What would you pay for a dog trainer?

[Kaneman]

Well I'm getting ready to launch the website for my venture into becoming self-employed. After numerous people wanted to hire me to make their dogs as well behaved as mine I decided to have a go at it officially. I worked a couple of dogs free of charge with the promise of good word-of-mouth.

Everything is good, but I can't decide how much I should charge for a standard 6 week program. It consists of on location visits plus trips to public locations. I don't like to train in a group and do one-on-one. Training sessions range from 1-2 hours depending on the dog. Most of the dogs I work with have aggression issues of some type.

I've always thought places like Man's Best Friend are a rip-off and can't believe people shell out that much money to have their dogs trained...especially since they're (the owner) aren't learning much anyway. Essentially I'm teaching the owner and the dog at the same time.

So, I'm takin it to the motorcycle riding masses for some general opinions on a good, fair price for the service.
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[marko138]

I dont know what a dog trainer typically costs. But I know my dog could use a few lessons. He's generally pretty well behaved and listens. But at the end of the day he knows or thinks he's in charge and if he doesn't want to listen, he won't. Maybe you wanna make a trip to PA? :lol:

[Kaneman]

I dont know what a dog trainer typically costs. But I know my dog could use a few lessons. He's generally pretty well behaved and listens. But at the end of the day he knows or thinks he's in charge and if he doesn't want to listen, he won't. Maybe you wanna make a trip to PA? :lol:

Have you tried kicking him in the face repeatedly? THAT's the true secret to dog training!

I keed, I keed.
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[karl_1052]

Our cocker was a pain in the ass when we got him.
We took him to a trainer whose rates were:

Group lessons(8 max):$200/ 8 weeks(1 hour a week)
Group refresher(mixed in the group class):$100/ 8 weeks(1 hour a week)
Private lessions:$500/8 weeks(1 hour a week)
Boarding school:$1500/month
For the boarding school, he takes the dog to his home, and trains it all the time. He will also bring it to class to use it for examples and stuff.

He went to some University in VA for dog psychology, and people will pay lots of money if you have a piece of paper on the wall.

[marko138]

Have you tried kicking him in the face repeatedly? THAT's the true secret to dog training!

I keed, I keed.
You know, I have not tried that particular method. I'll let you know tomorrow how that works. :lol:

[Kaneman]

I was thinking about $250 for the private lessons. More extreme cases can benefit from boarding, although $1500 is a lot of money. The problem with it is that if the owner doesn't keep their end up the dog regresses very quickly.

For the clients I've taken so far the first question I asked during the consult was, "Are you willing to exercise your dog every day?" If their not I let them know the training won't hold and likely won't work the dog. I figure its better that way so they're not giving me bad word of mouth.
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[goof2]

There are some questions you need to ask yourself:
What are your expenses going to be?
Are you going to offer refunds if your method doesn't "take" for a dog?
How many dogs do you plan to train in a given period of time (per week, per month, etc)?
What is the minimum number you need to train to "keep the doors open"?
What is the maximum number you could realistically deal with?
How much do you need to make to break even?
How much on top of that do you need to make to live?
How much do you need to make for this to be "worth it"?
Ultimately, how much do you want to make?

The factors listed above are the basis for a (very basic) business plan. What your potential customers feel about the price is irrelevant at this point. You need to first figure out where the price needs to be to make a realistic go of this.

Figuring out all that should give you an idea of a range where your price should fall. Once that is done you can look at it through the eyes of potential customers. If the numbers you come up with seem fair or (hopefully) low, great. If they are high you might want to reconsider your plan's viability.

[Rider]

Shock(training) collar, treats and a firm voice is all you need to get your dog to do anything you want. Actually a voice isn't needed anymore. My dog knows hand signals.

[marko138]

Shock(training) collar, treats and a firm voice is all you need to get your dog to do anything you want. Actually a voice isn't needed anymore. My dog knows hand signals.
I've got all three of those...and unless treats are in your hand Manward is doing what the fuck Manward wants to do.


