Our Exclusive Program

Transforming Puppies and Young Dogs into Model Companions

You made it through potty training, the sleepless nights,
and those sharp puppy teeth that made your little one seem more like a shark than a puppy.

What a relief! The hard part is over. Now you can relax
and just enjoy your young dog.

OR NOT

Suddenly your sweet attentive puppy is ignoring you,
doesn't respond to the easiest of cues, runs off and doesn't come when called, is digging, barking,
jumping on everyone, pulling like crazy on leash
and just being plain obnoxious.

YIKES!

You're wondering if there's something wrong with your puppy.

And maybe even secretly thinking
you don't like your puppy very much right now.

So what is it? What's happening?

ADOLESCENCE!

Similar to humans, dogs go through adolescence. The adolescent developmental period begins around 5-6 months of age and lasts until around 18-24 months old. This varies by breed and these ages are approximate. Because of the brain changes, hormonal changes and growth of a dog’s body, a dog’s behavior will also change.

During adolescence puppies become more independent and more interested in the outside world. They start having a lot more opinions - usually something like No! Don't! and Stop It! They seem to lose the training they’ve had (don't worry - it's temporary). Teenage dogs have a harder time paying attention to you because everything else is so stimulating.

The vast majority of calls I get regarding behavior issues are for dogs in the adolescent stage. Things like barking, jumping on people, counter surfing, running away and not coming when called, playing too roughly with other dogs, not listening, digging, fears, mouthing, destructiveness, resource guarding, marking in the house, nipping, stealing, etc.

Yep! All of these things are common adolescent issues.

DON'T WORRY! THERE IS HOPE!

Our Acing Adolescence program is designed to:

Walk you step-by-step through your pup's adolescent period

Teach you how to prevent common behavior problems that arise during adolescence

Support you during any challenges you face

Provide you with real world practical training using positive reinforcement training methods

Coach you on training your pup to become a social and well-mannered dog that you will be proud to take anywhere

What's Included?

10 IN-PERSON GROUP CLASSES

Classes will be held at different locations each week in order to work on specific real life situations (e.g., local park, downtown area, store, vet clinic, beach, etc.) and a variety of distractions. The sessions are scheduled every other week (typically twice a month) for 5 months.

6 ONLINE CLASSES/Q&A SESSIONS

Six online sessions will be held once or twice a month. These sessions will include deep dives into various adolescent issues and how to prevent them, problem solving, live training, videos, Q&A. These sessions will be recorded and able to be viewed at your convenience.

60+ VIDEO LESSONS

More than 60 videos lessons covering a variety of topics including: dealing with real world distractions, fun recall games, building better focus, preventing common adolescent behavior problems, calming down when overly excited, activities to keeping your teen busy, cute tricks, and much more!

DOWNLOADABLE HANDOUTS

There are detailed handouts included for each video that are available to download or print out and be used offline. Take them with you anywhere for a quick reference while training.

PEACE OF MIND

Working with us throughout your dog's adolescent period will give you all the tools you need to master the challenges ahead. Rest assured that you'll be well on your way to having a family companion that will be welcomed anywhere.

SAFE, GENTLE & EFFECTIVE TRAINING

We only use positive reinforcement, science-based methods to help you train your dog safely and effectively. Even when your dog is being a bit naughty, there are many positive reinforcement techniques to address the issues and we show you how throughout the course. We also take you out on mini adventures and coach you on how to train your pup to become a social and well-mannered dog that you can take anywhere.

PRIVATE COMMUNITY GROUP

You'll be able to join the Acing Adolescence private Facebook group where you can connect with others in your class, share your successes and challenges of raising an adolescent dog and get expert guidance throughout your journey.

Adolescence: Don't just survive....THRIVE!

What You'll Learn:

What adolescence is and how best to train your teenage dog
Preventing common behavior problems that arise during adolescence
Troubleshooting any issues you're having with your pup
Critical skills you must teach your adolescent
Appropriate outlets for your young dog's energy
Socializing your teenager
Appropriate play
Tricks and games to build your bond with your dog

Key skills that will allow you to take your dog anywhere
How to keep your pup's focus around the distractions you encounter every day (people, dogs, stuff on the ground, etc.)
Walking on leash in distracting environments
Settling in public
Coming when called every time
Go to a mat and hang out
Greeting people politely
How to manage over arousal and reinforce calm behavior

And much more!

When You Join Our Acing Adolescence Program, You'll Get:

10 In-Person Classes

Twice a Month at different locations in the community for 10 sessions
Real life practice in a variety of public settings to hone your pup's social skills
Expert guidance to successfully navigate new places and challenging distractions
A great community of people and dogs to share your adolescent journey

6 Online Classes (recorded with replays available at your convenience)

Featuring Adolescent Behavior Deep Dives
Problem Prevention and Solving
Q&A to Get Your Specific Questions Answered
Bonus Training

60+ Video Lessons

Short videos to prepare you for each week's class
Videos to help you understand adolescent behavior
Lessons on preventing common adolescent problems
Tips on navigating the world safely with your pup while teaching good manners
Fun games and activities

Downloadable Handouts

Companion handouts for the lessons
Special topic guides

Private Community Group

Private group just for students enrolled in the class

Access to expert help throughout the program

Ability to get your questions answered during the classes as well as between classes via email
Online Q&A sessions
Additional 1 on 1 sessions can be added

What Our Students are Saying

"It’s been really nice to see the same group consistently. We love the field trips and the opportunity to ask questions and interact on Zoom. The videos in the portal are really great too, super digestible and useful!"

"We are able to go out and about to a variety of settings and I have some great tools to keep my dog safe, happy and engaged. Many times I have been in situations and remember concepts from class and put them into action."

"I liked the constant contact with a trained professional during the changes of the adolescent phase. I really liked getting to build a community with the other dog owners and see us and our dogs improve together."

"I now have a more consistent recall. I can also go in public with distractions and maintain our connection and keep my dog’s focus. I have more confidence as a dog owner and how I perceive different environments and how they might impact my dog’s behavior. The training was as much for me as it was for my dog."