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Frequently Asked Questions
General Training Info
Yes. Our team supports dogs working through fear, reactivity, or aggression, not just basic manners and obedience. Our trainers use force-free, positive reinforcement methods for every dog regardless of behavior history.
Every Dog trains all types and breeds of dogs!
While different breeds may have different motivations or learning styles, all dog breeds fundamentally learn through positive reinforcement training. Our team is skilled at working with both breed traits and individual traits.
Yes! Our team members are happy to help dogs who need modified training.
Yes! We have wheelchair ramps at both of our locations, provide ASL interpretation when needed, and ask all clients about any accommodations they may need.
We will always work with folks to ensure they receive excellent training support in whatever way will be most effective for the individual team.
We don't! We focus on companion dog training. We recommend checking out Divine Canines or The Dog Alliance for therapy dog and service dog training.
If you need to get your Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate for therapy work, or get puppy socialization and manners for your service dog, we're happy to help with those!
Yes! Our behavior consulting team is experienced with dogs who show aggression, including bites.
We offer a free virtual orientation that covers our services, methods, and helps identify common pathways.
We do not offer a free personal consultation: we intentionally keep our prices reasonable to ensure that families are able to work with one of our professional trainers or behavior consultants.
It depends! If you're working on a simple issue we might be able to help in a single lesson, while other issues may take months to solve. While we can't give you a specific timeline, we will always do our best to set expectations based on your specific situation.
All of our pricing is available on our website- we believe in transparency! You can book all of our services (classes or private lessons) one at a time, or purchase a package. No surprise charges here!
We also offer financial assistance to anyone who needs it.
With the exception of Puppy Day School or Tutoring, all of our training is with you! Since you are with your dog every day, it's important that you know how to practice the skills in between sessions.
You can find our service area HERE!
We welcome children to our training sessions! We have a few guidelines.
Our trainers are focused on ensuring that each pup and their people get the training support they need, so parents are expected to engage their children and ensure they are respectful of the instructor and other attendees.
We recommend no more than 2 children per adult in classes, with a maximum of 3 children.An adult must be holding the dog's leash at all timesChildren are not allowed unattended anywhere in the training facility. Children must be within arm’s reach of their adults at all times. We do not have a lobby area where children can wait while classes are in session, they will need to remain with their adults if attending class. Some dogs are scared or unfamiliar with children - children should not approach any other dogs while in the facility at any time.Children should use “inside voices” and avoid distracting the instructor and other participants in class. We reserve the right to switch families with children to private lessons if our trainers feel that there’s a concern with children disrupting class or presenting a safety issue.
Because Every Dog Behavior and Training values the health and safety of every client and their dog(s), we require that all dogs have up-to-date vaccinations on record before they participate in our services.Rabies required by law for all dogs 16 weeks or older, titers not accepted per state lawDistemper/Parvo (DHPP, DAPP, DA2P, or DHLPP)- required for all puppies and adult dogs, titers acceptedBordetellaWhile generally required, may be waived per vet recommendations Vaccines given at home, by a breeder, or by other non-veterinary individuals or facilities should have valid stickers that MUST include: Vaccine Name, Manufacturer Name, Batch or Lot #, and Expiration DateExceptions:Puppy Kindergarten: Puppies may begin Kindergarten class 7 days past their FIRST round of Distemper/Parvo and do not need to wait until fully vaccinated. This is per American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviorists (AVSAB) guidelines.Puppy First Grade: While we generally require puppies to be fully up to date for First Grade, we understand that some puppies (for example, those adopted from rescues) may receive their first round of vaccinations later in life and still profoundly benefit from early socialization. Puppies may be allowed into class on a case-by-case basis 7 days past their first round of vaccines.Bordetella: We highly recommend that all dogs in our classes be fully vaccinated against bordetella. However, we understand that some clients (with their veterinarians' guidance) may decide not to vaccinate for bordetella. Dogs may be allowed into class on a case-by-case basis without an up to date bordetella vaccine. In these cases, clients will be asked t sign a bordetella waiver.
Training Methods and Credentials
We believe that dog training and behavior should always follow both science and ethics. Our team stays up to date on behavior research, applied behavior analysis, and learning theory. We also believe that training should be fun, and want you and your dog to enjoy your lives together.
No. Every Dog’s trainers use force-free, positive reinforcement methods exclusively. You won't find shock collars, prong collars, or other aversive tools in our training.
All of Every Dog's trainers are either currently certified or working toward certifications with nationally-recognized training organizations.
The most common certifications on our team include:
-CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed) through the CCPDT
-CBCC-KA (Certified Behavior Consultant, Canine - Knowledge Assessed) through the CCPDT
-CDBC (Certified Dog Behavior Consultant) through the IAABC
-Fear Free Certified Training Professional
-Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner
All of our trainers get additional training on a yearly basis. Our certifications all require regular continuing education credits to maintain. We cover the cost of continuing education for all team members, and believe that continuous learning and growth makes us better trainers and consultants.