He actually has a very accurate name. He was named after Manny Ramierez. They have similar personalities, despite having never met. :lol:

[cuttle]

Shock(training) collar, treats and a firm voice is all you need to get your dog to do anything you want. Actually a voice isn't needed anymore. My dog knows hand signals.

Not all dogs are the same, some learn from corrections, other with positive reinforcement. I have a previously mistreated dog and if you yell at him he "freezes" and you get nothing.

[Rider]

Not all dogs are the same, some learn from corrections, other with positive reinforcement. I have a previously mistreated dog and if you yell at him he "freezes" and you get nothing.

Yeah that's a different case. Mistreated dogs need special training.

I've got all three of those...and unless treats are in your hand Manward is doing what the fuck Manward wants to do.


He actually has a very accurate name. He was named after Manny Ramierez. They have similar personalities, despite having never met. :lol:

That's 100% lab though. You can't change that. ADD is permanently in their gene.

[marko138]

Yeah that's a different case. Mistreated dogs need special training.



That's 100% lab though. You can't change that. ADD is permanently in their gene.
Right...but I admit part of it is inconsistent training the part of his suspect owners. :skep:

[Kaneman]

I trained my Lab to scent track and run agility with no treats. Breed is very often irrelevant in training, despite what people think about different breeds being stubborn or hardheaded or ADD, etc.

I don't use a "shock" collar because so many people are afraid of them. I'm not personally opposed to them for certain situations but prefer to use only a leash and a voice.

Most of the dogs I work with were either neglected or abused so my methods vary greatly from dog to dog.
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[Tsunami]

Breed is very often irrelevant in training, despite what people think about different breeds being stubborn or hardheaded or ADD, etc.

.

Aren't some breeds easier to train, based on intelligence/personality etc?

[Rider]

Aren't some breeds easier to train, based on intelligence/personality etc?

Yes. My Boxer was much much easier to train than my Lab.

[karl_1052]

Yes. My Boxer was much much easier to train than my Lab.

Boxers come pretty well pre-trained.
We never even trained ours and she listens to every command, and is very will behaved(especially with kids)

[pauldun170]

I dont have a dog but the most I would pay for a dog trainer is 60% the going rate of the other Russain women smuggled in and thats only if they are cute.....

wait did I just say that out loud?
shit

[Kaneman]

Aren't some breeds easier to train, based on intelligence/personality etc?

Yes. My Boxer was much much easier to train than my Lab.


Some DOGS are easier to train than others. Your Boxer was easier to train than your Lab...but my Lab was easier to train than my San Miguel dog (similar to a Boxer) and my Pit Bull has been easier than both.

Its not breed specific. Breeds will tell you what the dog specializes in, I.E., bringing shit back to you, herding cattle, scent work, protection, etc. My San Miguel dog can herd cattle better than any Blue Heeler...yet he's never had a lick of training.

BUT as far as obedience training goes it just varies from dog to dog, not from breed to breed. You can use the breed to tell you which reward will work better for a dog while you're training them though. For instance, my Lab gets the ball thrown for her as a positive reinforcement but that doesn't work for my San Miguel dog.
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[marko138]

My Lab tracked a scent around the yard for a while this morning then pissed on that scent.

[Kaneman]

My Lab tracked a scent around the yard for a while this morning then pissed on that scent.

See, and you didn't even have to train her, brilliant! I would've charged you for that service!
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[marko138]

See, and you didn't even have to train her, brilliant! I would've charged you for that service!
haha. What does it mean?

[Tsunami]

BUT as far as obedience training goes it just varies from dog to dog, not from breed to breed. You can use the breed to tell you which reward will work better for a dog while you're training them though. For instance, my Lab gets the ball thrown for her as a positive reinforcement but that doesn't work for my San Miguel dog.

