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  757-369-8463      
 
Home Dogs Cats Services Before We Begin About Us Contact Us

We Provide Dog Training and Cat Training
Private, At-Home and Off-Site Training Instructions available in the Greater Williamsburg Virginia area
  • Private Dog Training Instructions
    • Basic, Intermediate, Advanced Dog Training Lessons
    • (K9) Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
    • Therapy Dog Preparation
  • Dog Behavioral Assessment and Recommendations
  • New Puppy Introduction
  • New Kitten Introduction
  • Adopting A Pet Into Your Home
  • Education for children on how to behave with a cat or dog

We offer lessons Monday through Saturday, daytime and evening.  We allow for your busy schedule by adjusting days and times as needed.

 ! Required Training Prerequisites !

Payments are due in advance or at the time of service.


   Here in the greater Williamsburg, Virginia area many homes have multiple pets, including dogs, cats and others. We specialize in creating harmony within the household, firstly ensuring that all pets receive nutrition and exercise according to their specific needs. Exercise consists of both mental and physical elements as well as consistent interaction between owner and pet. Most importantly, all pet training should be fun. Positive reinforcement is taught to all pet parents. A well-mannered pet becomes an important member of the family.

   A lack of communication causes frustration for both the human and the pet, and can lead to increased problems. An uncontrollable pet causes havoc in the home and is one of the main reasons pets are surrendered to shelters. Unfortunately most people do not know how to communicate effectively to their pet.

   Providing positive training methods, proper socialization techniques and preventing problems before they occur are our primary goals at Paw Behavior, LLC.  
We work with all ages and behavior levels from puppies/kittens and adolescent/juvenile to adult/senior pets. A pet is never too old to learn and most who come from shelters or breeders are in need of your instructions and guidance to co-exist happily with your family.

  Our hands-on services (behavioral assessments and private at-home training) are available to most areas surrounding Williamsburg, VA.


Private, At-Home and Off-Site Dog Training
 ! Required Training Prerequisites !

Dog Training includes:

  1. Basic/Intermediate/Advanced Lessons with Personalized Curricula
  2. Preparations for Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog Certifications
We offer lessons Monday through Saturday, daytime and evening.  We allow for your busy schedule by adjusting days and times as needed. Training includes basics, intermediate, advanced, therapy dog preparation and service dog evaluation.  

Dog Training Lessons:

  • Basic lessons include simple skills (see below for examples).
  • Intermediate lessons will teach the same skills with added distraction.
  • Advanced lessons will allow the pet to master skills in public environments with multiple distractions.

Lessons and skills taught may include the following:

Appropriate elimination of noise (bark); no biting or jumping on people; Motion/Action Commands: Look at me, Take it, Walk on a leash without pulling, Sit, Down, Come with an auto sit, Move to heel position or place, Settle, Sit Stay, Down stay, Wait, Leave it, Drop it, Give it, Off, Heel with an auto sit, Quite (stop barking), Sit for a greeting, Meet and Greet with a person and another dog, etc. We work to create you an individualized program that will focus on your specific needs and goals.



"Canine Good Citizen" (CGC) 
What is Canine Good Citizen?   
   At the AKC, we believe that all dogs can be good dogs, and all owners can be great owners: all it takes is a little bit of training, lots of love, and of course, plenty of praise along the way.

   That’s why we created the Canine Good Citizen™ (CGC) program: a two-part course designed to help you and your dog be the best you can be–together. Since 1989, over 1 million dogs and their owners have participated in CGC, mastering ten basic skills that instill confidence and good manners in and out of your home.  

   Not only does CGC training create long-lasting trust between you and your pup, but also ensures you’ll be good neighbors and friends to everyone around you—and, if you’re interested in going beyond the basics, CGC also lays the foundation for other AKC sports and activities like obedience, agility, tracking, and performance events.     


Therapy Dog Preparation  
   Therapy animals are privately owned and tend to visit facilities on a regular basis. A therapy animal is only half of the equation, however. A responsible, caring handler is an important member of the therapy animal team. At the end of a visit, therapy animals go home with their owners. Most commonly, therapy animals are dogs that have shown they like people and have the temperament to work with them.

   Although therapy animals provide a very important therapeutic service to all kinds of people in need, they are NOT considered “service animals” and they and their handlers have no protections under federal law (ADA, the Fair Housing Act, Air Carrier Access Act, etc.). Some states, however, have laws that afford therapy animals and their handlers rights and protections.
    
AKC Recognized Therapy Dog Organizations:
Alliance of Therapy Dogs (formerly Therapy Dogs, Inc.)
Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs.
Love on a Leash.
Pet Partners (previously Delta Society)
Therapy Dogs Incorporated (TD Inc.) – new name is Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Therapy Dogs International


Behavioral Assessments
 ! Required Training Prerequisites !

   The need for a Behavioral Assessment is an “out of control” pet. If a pets’ behavior is destructive, disruptive or puts the pet owner (or others) at risk a Behavioral Assessment is used to identify possible root causes and solutions. A Behavioral Assessment is an in depth and complex study of an animals’ environment, history and interactions.

A Behavioral Assessment has three steps:

  1. First the pet owner completes a detailed questionnaire about their pet (Dog Questionnaire - Cat Questionnaire). This information is critical so the Assessor can prepare for the second step which is the at-home visit.
  2. Second after the review and analysis of the questionnaire is complete, the Assessor will set up an appointment with the pet owner for an at-home evaluation.
  3. Third is a Behavioral Modification Plan.

   This third step is a written plan that is developed with the owner and includes goals and protocols for the owner to achieve these goals.

    The price for a Behavioral Assessment is $325 per pet, if there are multiple pets contact us for pricing. Payments are due in advance or at the time of service. Additional visits will require additional fees.  



Pet Introduction Seminars

You may be adding a pet to the household with other pets and I can guide you through the steps of welcoming and integrating your new household member. 
  1. New Puppy Introduction
    • Includes email documentation and at home session
  2. New Kitten Introduction
    • Includes email documentation and one at home session
  3. Adopting A Pet Into Your Home Seminar
    •    Your pet will need time to adjust to its new home, and the transition may be somewhat stressful for both you and your pet. Your home will need to become pet friendly and safe. I have all the information you will need to prevent problems before they develop.


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