How Many Sessions Will it Take to Train my Dog?

One of the most common questions potential customers ask me is, "How many sessions will it take to train my dog?"  The most accurate (and frustrating!) answer I have is, "it depends." 

Why can't I give a more specific answer? Here are a few of the factors to take into consideration:

• How long the animal has been performing the behavior

• Level of the intensity of the behavior

• Age of the animal

• Animal's motivation

• An animal's prior learning history and/or level of socialization

• The animal's cognitive abilities and processing speed

• Age health, weight or other issues (i.e. deafness)

• Owner's time constraints and ability to practice/do homework

• The comfort level and skill set of the owner

• The ability of the owner to implement management

• The need for veterinary intervention and/or medication onboarding

As you can see, there are many moving parts!  At our initial, goal setting session, all these aspects will be taken into consideration to give the owner a more accurate answer. After the initial session, a Training Plan is created to fit both the dog's and owner's needs.  The Plan is a living/breathing document that is updated and modified as we get deeper into the program and make adjustments to fit the situation (Note: Behavioral Assessments are required for any extensive behavior modification plan).

I hope this makes the "it depends" a little less frustrating.  If you have more questions?  Don't hesitate to reach out to us at info@broadwaydogtraining.com