What do you do if a dog (say a pug) is only obedient when she sees food and laughs at you on all other occasions?

[HurricaneHeather]

What do you do if a dog (say a pug) is only obedient when she sees food and laughs at you on all other occasions?

:lol Sorry Gina, but I really did :lol:

[Kaneman]

What do you do if a dog (say a pug) is only obedient when she sees food and laughs at you on all other occasions?

See previous post....
Have you tried kicking him in the face repeatedly? THAT's the true secret to dog training!

I keed, I keed.

haha, nah, if you're serious about it its not all that hard....but a lot of people, especially with smaller dogs, aren't too worried about real strict obedience because their dogs don't really pose a threat. They're happy and their dogs are happy so its all good.

My guy is especially large, fast and fierce looking so we kinda have to take obedience very seriously, couple that with personal protection training and it becomes all the more important. That and some raw meat is a pretty small price to pay for a 24/7 armed guard though.

Shameless dog pics...
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/PsychoMedic/jethro2-1.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/PsychoMedic/photo5.jpg
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[Tsunami]

haha, nah, if you're serious about it its not all that hard....but a lot of people, especially with smaller dogs, aren't too worried about real strict obedience because their dogs don't really pose a threat. They're happy and their dogs are happy so its all good.


Serious! Mostly for her safety though. To come when called, stop and sit, or lay down so she doesn't run out and get hit by cars, not to try to bolt out the door everytime i leave without her, etc., not to chew my shoes- I pretty much watch her like a hawk and the house is pug proofed but still.

I wanted to get her involved as a therapy dog, but we quit the classes halfway because there was no way she could've passed! :lol

[karl_1052]

What do you do if a dog (say a pug) is only obedient when she sees food and laughs at you on all other occasions?

It tells me who the boss of the house is.

[Smittie61984]

What do you do if a dog (say a pug) is only obedient when she sees food and laughs at you on all other occasions?

It's part cat.

Okay, here is my perspective on food training. I never food trained my dog ($100 border collie) ever. Infact I never really trained him. I basically just showed him nothing but love and attention when he came back to me or did what I said. I can call my dog from 50-100yards away with just a whistle in a dog park full of dogs

But I know people who train their dogs with nothing but food and the dog will listen when they have food but does whatever the hell they want to do when there is no food. My buddy has a pit bull that doesn't listen worth a damn but because it'll put it's paw up when you show it a dog treat he thinks the dog is welll trained. I think the dog starts expecting food and if you don't give it to them then they have a "Fuck you" attitude.

.

[Kaneman]

Agreed Smittie. If you must use food its best to use it ONLY to teach the initial command recognition and then stop.

Things like flyball and agility are different, you can use whatever you want for the "sports" you do with your dogs...they know the difference between that and the rules of life.

Tsunami, it takes a complete mentality to have a dog that obeys, like Karl said...it shows who the boss of the house is. Ideally you want a closely bonded relationship in which your dogs works for their survival with you at their side leading. My Lab's job is to bring me stuff. My San Miguel dog pulls stuff for me. They do the job, then they get to eat.
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[azoomm]

Wait a minute. You can get a degree in DOG psychology??

[Kaneman]

Wait a minute. You can get a degree in DOG psychology??

Why not? There's more dogs than people right? lol
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[Apoc]

For instance, my Lab gets the ball thrown for her as a positive reinforcement but that doesn't work for my San Miguel dog.

I do the same thing with my lab. She's always playing with a ball, if I throw it for her for a while, she knows she was being good, if I take it away she was bad. When we go for a walk, if she listens well the whole way, I play fetch with her in the river on the way back. If she's bad, I dont let her in the water, and bring her straight home.

She is barely ever misbehaved. Except she gets really excited when people come in. And you can leave for 10 minutes and come back, and you'd swear she hadnt seen you in a year.

[Smittie61984]

Wait a minute. You can get a degree in DOG psychology??

