Here are some things to consider when choosing between a 'my feet in your living room' and a Zoom session.
The cost of the Zoom is less. You are not paying for travel time.
A Zoom session gets the better result and here is why. People get right down to business in a Zoom call. Often, they have a list and are more organized than when I arrive at a home.
These are the common distractions at a home session that do not occur on a Zoom session.
Children. Kids spend most of the time eating, (which is a huge problem for the dog) wandering in and out of the session, saying "I'm bored" or stashed on the couch glued to the phone. Kids needing the parent's attention during training time is a distraction and loss of training time.
People arriving late. When someone arrives late the present person spends time 'catching them up.' This erodes the time for me to actually fix problems,
Cell phones. People always answer their phone in a 'feet in your living room' session and never do on a Zoom.
I estimate most 'feet in your living room' sessions lose between 25%-40% of valuable time to the above. You get less help in the hour.
Please consider a One-Hour Zoom session.
Reactive Dog
Hello fellow dog lover,
Thank you for asking for help with your reactive dog. I do this training by Zoom, initially, and here is why.
Dog training is 99%, teaching humans. The dog is not the one who makes decisions, changes, and decided to do things differently. It is the human who leads the way.
Reactive dog owners need the following which is accomplished through a Zoom session:
Change in equipment. Reactive dogs need to use specific collars, harnesses, etc. when in public. Teaching people which is best for their pet, where to get it and how to use it does not require my feet in your living room.
Removing the environmental causes which are keeping the reactivity 'alive.' Dogs who bark at passing dogs through the front window need to stop this, as an example. Trying to stop a dog from 'in public' reactivity and allowing them to engage in it at home is fruitless.
Body language of a reactive pet. Most owners respond to the pet after the dog lunges, barks, etc. To solve this owners need to understand and be able to respond well before the dog engages. This is best done with Zoom.
Special equipment to be used when the dog reacts. Owners may be counting on equipment that does not work thus making the problem worse. In a Zoom session, I can find out what you use, if it works, and make suggestions of better products that are humane. ( I do not and will not, ever, use pinch collars or shock collars on family pets)
Owners often want a trainer to come to the home and take the dog out in public, for training, Here is why I no longer do that.
I cannot guarantee that you and your pet will be safe. In today's world off-leash dogs, many of them aggressive, are common. An off-leash dog charging your pet is now common and a situation I avoid.
We cannot take a dog out and 'look for dogs' to practice with. I cannot involve an unsuspecting owner and their pet in your dog's training. Not only is this socially awkward it also places you in a precarious legal position.
A neighbor might offer to have their dog there as a practice dog, but, since I do not know this dog and its own level of reactivity this can make your dog's problem quite a bit worse.
I have found Zoom sessions to be far more effective, and safer, than in-home training for reactive dogs. Once owners understand how to successfully address this in an information exchange they are capable of bringing about change for their pet.
Dr. Sue