No. Dogs are living beings, and their behavior is complex. We can never make guarantees on a dog's behavior in the longterm, and it would be unethical to tell you otherwise! Anyone who knows dog behavior well knows that guarantees are a marketing tool- not a realistic expectation.
Our team is committed to giving you accurate information about your dog's progress and options.
We respect the privacy of our clients, and don't ask them to speak to potential clients. However, we've got lots of testimonials from clients on our website and in Google reviews!
Group Dog Training Classes
Yes. Both of our locations run group classes including puppy classes, manners classes, and agility training. Class schedules are updated regularly — check our classes page for current offerings and enrollment dates.
The majority of our group classes are 6 weeks long- so if the price is $198, that includes all 6 sessions.
Most families take the class at the same time each week: e.g., going to Basic Manners each Tuesday at 7pm. However, in some cases you may be able to skip a week or attend on a different day on a certain week.
Some of our classes are scheduled on specific dates, so you'll register for a class that starts on July 7th or December 5th, for example.
Other classes run every single week, and you can join as soon as you're ready and there's space. For example, Kindergarten and Basic Manners are held multiple times per week, and you can join whichever one works best for your schedule.
Most of our classes are 50 minutes long.
Please arrive 5 minutes prior to your class! Coming earlier may create challenges for pups leaving the previous class.
Our class size varies. Some classes like Basic Manners may have up to 8 dogs, depending on the day and the staffing. Most other classes are limited to 6 dogs.
If your dog is reactive to people or dogs, we recommend private training, not group classes. A group class will likely make the reactivity worse, not better! Please reach out to us about private behavior consulting.
Private Training
Yes. Private training is a good option if you want one-on-one, individualized support instead of a group class setting.
Yes! We do in-home private training for anyone within our service area.
Virtual training is the gold standard for separation anxiety training! Because the dog is specifically picking up on cues about their people leaving, having a trainer present interferes in the behavior.
Working virtually allows the trainer to give real-time instructions that lead to the best results.
We have found that it's the most effective way to help you and your pup!
The first session involves asking a lot of questions and getting a ton of details. In person, it's difficult to do this while also having a frustrated, excited, or fearful dog present. Virtually, we can take lots of notes, spend time building a plan together, and make sure we get started on the right path.
Virtual consultations also keep everyone safe and happy. Fearful dogs or those who show aggression toward new people will do best only meeting one of our trainers in the right circumstances! So a virtual first session eliminates fear, anxiety, and risk.
We truly feel that a virtual session is the very best way to make sure we're helping you and your dog right from the beginning.
Organizational Info
Yes. Every Dog Behavior and Training is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We offer financial assistance on all training services, including classes and private sessions so cost isn't a barrier to getting help.
Thank you for asking! Go to everydogaustin.org/donate
Yes! You can purchase gift cards here: http://squareup.com/gift/ZV36QG8YE5YM8/order
We don't offer discounts for specific groups- we offer our financial assistance program for anyone who needs it!If you're a rescue organization looking to offer training to your fosters or adopters, please reach out at info@everydogaustin.org
There are some great reasons to train with us!
We're a nonprofit organization that offers financial assistance to anyone who needs it. That means you can train with us even if you can't afford traditional training. AND it means that if you pay full price for training, you're making it possible for another family.
We also have a large team of certified trainers, with more to offer than anywhere else in Austin. Whether you're looking for group classes or private lessons, puppy manners or help with reactivity, we've got you covered.
We also offer training in Spanish!
We require 24 hours notice of cancellation for any booking, whether private training or group classes.Private training cancellation policy: All scheduled private lessons must be cancelled or rescheduled a minimum of 24-hours prior to the scheduled lesson time. Virtual appointment late cancellations and “No-Shows” will be charged a $35 rebooking fee to reschedule the appointment. Late cancellations and “no shows” for in-person sessions will forfeit their original payment and new payment will be required to book another session. Group class cancellation policy:All group classes must be canceled or rescheduled a minimum of 24-hours in advance of the start time of class. Rescheduling or cancelling your appointment after 24-hours prior to start time will forfeit original payment and that class credit will be lost.On a case-by-case basis we may offer a single "grace" session per year for a late cancellation in an ongoing, rolling, or drop in group class. If a cancellation is less than 24 hours in advance (or after the start of a series/fixed date class) we do not offer refunds. On a case-by-case basis we may be able to apply a credit in the amount of the remaining classes minus a $35 late cancel fee, to be used for future classes or private trainings.
Location and Contact
We recommend booking online! You can sign up for everything on our website. If you’re not sure where to start, join a virtual orientation or email us at info@everydogaustin.org
We have two training facilities: North Austin (7020 E Hwy 290, Bldg 2, Suite D, Austin TX 78723) and South Austin (1606 W Stassney Ln, Suite 6/7, Austin, TX 78723). We also do in-home training within our Service Area and virtual training anywhere in the US.
Email is the fastest way to get in touch with our team! Email us at info@everydogaustin.org anytime. You can also leave us a message at 512-675-0444
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