Training is NOT AVAILABLE at this time

"Clicker Training is an animal training method based on behavioral psychology that relies on marking desirable behavior and rewarding it. Desirable behavior is usually marked by using a "clicker", a mechanical device that makes a short, distinct "click" sound which tells the animal exactly when they're doing the right thing. This clear form of communication, combined with positive reinforcement, is an effective, safe, and humane way to teach any animal any behavior that it is physically and mentally capable of doing."

Thanks to www.clickertraining.com for that great definition! Want more details? Click on over to the site!

Will is one of just three Karen Pryor Certified Training Partners (KPA-CTP) in Montana. What's that mean, you ask? It means he has undergone extensive training with the premiere clicker training academy in the world. Yes, the WORLD.

The comprehensive program from which he graduated (with High Honors, BTW), offers an in-depth curriculum that teaches both the science and the practice of dog training in particular and animal training in general, client teaching, and canine behavior problem-solving. This program is based on the most up-to-date behavior science and modern training and teaching practices. 

What that means for you is that you will have an instructor who understands the science behind the method and can teach you that knowledge so that you can successfully communicate with your dog. If he runs into a snag, he has a rich library of resources to which he can turn to help figure out how to help you. 

Will is also very active in earning Continuing Education Credits. He is currently working through a (surprise, surprise!) Nosework course. He also attends the yearly Clicker Expo for up-to-date information, seminars, and products.

Training dogs is Will's full-time career.  He dedicates countless hours to honing his skills and expanding his knowledge. Talk to him for just five minutes, and you'll hear the passion.

Our goal in CMK's training program is not to train your dog. It's to train YOU how to train, communicate with, and fully enjoy your dog's intelligence, energy, and learning potential using positive reinforcement methods. We do not use prong collars, shock collars, or any other aversive tools. 

In our pre-Covid world, we offered group classes with up to four dogs in attendance at one time; however, the hoopla changed all that. We continue to offer training classes but have shifted to one-on-one lessons. At this point (April 2021), we still have  just the personal lessons but hope to be able to reinstate group classes as soon as possible. The quickest way to check for updates on this front is on our Facebook page.

Sessions last 4 weeks, at which point it is your choice to continue with your reserved time or surrender it to another student. Will is an amazing teacher and is in high demand, so you may have to wait a bit for an opening. Please give us a call for available times and session cost.

 While we do offer board and train services, in general, it is better for your dog for you  to teach him desirable behaviors rather than us teaching him and handing him off to you. We have found that dogs are much more successful long term that way. We liken it to an addict - you can send him to rehab, but if his home environment and methods of communication don't change along with him, he will simply regress back into his previous behavior when he returns home.  It's very important for you to understand his new needs and ways of communicating in order to keep him from falling off the wagon, so to speak.  

Will does accept board and train clients for 30-90 days at a time. These are typically for specific tough situations where safety for both dog and people is an issue. That being said, if you are not in a safety-induced situation and are still interested in board and train, give us a call. Will is happy to discuss what's going on with your dog, what your expectations are, and give individual counsel as to what may be the best approach for training. He can also give you a cost quote and let you know when he has an opening. 

Is my dog too old to learn?

The cool thing is, no dog is actually too old to learn new tricks. In fact, sometimes older dogs need to learn new things in order to be dealt with safely regarding health issues. Regularly stimulating the old codger's brain also helps keep him mentally sharp in his golden years. 

Is my dog too young to learn?

No! Your puppy has been soaking up information like a sponge since the moment of birth. The younger you start, the better, especially with large breed puppies. It's much easier to teach a 30 lb,  four month old Saint Bernard to walk on a loose leash than it is to teach a 140 lb, one year old Saint Bernard to not drag you across the parking lot.

Will I be stuck carrying around a clicker and treats forever?

Nope! You will teach your dog using an audible marker and a reward, then wean him off as the new skill becomes a learned behavior.

I have a couple of very specific behaviors I want to address. Can I do just those things?

Our method of training is all about communication. Once you learn the basics of positive reinforcement communication, you can apply what you know to specific behaviors you either want to change or learn. We can help you with those steps.

Can you train my dog while he is there for a short stay or day care?

Nope. We do NOT formally train while a dog is in attendance at day care or while he or she is staying with us for a weekend. Training a dog simply doesn't work that way! That being said, your pup will learn so much by staying with us - not breaking through a gate, waiting politely for his food bowl, what a regular schedule feels like, how to be confident by knowing where he is supposed to go...all kinds of good things!

Do you have more questions about our training program? Give us a call or shoot us an email!

Before we begin talking about therapy dogs, let's make sure we are on the same page of basic definitions. 

SERVICE DOG: 

Performs particular tasks for a person who cannot perform those tasks on his or her own

Full rights of public access

Focuses on one person only - the handler

Highly trained in obedience, i.e. will never urinate indoors, bark at distractions (other than trained warning signals), or seek attention from others

Full-time working dog, not a pet

THERAPY DOG: 

Ministers to multiple people at facilities such as nursing homes, rehab centers, schools, etc

High standard of obedience and behavior

Must be invited into facility by facility director/administration

NO rights of public access

Pet with a part-time job

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOG: 

Focuses on one person only

NO rights to public access other than housing and transportation

May or may not have any obedience training

Pet prescribed by mental health professional

According to Intermountain Therapy Animals (link provided below), dogs suitable for therapy work display the following characteristics, among others:

• Demonstrate behavior that is reliable, controllable, predictable 
• Actively solicit interactions with people 
• Relax in moments of sustained eye contact
• More people-oriented than animal-oriented
• Enjoy being petted, touched and hugged
• Generally calm

If your dog displays the characteristics in the following list, therapy work is probably not a good activity for him or her:

•  Too energetic or rambunctious
• In poor health, obese, or difficult to groom
• Unpredictable behavior, i.e. sweet one moment, aggressive the next
• Fearful or shy
• Demonstrates excitable/nervous urination

If, after reading through both the ADA definitions and information on the ITA web site, you are still interested, give us a call. We can help you by evaluating you and your dog and working with you on training certain skills needed for testing. When it comes near certification time, we also offer Testing Prep classes, where we do dry runs to practice the actual test.

Also, follow our local therapy dog group's Facebook page, Flathead Area Therapy Dogs, for up to date information about meetings, facility needs, and more.