Detroit Animal Training Experts Give Tips

What services do you offer?

Dan Morris: "We offer basic training. What it boils down to is teaching people what to do, rather than the dog."

Liz Blondy: "We offer dog day care; cage-free, attended overnight boarding; all pet grooming; a public dog park; and obedience training."

Deb Watkins: "We offer dog day care, boarding, grooming and training. We also have a retail store."

Why should people hire an animal trainer?

Dan Morris: "You don't want the dog jumping on people or running out the front door - everyone should have their dog trained by a professional."

Liz Blondy: "A well-trained dog is a lot nicer to live with than an untrained one. "

Deb Watkins: "No one wants to be around a dog that misbehaves. It's a responsibility and a joy to have a trained dog."

What methods of training do you use?

Dan Morris: "Positive reinforcement with gestures and praise."

Liz Blondy: "We only practice positive reinforcement."

Deb Watkins: "Positive reinforcement and, on occasion, clicker training."

Do you train both the pet and owner?

Dan Morris "I train the owner and then we train the dog."

Liz Blondy: "It's mostly the owner."

Deb Watkins: "80 percent of training is training the owner."

How much does training cost?

Dan Morris: "It's $285 for six weeks of once-a-week, one-hour classes."

Liz Blondy: "We have a basic obedience class that's six weeks, one weeknight each for one hour, that's $140."

Deb Watkins: "One-night seminars are $30, four-week once-weekly classes are $90 and six-week weekly classes are $120."

Do you do individual or group training?

Dan Morris: "It's smaller groups or private individual classes."

Liz Blondy: "We do group classes of up to six dogs."

Deb Watkins: "It's training in groups of eight to 14 or less with multiple instructors."

After your training, should owners continue your techniques?

Dan Morris: "Yes. Training really never stops."

Liz Blondy: "Yes. It's about consistency."

Deb Watkins: "Yes. You have to keep their minds stimulated."

What's one helpful training tip you can offer?

Dan Morris: "It takes patience."

 Liz Blondy: "Meal time is one of the best times to train. Feed them piece by piece and teach them something."

Deb Watkins: "Do the work. Walk and exercise your dog and put the time in."

Who we talked to

Dan Morris, owner
Dan Morris Dog Training
27478 Plymouth Road
Livonia, MI
734-427-7940

Liz Blondy, owner
Canine to Five
3443 Cass Ave.
Detroit, MI
13-831-DOGS

Deb Watkins, owner
Canine College
24126 Research Drive
Farmington Hills, MI
248-427-8245