People get degrees in photography (or anything you want). How pathetic is that degree? I can go to flickr and find 200,000 pictures of a butterfly on a flower in a park in black and white, with half of them taken by a 12 year old girl with a Kodak point and shoot.

Kaneman. What's your opinion on that it's me or the dog lady? I've heard a lot of "dog" people say they hate her, but I'm not sure if that's just the "She's damn good so she sucks" mentallity or if there are problems with her training.

[Kaneman]

Kaneman. What's your opinion on that it's me or the dog lady? I've heard a lot of "dog" people say they hate her, but I'm not sure if that's just the "She's damn good so she sucks" mentallity or if there are problems with her training.

She's good at what she does but I think her methods really stretch dog and human patience levels. I don't think she could "rehab" an aggressive animal, like Michael Vick's dogs that are at Dogtown, but for the average problem dog she does great. Everyone's methods are going to vary a little so its important to find what works best for you.

Look at Cesar Milan (who a lot of "dog people" also hate, such as the SPCA.) Cesar can take any dog and make them sociable, but if I were to try to exactly replicate what he does it wouldn't work.
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[Cutty72]

haha. What does it mean?

It means that your dog is the king shit of your yard, and will piss on anyone that trys to say otherwise.
It really is a territory thing, dogs mark there's, and try to eliminate any other sents in their area.
Do you hunt at all with him? He obviously knows how to follow a scent!

As far as the OP's question... Nothing. I'll train the dog myself, but that's just me. I have no idea what a trainer is worth.
And yes, I'm extremely pissed that I will not be here for my dogs first hunting season. :(

[RCM78]

We took our Shepherd to a day school program. It took the trainers about 12 weeks to train him in advanced obedience on and off leash. He went to school four days a week 8 hours a day and was trained for 15 minutes every hour.

After he was trained it was time for us to learn how to control and work with him. My wife and I both went to all the sessions and really took the training seriously. It took us another 12 weeks or so till we really worked out all the little issues we had with our dog.

Best part is the training never ends. If he starts to lose something we can bring him right back. I work with him everyday so he wont lose anything but it's nice to know that we can if we need too.

Total price for training was $1600. Consider the fact that my wife has total control over our 80 pound German Shepherd and I say it's money well spent.http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i48/RCM78/caesarbackyard3.jpg

[Flexin]

We took our Shepherd to a day school program. It took the trainers about 12 weeks to train him in advanced obedience on and off leash. He went to school four days a week 8 hours a day and was trained for 15 minutes every hour.

After he was trained it was time for us to learn how to control and work with him. My wife and I both went to all the sessions and really took the training seriously. It took us another 12 weeks or so till we really worked out all the little issues we had with our dog.

Best part is the training never ends. If he starts to lose something we can bring him right back. I work with him everyday so he wont lose anything but it's nice to know that we can if we need too.

Total price for training was $1600. Consider the fact that my wife has total control over our 80 pound German Shepherd and I say it's money well spent.http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i48/RCM78/caesarbackyard3.jpg

Thats a beautiful dog. I love Shepherds.

James

[Tsunami]

Look at Cesar Milan (who a lot of "dog people" also hate, such as the SPCA.) Cesar can take any dog and make them sociable, but if I were to try to exactly replicate what he does it wouldn't work.

Why do they hate Cesar Milan? I think he's great!

[Kaneman]

Why do they hate Cesar Milan? I think he's great!

They claim his methods border on animal abuse, especially the "flooding" that he does to break a dog's fear. The problem is they've never tried to work with dogs as damaged as Cesar does and apparently don't understand what it takes.
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[RACER X]

from local bike site

I am now doing dog training on weekends. I'm a retired K-9 popo with thousands of hours of dog schools. everything from basic obedience to handler protection. prices are $100 per hour. Pm me.

[marko138]

I taught my Lab to swim by tossing his ass in the deep end of the pool. He sunk for a second and quickly realized that if he paddled his legs he could swim. Now I can't keep him out of the water.

