Our Dog Training Philosophy
We believe all dogs are individuals and thus we treat them as such. KCC is open to all 4 quadrants of operant conditioning and adopts a LIMA approach (Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive). Kelsey has learned from positive only trainers as well as balanced trainers and has since decided that training dogs as individuals is the best method. She has learned from trainers such as Michael Ellis and Will Atherton as well as Victoria Stilwell and Zak George. Her most current certifications are through Will Atherton Academy and Natalie Dobkins Dog Trainer Business School.
Our goal is to achieve the outcome the dog guardian would like in a way that the dog also builds confidence and which furthers the relationship between the dog and the guardian. Training should be fun and our goal is to make it fun for the dog AND the human involved. We try to find what lights up your dog and what gets them to engage with their human. Relationship is everything and that is our first goal. From there we build on skills such as place, down stays, recall, and leash walking. We also put a large emphasis on meeting the dogs physical and mental needs.
Positive Reinforcement: You ADD something to make a behavior occur MORE frequently. Example: A dog sits instead of jumps, you give them a food reward to encourage that behavior.
Positive Punishment: You ADD something to decrease a behavior from occurring in the future. Example: Dog jumps up, you add in a leash pop with a negative marker to discourage behavior.
Negative Reinforcement: You REMOVE something to make a behavior occur MORE. Example: the dog jumps, you use the leash to help them off and into a sit instead, then release the leash pressure when they sit down to encourage the sitting instead of jumping.
Negative Punishment: You REMOVE something to DECREASE a behavior. Dog jumps up, you turn to the side and ignore the dog. You remove attention which the dogs wants to discourage that behavior.
Kelsey has experience in slip leads, prong collars, and remote collar conditioning. Remote training is one of her passions as it allows dogs to have off leash freedom and to live their best lives, leash free, as nature intended. This being said, there are a lot of terrible dog training tools out there, especially remote trainers. We do NOT advise anyone to use these tools without the instruction of a professional. All of our dog training clients will go home with either a slip lead or a hermspringer prong collar at their first visit (we usually begin with slips). If you would like to do advanced obedience or off leash training, Kelsey only uses the EZ Educator 900 and the Dogtra 280c. We do not recommend and will not use any brands that are not using TENS technology.
Training Services
Intro Call: 20-30 minutes FREE
Quick call to go over you training needs and determine if we're a good fit.
Board and Train
2 Weeks: $1800
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​This short stay is for dogs who just need basic obedience for owners who just haven't had the time to get it done yet! Nuisance behaviors can also be addressed here (such as demand barking, jumping up, etc).
3 weeks: $2700
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Great for obedience issues and for dogs who have reactivity and need some confidence building due to fear/anxiety. The extra time allows us to work on desensitization and changing the state of the dogs mind and not just basic obedience. ​​
4 weeks: $3600
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Same as 3 week but for more intense behavioral issues stemming from fear, anxiety, and lack of confidence. This board and train allows for even more off leash training and freedom work.
All board and trains include crate manners, food manners, door manners, sit, sit stay, down, down stay, heel/structured walk, loose leash walk, short distance recall (longer distance and off leash with 3-4 weeks), go potty on command, focus/engagement, as well as removing problem behaviors such as trash diving, counter surging, digging, chewing, demand barking, jumping up, etc. 3-4 week programs also include counter conditioning, desensitization, confidence building, a higher level of obedience and off leash recall and freedom through e-collar conditioning.
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All board and trains include a 1 week and 4 week follow u session. You will also go home with a slip lead or prong collar and a remote collar for the 3-4 week programs.
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**Current KCC clients may be offered a discount depending on dogs current training level and relationship with Kelsey**
60 Minute In Home Dog Training/Owner Coaching:
3 Visit Package: $330
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Perfect for basic obedience and nuisance behaviors such as jumping, barking, digging, counter surfing leash pulling, etc.
5 Visit Package: $550
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Perfect for basic obedience, nuisance behaviors, and moderate behavior modification such as anxiety, fear, reactivity, etc.
Add on Training Visits AFTER a completed package: $120
Dog training is not a one and done process which is why we start with packages. At the first visit Kelsey will take note of where you and your dog are vs where you want to be, and we will all come up with a training plan together. During the visit Kelsey will work on teaching the dog new behaviors, go over management techniques, demonstrate how to prevent or correct the problem behaviors, and you will be left with homework to work on until the next session. Drop in visits are great for teaching sit, stay, down, leave it, heel, place. Or maybe you have behavioral issues such as barking, reactivity, digging, counter surfing, jumping, leash pulling etc that you need help with? Whatever the issue, we can help!
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Trainer Power Hour: $85
This service is available only after one of the other packages has been purchased. If you would like to stay up on your training but just don't have the time, or would like professional help, Kelsey will come into your home and work with your dog for an hour on whatever they need to work on. A detailed update afterwards will be sent via the Time to Pet App.