FAQ

At Pintar Dog Training, we employ positive reinforcement (R+) methods. This approach rewards dogs for desirable behaviors and teaches replacement behaviors for unwanted ones. Rewards can include food, playtime, or access to things your dog enjoys.

We avoid force, correction tools, outdated dominance approaches, and other methods deemed unethical by modern dog trainers. Force or intimidation is unnecessary, as reward-based training has been proven effective for teaching necessary skills and resolving behavioral issues.

We start with initial assessment session at your place, where I will have a chance to meet you and your dog, assess their current skills and discuss your training needs. I will provide your with guidelines and training advice to resolve your situation and explain what training exercises we will be using.

We’ll have weekly or bi-weekly 60-minute coaching sessions. I’ll outline your training plan for the coming weeks and coach you on training exercises with your dog. You’ll be expected to conduct daily training sessions with your dog.

If you decide to speed up dog training progress you can also hire me for additional day training sessions (2-3-5 times a week), where I can come in and work with your dog solo either at home or by taking the dog for a training walk.

To get results you need to train your dog every day (or at least 5 days a week). Most training plans require 10-15 minutes per day and can be incorporated into mealtime or walks.

The goal of the initial assessment session is to determine the necessary training for your dog.

This session includes an in-person consultation at your home to establish your dog’s training needs. It consists of three parts:

1. Detailed Discussion of Your Case:
   • Discussing your dog’s current behavior issues, if any, and their history.
   • Reviewing strategies you use currently to address those issues
   • Understanding your and your dog’s past training experiences, if any
   • Understanding your current training needs and priorities.
2. Getting to Know Your Dog:
   • Observing their behavior in real-life situations, both at home and during walks.
   • Evaluating your dog’s behavior, body language, personality, skills, and learning abilities.
3. Recommendations for the Training and Management Plan:
   • Discussing training solutions for your situation.
   • Estimating the number of training sessions needed.
   • Outlining the daily training required from you.
   • Answering all your questions about the training process.
   • If you’re interested in day training or boarding, we’ll discuss how that integrates with our training plan.

Post-Session Follow-Up:

Within two days after the session, I will provide a summary of our discussion, including individual recommendations and general training guidelines, as well as information about follow-up sessions.

Training your dog isn’t a one-time process, despite what some social media videos may suggest. We usually start by building foundational skills and then progress to more advanced ones. This learning process requires time and repetition.

The number of sessions needed varies greatly and depends on several factors:

1. Whether your dog has basic obedience skills or any previous training experience.
2. The number of behavioral issues we need to address.
3. How much time you can dedicate to daily training.
4. Your dog’s learning speed.

Every client is unique. For some, dog training becomes a rewarding way to bond, and they spend significant time daily practicing training exercises. If the dog is a quick learner with few minor issues, around 5 coaching sessions might suffice.

Others might have a dog with multiple behavioral challenges or a slower learning pace. Life’s demands can also impact the time available for daily training. In such cases, the learning process may take longer, which is completely okay. Here, 10 to 15 or even 20 coaching sessions might be necessary.

In-person training sessions are conducted either in your house or during walks, depending on the training goals. Most dogs learn best in the comfort of their own home or a familiar environment, which helps them focus better and feel more at ease during the training process.

Coaching sessions with a dog trainer typically last 60-90 minutes. Most weekly sessions at home are about an hour long. However, this can vary based on your dog’s specific needs and training objectives. Sessions that include both in-home training and walk training are usually scheduled for 1.5 hours. Similarly, sessions held less frequently, like once a month, may also extend to 1.5 hours.

Training two dogs at the same time is often not effective, so we usually separate them during sessions. We can arrange a longer 1.5-hour coaching session, dedicating time to each dog individually. However, in some cases (e.g., if both dog owners are present to train one dog each), simultaneous training may be possible. This can be discussed during the initial session.

Currently, Pintar Dog Training specializes in private, one-on-one sessions at client’s home.

We accept clients with wide variety of issues: from “unruly and growing too fast” puppies or adult dogs “that are just stubborn and don’t listen”, to dogs with behavior issues – reactivity and aggressive behavior, dogs that are scared of everything or bark too much, hyperactive dogs that don’t settle and many more. If you are not sure wether we will be able to take on your case, please fill in this intake form and we get back to you.

Yes, we offer specialized training for puppies, covering basic commands, socialization, potty training, and more. You can book a full 12-week program for puppy training or book as many sessions as you need.

Absolutely. We address a variety of behavioral issues, including excessive barking, chewing, jumping, leash pulling, reactivity and hyperactivity and aggression.

At the moment we don’t accept dogs with serious bite history of other dogs or humans. These cases require a veterinary behaviorist and a dog professional who specializes in these types of cases. Please check out SFSPCA Hospital Behavior Assessment.

Dogs of any age can be trained. But the training program and the speed of learning will be different. Puppies can start their training as early as 2 months. Puppies learn fast but require training to be simple, fun and broken into shorter sessions. Older dogs (+10 years old) might be a bit slower to learn (especially if there is little prior training experience) but they will greatly benefit from training both physically and mentally.

We work with all breeds, since training methods work for all animals (cats and birds included). Yes, certain breeds might have common behavior “issues” and we are very aware about that and will offer a customized training plan that will take that into consideration.

For in-person dog training we offer services in: San Francisco, Pacifica, Daly City, San Bruno, Burlingame and possible anywhere further in San Francisco Bay Area (requires travel fee).

Worldwide I offer online consultations and digital dog training.

For training prices, please refer to Services & Rates page.

I offer different discounted packages and monthly subscriptions.

Go to booking page here. You will be able to choose a date & time that fits your schedule.

You can either pay online with a card or via invoice, or you can pay after the training session using Venmo. For initial assessment session you will pay online when booking. All the online payments are secured via Stripe payments.

Yes, we offer online training sessions, which include live coaching, custom practice programs, and video assessments.

Online training is great option if you or your dog already have some prior training experience, or when we address certain behavior issues where dog trainer will interfere with the training process (for example separation anxiety).

Online training requires your commitment to practice every day, follow the training guidelines and protocols and to be observant of your dog. Our sessions will mainly focus on me sharing knowledge and explaining how each training tool works. I’ll provide training videos as visual aids to show you the techniques. You’ll practice with your dog in front of the camera, and I’ll guide you to ensure you’re training correctly. We’ll design a home practice program for you to follow and record. In our next session, we’ll review your videos to assess progress and plan the next steps. This digital training format is perfect for self-starters or for those who prefer not to have visitors at home. Don’t worry if you’re camera-shy; I’ll arrange our sessions to keep you comfortable and focused on training.