BTW...my wife DID NOT approve of this "training" method. :lol:

[RCM78]

I taught my Lab to swim by tossing his ass in the deep end of the pool. He sunk for a second and quickly realized that if he paddled his legs he could swim. Now I can't keep him out of the water.

BTW...my wife DID NOT approve of this "training" method. :lol:

Thats how I learned how to swim too. Were you and my grandfather friends?

[RCM78]

Thats a beautiful dog. I love Shepherds.

James

Thanks James. He's a big baby. Most people are afraid of him till they see he just want's to play.

[HurricaneHeather]

Thanks James. He's a big baby. Most people are afraid of him till they see he just want's to play.

Reminds me of out German Shepard/Black lab mix. When he would get out into the front yard he would go crazy running around everywhere. You've never seen so many terrified people in all your life. :lmao:

He'd make a beeline for a person with the intention of playing but he just ended up chasing them instead. :lmao:

[Tmall]

Ever try throwing a boxer pup in the water?

He's still scared of it... He's 3..

[karl_1052]

Ever try throwing a boxer pup in the water?

He's still scared of it... He's 3..

Mine jumped off the dock to get a duck. She was able to jump out of the water and back onto the dock. Now we can only wade in with her, and only up to her chest.

[Cruzergirl]

The SO's boxer likes to take a quick swim around the pool after a long walk. Boxers are circus clowns....

[wildchild]

my boxer will walk in until the water almost hits her chest. then she's on her way out.
the little poodle on the other hand, can't keep her out of the water.

[Tmall]

There's a lady at the dog park who has a life vest for her boxer.

Its hilarious because he just floats around until his rear legs touch, then he pushes off, and repeat..

[Cruzergirl]

There's a lady at the dog park who has a life vest for her boxer.

Its hilarious because he just floats around until his rear legs touch, then he pushes off, and repeat..

:lol: I can see Bobbi (the so's boxer) doing that. I'm afraid we'd have to drag her out of the pool. Funny dog will chase me around the pool all day if I could do it... :lol:

She trains super easy too. It seems her entire goal in life is to do whatever we want her to do. If we don't give her something.. she finds a slipper....

[CrazyKell]

Right now I'd pay almost anything.

I'm dog sitting for my parents (two shih tzus that are very well trained) and my sister in law who has a stupid pug/terrier/beagle/who knows cross. This little guy is a piddler. He piddles when he gets excited and his weiner keeps popping out. I keep yelling "put that thing away!" but it keeps coming out. ARGH!!! This is why I'll always have a girl dog. No weiners.

[Cruzergirl]

Right now I'd pay almost anything.

I'm dog sitting for my parents (two shih tzus that are very well trained) and my sister in law who has a stupid pug/terrier/beagle/who knows cross. This little guy is a piddler. He piddles when he gets excited and his weiner keeps popping out. I keep yelling "put that thing away!" but it keeps coming out. ARGH!!! This is why I'll always have a girl dog. No weiners.


I'm sorry but.. :lol I just spit coffee on my keyboard. :lol:

[Tsunami]

Right now I'd pay almost anything.

I'm dog sitting for my parents (two shih tzus that are very well trained) and my sister in law who has a stupid pug/terrier/beagle/who knows cross. This little guy is a piddler. He piddles when he gets excited and his weiner keeps popping out. I keep yelling "put that thing away!" but it keeps coming out. ARGH!!! This is why I'll always have a girl dog. No weiners.


Put a diaper on him!

[marko138]

Right now I'd pay almost anything.

I'm dog sitting for my parents (two shih tzus that are very well trained) and my sister in law who has a stupid pug/terrier/beagle/who knows cross. This little guy is a piddler. He piddles when he gets excited and his weiner keeps popping out. I keep yelling "put that thing away!" but it keeps coming out. ARGH!!! This is why I'll always have a girl dog. No weiners.
:lol: