Training & Behavior Services
PRIVATE TRAINING
Private sessions are customized to suit specific issues that you, your dog and family are having. They happen at your home as well as out and about town and any other environment that is needed to benefit our training time together. Although we work one on one with your dog, it is YOU that we are also (& often primarily) teaching so that you have the tools needed to bring out the best in your relationship with your pet. We work with you and your puppy together to ensure proper puppy manners and procedures are in place and to help you and your puppy strengthen your bond. However, it is ultimately up to YOU & the time commitment you make working with your dog in between our sessions that ensures success. Phone & email support and free group class enrollment included.
GROUP CLASSES
Great for young dogs, older dogs needing a refresher or families on a budget, group classes are a predetermined curriculum geared for their designated students. Puppy Start-up, Basic, Little Dog, Intermediate, Advanced Tricks & fun, Therapy Preparation and even CGC. We also offer small group classes on an as needed basis for specific behaviors & challenges, such as our Reactive Dog, The Shy Canine, Games & Tricks & Bulli Breed Boot Camp.
STAY & TRAIN
We come to your home while you are at work, 3-5 times/weekly working with your dog in general obedience & any behavioral modification needed. Think of it as a college tutor coming to the house instead of a dog walker! While not as training intensive as our Board & Train programs, Stay & Train programs work best for those looking for general obedience training for their dogs but cannot commit to the time needed at the start and do not want to send their dog away for training. Whether this program is a good fit for you and your dog will also be dependent on what behaviors need to be addressed. Stay & Train includes follow up private lessons with you and your dog along with complimentary group class enrollment, email & phone support.
RESIDENT TRAINING (board & train)
Our Residency Training Program (board & train) is quite different than what most others offer. Instead of being kept in a cold, sterile kennel where they are only brought out a few times a day to train and be exercised, your dog lives in our own personal homes, where they are learning 24/7. Your dog will live like
one of ours & training is continuous. Proper home manners, social skills with people & other pets, good life skills out in public, on & off leash obedience and of course diminishing unwanted behavioral issues are key to this intensive, in home program. After training your dog, we train you! We will schedule up to 3 private sessions (included) with you upon return, to teach YOU the skills needed to bring out the best in your dog and form a stronger, happier bond. Free lifetime email & phone support is always part of our service! We guarantee what we hand back to you is a well trained, well behaved dog – and continue to help support you and your dog to keep the bond and training healthy and intact.
one of ours & training is continuous. Proper home manners, social skills with people & other pets, good life skills out in public, on & off leash obedience and of course diminishing unwanted behavioral issues are key to this intensive, in home program. After training your dog, we train you! We will schedule up to 3 private sessions (included) with you upon return, to teach YOU the skills needed to bring out the best in your dog and form a stronger, happier bond. Free lifetime email & phone support is always part of our service! We guarantee what we hand back to you is a well trained, well behaved dog – and continue to help support you and your dog to keep the bond and training healthy and intact.
Day Dogventures!
An Outward Bound type of weekday school in which your dog would join only a few other dogs for the day. We strive to never visit the same place more than once a month. The dogs head out for about 3-5 hours daily and hike, swim (if allowed), work on their canine social & life skills in public areas, learn tricks, how to socialize well with other dogs and more...all while learning basic and intermediate obedience as we work towards having your dog enjoy his time off lead reliably. Your dog come homes exercised both inside and out and very content. Unlike other 'day schools' that never leave the building or have one handler for 4-6 dogs and offer your dog little 1 on 1 time, we strive to never have more than 2 dogs per trainer. We pick up/drop off at home within reasonable distance or meet in a convenient location for both.
Sensible, realistic & balanced life skills training for dogs....for lifelong results!
About The Trainer
Heidi Benson; Owner
Heidi was born into a family of canine professionals and shared their passions: her Mother was prominent breeder & exhibitor of German Shepherds and Rottweilers for many years, was a founding member of New England Rottweiler Fanciers; President of the Bay State German Shepherd Dog Club and managed the family's large boarding and training facility. Her Father was the first training director of the Boston Police K9 Unit & helped institute K9 programs for 43 other police departments around the United States; founder of the North American Police Working Dog Assoc and was Vice President of the United States Police Canine Association. Needless to say her youth was spent either at the end of the leash or on the back of one of her horses. She titled her first dog in obedience at age 12 & put the first championship points on a parents dog at 15.
After years of assisting under her father in classes, service dog, personal protection & police training as well as their school for professional trainers, she struck out on her own. With an initial focus on family dog training, re-schooling rescue dogs and coaching obedience competitors, she has instituted training programs & worked with students from New England to the Carolina's under her own business for the past 27 yrs.
The director of a herding breed rescue she founded in the 90's, she has a special love & understanding of the working breeds. Her teaching methods are eclectic and all encompassing – drawing on a variety of proven methods with the knowledge that not one style suits all students and the method should be fit to the dog, not ever forcing a dog to one single minded method.
Continuing education is a priority for Heidi and throughout the year she attends seminars, enrolls in courses involving canine behavior, nutrition & biology and regularly participates and takes the lead in peer discussion groups. Most importantly, she knows that there is always something new to be learned every day and learning is always easier in a fun atmosphere.
In her 'off' time, Heidi is almost always found training/competing with her dogs in Rally, Obedience, Barn Hunt, Disco Dog, Dock Diving, Herding, Scentwork, Coursing, FastCAT's or in the Conformation ring. She has earned numerous titles in various sports over the years, but the one she values the most is the title of Best Friend to her four legged family.
Heidi was born into a family of canine professionals and shared their passions: her Mother was prominent breeder & exhibitor of German Shepherds and Rottweilers for many years, was a founding member of New England Rottweiler Fanciers; President of the Bay State German Shepherd Dog Club and managed the family's large boarding and training facility. Her Father was the first training director of the Boston Police K9 Unit & helped institute K9 programs for 43 other police departments around the United States; founder of the North American Police Working Dog Assoc and was Vice President of the United States Police Canine Association. Needless to say her youth was spent either at the end of the leash or on the back of one of her horses. She titled her first dog in obedience at age 12 & put the first championship points on a parents dog at 15.
After years of assisting under her father in classes, service dog, personal protection & police training as well as their school for professional trainers, she struck out on her own. With an initial focus on family dog training, re-schooling rescue dogs and coaching obedience competitors, she has instituted training programs & worked with students from New England to the Carolina's under her own business for the past 27 yrs.
The director of a herding breed rescue she founded in the 90's, she has a special love & understanding of the working breeds. Her teaching methods are eclectic and all encompassing – drawing on a variety of proven methods with the knowledge that not one style suits all students and the method should be fit to the dog, not ever forcing a dog to one single minded method.
Continuing education is a priority for Heidi and throughout the year she attends seminars, enrolls in courses involving canine behavior, nutrition & biology and regularly participates and takes the lead in peer discussion groups. Most importantly, she knows that there is always something new to be learned every day and learning is always easier in a fun atmosphere.
In her 'off' time, Heidi is almost always found training/competing with her dogs in Rally, Obedience, Barn Hunt, Disco Dog, Dock Diving, Herding, Scentwork, Coursing, FastCAT's or in the Conformation ring. She has earned numerous titles in various sports over the years, but the one she values the most is the title of Best Friend to her four legged family.