At A Canine Experience Inc., our primary focus is the well-being of each dog and we are dedicated to designing a program best suited to your goals and your dog’s needs. We offer a variety of flexible programs developed to achieve the highest possible success considering all factors. Not every program is a good fit for all dogs. Our evaluation process is designed to develop a path to successfully modify behaviors to reach the owners goals, while being realistic and transparent about expectations. For this reason, a Behavioral Evaluation and prior approval from a trainer is needed to participate in any training program.  

Your training program will focus on the goals set out in the Behavioral Evaluation. A solid foundation of basic obedience, proper manners, appropriate mental stimulation, physical conditioning and a clear manner of communication are beneficial in all cases.

A day in training will include a variety of exercises, clear and consistent rules and boundaries, structured play, mentally challenging games, habituation to various stimulus, field trips to new environments, physical exercise, learning to properly interact with dogs and people, self-control exercises, developing positive behavior patterns, conditioning exercises, thinking games, obstacles etc.

Below are examples of exercises used to develop communication between you and your dog. This is not a complete list and not all dogs will learn all of these skills.

Foundational Skills will assist you in living together more cohesively and developing a basic level of communication: sit, wait at doors, loose leash walking, down, stand, short down stay, short sit stay, come on short lead, leave it, place (or go to bed/wait), off, engagement exercises, box game, eye contact, proper toy play, calming handling exercise, self-control with low distraction, appropriate dog interactions, sit to greet, entering/exiting car, CGC, Novice Tricks Dog.

Intermediate Skills will continue to develop self-control, engagement and body awareness: heel, auto sit, fast downs, stand stay, obstacle awareness, exercise equipment awareness, moving away to place, duration work, long stays, coming from distance, cone game, retrieving a toy or object, give or drop toy, CGCA, Intermediate Tricks Dog, front & hind end awareness, tricks, handling for grooming, self-control in moderately stimulating environment, appropriate interactions with people and dogs, leave it with various animals and moving objects.

Advanced Skills work towards building reliability, confidence and distance: off leash heeling, distance work, down from distance, directional send outs, extended durations, out of sight stays, comfortable with exercise equipment, comfortable on obstacles, coming from distraction, coming off lead, retrieving various objects, hold and give objects, object recognition, CGCU, Advanced Tricks Dog, individual paw awareness, complex tricks, handling for medical exam, handling for stretches, handling for body work, self-control if highly stimulating environment, appropriate interactions with people and dogs.

Specialty Skills focus on becoming a cohesive, functionally working team in disciplines such as search work, agility, canine conditioning, remote collar, medical alerting, service dog tasks, public access skills/test, Performer Tricks Dog, therapy dog, Parkour etc.

Behavioral Evaluations- All training programs begin with an evaluation to assess your dog’s need, familiarize ourselves with your training objectives and develop a strategy to achieve realistic goals. Evaluations take about an hour, include a copy of our book, “Lead or Be Led 2.0" and training tips to get you started.

Complete and return the Evaluation Questionnaire prior to scheduling your appointment. A fillable form is available via the A Canine Experience phone app, as a PDF on our website here, upon request via e-mail or at our office. Evaluations are offered in person or via Zoom.

Boarding & Training Programs- Three-weeks or more of Boarding & Training include: 2 private lessons, 1-month group class membership, the book “Lead or Be Led 2.0”, a leash, a training collar and a choice between a Klimb or a Cot.