FAQ
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What services do you offer?Please visit our services page.
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How do I know what programs works best for me and my dog?During your free 30-45 minute evaluation, we'll recommend a private program that will be best for both you and your dog. We may recommend another professional trainer if we believe your dog would benefit from a board & train program.
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What will be expected from dog owners?Dog owners need to participate and be accountable for their homework and home modifications. Owners must be committed to put in their part in order to see a long-lasting success!
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What will dog owners learn during the program?Owners will learn how to communicate with their dog, improve their training mechanics, develop effective and proper leash handling, learn how to read, understand, and listen to their dog’s body language, build a healthier human-dog relationship, and learn how to develop an efficient and effective training and modification plan. We're called dog trainers, but really we're human coaches. 😉
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Do you work with aggressive dogs?We do not work with aggressive cases. If you're unsure about your dog's behavior, please contact us to schedule a free evaluation.
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Do you offer potty training?Please check out our Puppy Head Start.
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My dog is nervous and insecure. Can you help?Yes, our programs are customized to teach you how to better understand your dog, so that you can help them see the world from a more confident and less stressful perspective.
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What training tools do you use in your programs?Our training “toolbox” consists of K9 Transitional Leads, training electronic collars, Herm Sprenger prong collars, Halti head collars, treats, dog’s regular meals (lots of it), body language, positive energy, water spray bottle, long-lines, agility equipment, place boards, crate tops, black feeding box, K9 whistle, interactive toys, kiddie pool, training clickers, enrichment games and crate.
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Wow! Wait, you use electronic training collars?We use one of top train e-collars on the market to teach our dogs a second "language", utilizing the lowest level possible. Our e-collars are NOT MANDATORY, but we will recommend one depending on the needs of your dog and your training goals.
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Will the prong collar or e-collar be used to suppress my dog's behavior?No, our goal is not to suppress these behaviors, nor to create fear or conflict. Yet we want to help our dogs shift into a more positive, calm state of mind through training and rehabilitation, using the new language through training tools.
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May we use an e-collar on my puppy?Puppies must be at least six months before beginning e-collar training.
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I want my dog to use a harness for training?Harnesses are only used in our puppy programs.
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What's your cancellations policy and do you have payment plans?Initial Training Session There is a 100% refund with cancellations requested 72 hours prior to scheduled Initial Training Session. Cancellations made within 72 hours will incur a $50 fee for Initial Training Session. Payment is non-refundable once the foundation session has been rendered. Payment for your Initial Training Session is due at the time of booking. Hourly Session Hourly training sessions payment is due the 48 hours before your session. Cancellations made within 24 hours will incur a $25 fee.
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What if I need extra support once my program is completed?We are currently offering free group classes and pack walks to help you maintain and progress your training. Dogs must have completed at least two private lessons before attending a group class or pack walk. We also offer support via email or text messages.
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Where do we meet for lessons and how often?We'll meet at your home or public parks. We meet every 1-3 weeks.
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What days of the week are you open?Saturday & Sunday - Closed Monday - Wednesday | 8am - 6pm Thursday - Friday | 8am - 2pm
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Is your work guaranteed?It is not. We are not able to guarantee the commitment and effort of the dog owner/s.
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Have more questions?Email us at hartleyshoundsnc@gmail.com or fill out an intake form to schedule a free evaluation.
Our Training Tools
Empowering dog owners with the right training tools and application process to create clarity and close gaps within their communication.
Slip Leads
Lifeline soft, durable, and easy-to-use figure 8 slip lead are the perfect tool to begin clearly communicating with your dog. The slip leads we use are easy-to-use, have an adjustable slide that keep the loop from slipping down your dog's neck, and effective releases slightly when the leash is in the relaxed position. We use slips leads with puppies, dogs who already walk nicely on a leash, and in some cases we, we'll start with a slip lead before transitioning to a prong collar.
Herm Sprenger Prong Collars
Prong collars are known to be a bit scary, but these training tools (when used correctly) can be a great way to effectively communicate with your dog. We use our prong collars to effectively and respectively give our dogs clear information. With the proper fitting and the correct application, we can begin to coach our dogs in a manner that they understand. The prong is a great tool, but it's definitely not a magic wand! You have to put in the work in order to see the full benefits. We use Herm Sprenger collars size 2.5m and 3.0m.
Electronic Training Collars
The electronic collars we use are not your traditional collars. We use state of the art collars that allow dog owners to communicate (safely and effectively) with their dogs remotely. Although e-collars have a bad reputation, when used correctly, this training tool can be a great way to build reliability in your dogs recall, giving them the chance to experience off-leash fun in a safe and reliable way. We DO NOT use e-collars to suppress behavioral issues.
Training Clickers
We use clickers to help mark a precise behavior that we like to see reinforce. The clicker (your terminal marker), let's your dog know they have done something great and they'll be receiving a reinforcement. Clickers are great way to start any training, regardless of behavior or obedience level. We utilize the clicker with puppies under the age of 16 weeks and in some cases with dogs who are having behavioral issues.
Long Leads
On of our favorite methods that we use with dogs who struggling with nervous or insecure behaviors is called Behavior Adjustment Therapy. We set up scenarios where the dog is able to learn about triggers from a safe and comfortable position while keeping them under threshold and avoiding the flight or fight mode. We utilize a long lead for these sessions. We also use long leads to work on recall from a distance.
Training Harnesses
We use harnesses for puppies 3-4 months and younger. They can be great training tool to help puppies explore new environments. Our priority with puppies is to safely and effectively introduce them to our wild world, without creating confusion through leash pressure tension.
Confidence Building Activities
We help build curiosity in our dogs through new experiences that you and your dog can do together. We use agility tunnels, kiddie pools, hula hoops, kids toys, hurdles, feeding box, balance beams, stability balls, place cots and many other things to help build confidence and curiosity.
Dog Place Cots
Place cots are like dog beds, but so much better with a great purpose! We use place cots to help build impulse control, boundaries, structure, confidence building and more. We love the utilizing the cots in our programs and know that you'll fall in love with them too and your dog will too!
Let's Train Your Dog
Hartley's Hounds Way
How We Train
Confidence Building
Box Feeding
Foraging
Constructive Play
Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT)
Counter-Conditioning
Modifications
Obedience
Environmental Exposure
Proper Socialization
What Your Dog Will Learn
Sit
Place
Heel
Let's Go
Polite at thresholds
Watch
Out
Name Recognition
Break
Recall
Off-Leash Fun (Using e-collar communication)
Where We'll Train
Your home
Public parks
Lowe's or Home Depot
Pet-friendly outdoor restaurants
Hobby Lobby
Target
Perimeter of dog parks
Playgrounds