If being home 24/7 with your dog during the coronavirus pandemic has illuminated some of your pup’s behavioral issues, there’s no time like quarantine to address those behaviors. You know, nip it in the bud. Because of the way social distancing has reshaped local businesses, you can confront those behavioral concerns from the comfort of your own home. Now that most businesses are adopting online structures, you can train your dog comfortably via Zoom and other virtual dog training sessions.
Whether you’re working with an untrained puppy, an unruly older dog, dealing with anxiety issues, or just plain stubbornness, virtual dog training can help — here are a few local trainers offering virtual sessions.
All Day Dog Adventures
All Day Dog Adventures is currently offering online dog behavior consultations, online dog scent training, online private training, online trick dog training, and online puppy training, as well as standard online dog training classes.
While private one-on-one training and behavior consultations use Zoom, online group classes are done online through a private Facebook Group. Each class also features time dedicated to a question-and-answer session in real-time with your trainer.
Check out the online dog training classes and various options.
Dog Life Hoboken
Dog Life Hoboken is offering force-free, positive reinforcement training for dogs and puppies during the COVID-19 quarantine via virtual training sessions. Online sessions and classes via Zoom are available, as well as walk-and-train sessions, and outside training sessions that adhere to proper social distancing precautions {six feet apart at all times outdoors and face-covering for all humans is required}.
Dog Life Hoboken offers everything from obedience training, behavior modification training, and dog training for expecting parents and dog-baby, dog-toddler introductions.
To make an appointment or sign up for a virtual dog training session, contact Dog Life Hoboken.
Hudson Barks
Hudson Barks offers two types of virtual dog training sessions: group and private training sessions. According to the website, “Current conditions require creative solutions. Due to social distancing measures currently in place, we have switched to remote consulting and training as our main way of helping you with your dog’s training needs. This option may also be helpful to those outside of our service catchment area who wish to consult with Hudson Barks.”
Private virtual training services can be done by either a telephone or live video call. Hudson Bark has FaceTime, Google Meet, and Zoom capabilities for live-video options, and will work with you in real-time to address any puppy or adult dog training and behavior topics that may be applicable to your pup. One call or virtual session costs $100 for 1.5 hours. It comes with a comprehensive summary of the session sent by email and a follow-up email option to review progress. A duo of two calls or virtual sessions costs $180 for up to 1.5 hours each.
Alternatively, virtual group classes welcome puppies, teen, and adult dogs in personalized groups of up to four teams per session. These group sessions are available in three main categories: Puppy’s First Class, Adolescent Training, and the Well-Mannered Dog.
Puppy’s First Class features six highly structured 45-minute sessions, open to puppies 20 weeks and under. In this class, trainers will introduce basic cues such as sit, down, stay, leave it, touch {also known as target}, eye contact, walking, come, and more.
Adolescent Training also features six structured 45-minute sessions, open to “teen” dogs ages six to 12 months, or based on behavior. This class focuses on commands such as leave it, drop it, take it, sit, down, stay, recall, go to place, as well as leash training. Distractions are also introduced in these sessions, as dogs need to be able to ignore distractions and focus on the commands.
The Well-Mannered Dog is for dogs over two years of age or based on behavior. In these six 45-minute training sessions, dogs who have already graduated from puppy preschool and adolescent/teen classes will be introduced to a different topic each week: mental stimulation in the home, novel activities or “tricks,” physical conditioning, nutrition, ask the trainer, etc.
To sign up for a virtual group or private session, fill out a brief description of your dog’s behavior and information on Hudson Barks online. Alternatively, you can call Hudson Barks at 201-381-7084.
NJ Sit and Stay
Sit and Stay Dog Training and Behavioral Counseling LLC is owned by Joana Watsky, a positive, reward-based dog trainer and behavior counselor now offering online dog training sessions in Northern NJ. Consultations and training sessions with Watsky can be done over the phone, Skype, and/or Zoom.
According to the website, “While most of us are isolated in our homes due to the coronavirus, training in your home is a great way to reduce stress and is essential for the physical and mental stimulation of your dog. Online consults are a valuable way to start or continue training and behavior modification and support a small business.”
Sit and Stay Dog Training offers help in puppy selection {if you’re currently looking into either finding a breeder to evaluating a specific rescue dog to bring home}, pre-puppy counseling {help regarding what to purchase, how to puppy-proof your home, tips on crate training, creating schedules, etc.}, as well as online obedience training for puppies once they’re home. Once the puppy is home, Sit and Stay can help with:
- — Grooming and Nutrition
- — Housebreaking
- — Mouthing
- — Creating boundaries
- — How to communicate successfully
- — How to establish yourself as a nurturing and effective “parent”
- — Understanding basic dog and puppy behavior
- — How to avoid conditioning problem behaviors
- — Learning basic training cues
Virtual online training programs are also available for dogs of all ages. These training and behavior modification sessions go over basic training, as well as the following topics:
- — How to communicate and create a positive relationship with your dog.
- — House Soiling
- — Resource Guarding {guarding toys, bones, beds, etc.}
- — Excessive Barking
- — Separation Anxiety
- — Anxiety/Fear
Prior to logging on for a session, pet owners can email videos, pictures, and written-word descriptions about their dogs’ behavior to njsitnstay@gmail.com. A 60-minute session costs $90; a 30-minute session costs $50.
In addition to offering online dog training sessions, clients can also send unlimited follow-up questions via email regarding anything covered in the season. Watsky will also send you follow-up articles and videos.
Call 201-933-3369 to schedule an online consultation.
No Problem Dog Training
After doing a virtual consultation with No Problem Dog Training, pet owners can choose the virtual training program in which trainers and clients meet via video call twice a week, 30 minutes a session. Clients work with trainers to assess training goals, then trainers use the help of a “demo dog” to demonstrate techniques. In addition to two sessions a week, clients will also receive a training task list that features tips for day-to-day interactions that help dogs stay on task for their training goals.
Contact No Problem Dog Training on the website if you’re interested in signing up.
Read More: Locals Working From Home Share Adorable Pics of Their Fluffy Co-Workers
YouTube
Of course, if you prefer a more cost-efficient method of at-home, virtual dog training, you could always check out YouTube. There are several reputable YouTube channels dedicated to creating virtual dog training content that can help you and your pup during your training journey. Check out some of our favorites below!
Austin Pets Alive!
Austin Pets Alive! runs online classes via YouTube for just about every level of dog training. You can find everything from Level 1 Dog Walking Introduction videos to Click for Quiet, which is a method of using a clicker to teach the command, “Quiet.” Austin Pets Alive! also has showcase videos of puppies that are currently up for adoption. You know, just in case you want to add another fur-baby to your pack.
McCann Dog Training
McCann Dog Training posts everything from how to avoid separation anxiety to top mistakes pet owners make when attempting to train their pups. With over 280K subscribers, McCann Dog Training is definitely one of the go-to online resources for dog training videos and tips {at least on YouTube!}.
Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution
Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution is another viable option for dog training videos a la YouTube. Zak George has a series on bringing a new puppy home, a series on tricks, and individual videos that answer some of the most frequently asked dog training questions — everything from how to stop puppy biting to puppy house training 101.
Know of a virtual trainer? Let us know in the comments!
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