues.
Training: Do you train for the CGC (Canine Good Citizen) program?
Yes. We begin training for the CGC test in Puppy Kindergarten, Level 1 and Level 1+. The advanced preparation is in our Therapy/Service Dog class which is available through Membership.
Training: Do you use clickers in training?
No. We substitute the verbal cue – ‘Yes’ for the click; however, you are welcome to use your clicker. The click or the ‘yes’ is an instant signal to the dog that the dog did the behavior you wanted.
Training: How Long Does Training Take?
How long? – It might be as short as a private lesson or two or an 8-week session or as long as a year or more. Most of that time depends on you, your training skills, your time on training, your training goals, etc. Some is based on the dog’s natural learning capability, but we find the time it takes is mostly on us (the human end of the leash). From our end, we will work for you at these levels for as long you continue to participate.
Training: How long have you been training dogs?
We have been providing training services for about fifty years. We opened our current facility in 1992. More about us.
Training: Is crate training necessary?
No. However, crates can be valuable for the life of your dog. They can serve as the dog’s den – a place the dog can go to be safe and relax. Crate can be a safe place to curtail the dog’s wandering into trouble while you sleep or while you are away. The crate can help with potty training.
Training: What is the difference between therapy and service dogs?
For therapy dogs, you and your dog are trained as a team to provide services to others. For example, provide comforting attention to persons traumatized by fire, weather, health issues. For service dogs, your dog is trained to provide specific services for people with disabilities. For example, steading you when walking, picking up things, opening gates, alerting you to health changes.We offer the foundation training for both specialities.
Training: What training method do you use?
Our primary approach to dealing with dog behavior we don’t want is to teach the dog what we do want. Rather than waiting until a dog has done what we don’t want and then correcting it, we should identify the trigger of that behavior and reward the dog for doing what we want in presence of the trigger. Our ‘method’ is using the tools of a teacher to help the dog learn what we want – clear instruction, patience, consistency, fun and reward.