Posts in category: Training

Ready to start training? You’ve come to the right place! At Petropolis, our professional trainers use only positive reinforcement-based methods that improve the human-animal bond. Plus, we help you do the same! Learn more about how much dog training will cost and what you’ll get from our programs.

How We Price Our Dog Training Services

Our dog training packages are customized based on your dog’s and your family’s needs. We schedule all dogs a training evaluation so our trainers can meet you and provide a recommendation on your dog’s training schedule. They’ll get to know your dog, ask you about your goals, and develop a plan to reach them. Call (636)537-2322 to schedule your evaluation today.

What You Get

During your evaluation, the trainer will provide you a list of manners and skills your dog will learn over the course of their program. These range all the way from polite greetings to life-saving skills, and they’re tailored to your dog.

If you opt for one of our standard Day Training packages, your pup will get to enjoy daycare while they visit us and take short training breaks throughout the day. In this case, the dog training cost includes the price of daycare.

You will also get to schedule several Skills Transfer sessions. During these sessions, you’ll work one-on-one with a trainer to address any challenges you’re facing and practice your dog’s skills together.

What Else You Invest

Aside from the financial investment, our trainers will also ask that you and the rest of your household invest time, energy, and patience into your dog’s training. We can teach your dog all the manners and skills they need to be a polite member of the family. But if you don’t practice with them at home, they’re bound to forget. We ask that you have a serious conversation with your partner, your children, or any other members of your household about your training plan. Consistency is key in dog training, so it’s important that everyone is on the same page.

Now, let’s get to training! Call (636)537-2322 or click here to book your dog’s training evaluation today.

We often hear from frustrated pet parents that they want their dog to stop barking. And while barking can definitely be a nuisance, patience and gentle guidance can reduce your dog’s barking back to an appropriate level.

How Not to Train Your Dog

For many pet parents, the knee-jerk reaction to a barking dog is to shout No! or Quiet! But when you yell at your dog for barking, they just think you’re barking with them! Instead of yelling, we suggest redirecting your dog’s energy and attention to stop the barking.

The Right Way to Stop Dog Barking

How you’ll stop your dog from barking entirely depends on why they’re barking. The reason usually falls in one of these three categories:

• Excitement. Not all barking means your dog is upset. Sometimes, they’re just excited! Your dog may be barking because they’re excited about something they see outside (like another dog), eager to play, or just happy. If this is the case, redirect your dog’s energy by offering their favorite toy. They’ll eventually learn to show excitement through play instead of barking.
• Alarm. We never want to train our dog not to ever bark, because sometimes dogs bark to alert us. This could be to something we also notice, like a knock on the door. But it may also be to something we can’t see, like a particular scent or sound. When your dog barks to alert you of something, reward them with a treat and say ‘thank you’ after the first bark. After that, ignore them. Over time, your dog will learn that one alarm bark is okay but that anything after is unnecessary. 
• Fear. Often, fearful dogs bark at whatever is scaring them. It’s their way of telling the scary thing, “Stay away!” If your dog is barking out of fear, work with them slowly to show them that whatever they’re barking at – be it the vacuum, a neighbor on a bicycle, or thunder – isn’t anything to be afraid of.

If you’re still struggling with excessive barking, give our training department a call for a free evaluation. They’ll get to know your dog, troubleshoot any training challenges you’re having, and develop a plan for you and your pet. Just call (636)537-2322 or click here to get started.

Puppy biting is a challenging phase of puppyhood! But with patience and the right training, you can teach your puppy appropriate play skills.

“Why does my puppy bite?”

Young puppies explore the world with their mouths. And if your puppy hasn’t had much experience playing with other dogs, they may not have good boundaries yet. Most often, puppies bite because they’re trying to play, not because they want to hurt you. That’s why, instead of punishing them, we redirect them.

“How do I train my puppy to stop biting?”

First off, make sure your puppy has plenty of appropriate things to bite. Things like chew toys, bully sticks, antlers, Himalayan chews, frozen Kongs with treats inside, etc. are all great options. Give your puppy a few at a time, and switch them out occasionally to keep your pup interested. Just like human children, puppies go through a teething phase, and chewing (especially on frozen toys) helps relieve the discomfort. 

You might notice that your puppy has the most energy first thing in the morning and right before bedtime. They’ll sometimes get the ‘zoomies’ to release that pent-up energy. These are prime times to take your puppy outside, go for a walk, or play with them to help release that energy in a healthy, nondestructive way. 

This is also the perfect time to teach them not to bite during play. Make sure you have an array of long toys so your puppy can hold one end while you hold the other. If your puppy bites your hand instead of the toy, drop the toy and completely stop engaging with the puppy for a few seconds. If the puppy starts to bite at your arms or legs, you may have to leave the room entirely. Give them a few seconds to calm down, then pick up a toy and invite them to play again.

Dogs love to chase and grab moving objects. By jerking your hands away from a biting puppy or wagging a finger at them, you can inadvertently teach them that biting makes your hands move, meaning your hands become even more fun. Instead, by disengaging and removing yourself from the situation, you teach your puppy that biting means playtime ends. Over time, they’ll learn that only polite play keeps the game going.

To stay consistent with your training, keep a toy in each room of your house. If your puppy starts biting at you, redirect them to the toy. Also, show members of your household or visiting friends how to do the same. Consistency and patience are key!

If you’re struggling with puppy biting (or another of the many challenges of puppy parenthood), book your free training evaluation at Petropolis today. Our training team would love to get to know your puppy, troubleshoot any challenges you’re facing, and help you plan for your puppy’s development and growth.

Many new puppy parents are intimidated by potty training, but it’s not as complicated as it seems. Potty training takes patience and consistency, but with time your new puppy will learn not to do their ‘business’ indoors.

“How do I start potty training my puppy?”

The first step in potty training is to monitor your puppy’s food and water intake. Young puppies have very small bladders, and they can’t ‘hold it’ very long. By monitoring their intake, you can best predict when they need to be let outside.

Every time your puppy eats or drinks, set a timer for five minutes. When the timer goes off, take them outside on a leash and tell them to “go potty” in a bright, happy voice. 

If your puppy goes potty, reward them with praise, pets, or a high value treat (a small bit of cheese or hot dog works well). 

By praising your puppy, you’re telling them that they’ve done the right thing, meaning they’ll be more likely to ‘go’ there again. And by using a leash while potty training your puppy, you remind them that potty time is not playtime.

If your puppy does not potty, take them back inside, but keep them on the leash. Set another timer for five minutes, and try again. If you see your puppy start sniffing, spinning, or trying to run away from you quickly, they need to go! By keeping them on the leash, you’ll be able to quickly guide them outside before they can potty in the house.

“How do I stop my puppy from peeing in the house?”

It’s disappointing when your puppy has an accident inside the house. But remember: never punish your puppy for pottying inside. Never hit them or rub their noses in the mess. Dogs live in the moment, so by the time you scold them for a puddle on the floor, they can’t comprehend why they’re being scolded. Punishment will only teach your dog to fear you and to start ‘hiding’ their messes.

The best cure is prevention, so start potty training the day you bring your new puppy home. By starting the training process early, you bond with your puppy and teach them to trust you. 

Need help?

If you have a puppy, be sure to sign up for a free evaluation with our dog training team. They’ll get to know you and your pup, troubleshoot any challenges you’re having, and give you advice for how to best train your puppy. Just call (636)537-2322 or click here to get started.