Vanessa and Alpha Instincts are such professionals! Riggsby was a rescue with the intent of us finding him a new home. That was 3 years ago and we finally admitted he’s here to stay! We had let him get away with everything and he totally ruled our house. I didn’t think I would ever be willing to invest so much money, but we knew we needed intense help to gain some control. Vanessa stepped up to the task beautifully. She listened to our needs and concerns and tailored Riggsby’s training to best fit our lives. While he was away from us for 3 weeks, she kept us informed with pictures, videos and texts. We were amazed at his progress even week one! Vanessa was always prompt getting back to us if we ever had a question or request. She even started working toward getting Riggsby to let us trim his nails. That’s going above and beyond! Riggsby is home and we are all happy to be back together. We are working everyday to reinforce and further what WE learned with Vanessa. She has already been back to the house and we are planning another visit soon. When they say they are here to help, they back it up! We would certainly make the decision to invest again. Thank you, Vanessa! You have given us some peace and control in our home again!
We do not limit our training to any one training method or methodology. We approach training to be the most beneficial to each dog and family, using a variety of techniques and tools, leaving the dog more obedient and, most importantly, happier because of training.
We use leashes, slip-leads, prong-collars, e-collars, and food as part of our training.
We handle many different dog behavior issues. The following are among the most common behaviors we address, but they do not represent everything we are experienced with handling:
Many families are worried that their dog may be "too much" for a training program. We put a strong emphasis on saying "No Dog Gets Left Behind." Rather than worrying about our dogs' issues, let's develop a training plan together to address them!
More often than not, we hear of families given medications for their dog as the first line of defense rather than attempting training first. Mood-altering medications like these are seen as a band-aid solution, as they do not address the behavior -- and certainly will not fix it. The majority of the time, especially with behavioral issues, training can address the root of the problem and help work your dog through it. Training should be the first option recommended for managing & working with anxiety, aggression, reactivity, overexcitement, etc.
These are also not issues that demand a death sentence either, as we've worked with many dogs with bite records. There is always another way, and quality training can give you the tools to move forward and expand your dogs' worldview & overall capabilities.
Progressing in training & obedience revolves around the relationship between a handler and their dog. Many issues stem from a lack of structure and consistency, which is why we can produce quicker results in our Board & Train program. For training to be maintained after a program, it is imperative for an owner to follow their trainer's guidance & recommendations and be committed to making adjustments for long-term success.
Our Board & Train offers a faster-paced, economical solution to addressing all kinds of behaviors and building obedience & habits than our Obedience Class program. While some people have time to dedicate to training with their dog every day, not everyone has that luxury or experience. Our trainers have a significant amount of practice & experience to effectively train your dog in a short period of time. This program is pivotal for dogs experiencing anxiety, fear, aggression, etc., as these types of issues need to be handled by individuals with experience to be successful. Our trainers work within home environments and in-public to give your dogs' a well-rounded experience around people, other dogs, and all kinds of sights & smells that they would encounter daily with you! We can do all of this within weeks, achieving goals and creating more experiences than most people can achieve on their own within more prolonged periods. Let us do the heavy-lifting! All you need to do is maintain what was taught!
After our Board & Train program concludes, we do an in-depth turnover session with you & your dog to set you up for success with your dog's newfound obedience. This is followed by a quick refresher session one-week later, to clear up any questions or initial issues you may be having.
This program comes with lifetime support, meaning once every six months, as needed, you have the option to reach out to us for feedback in problem areas. We understand that training is not a one-stop-shop; it is for a lifetime. That's why we designed this program to be there for your family - for life. Dogs change and grow as they age, and we want to be there to help you if you need it.
To have an idea of how we train and what you can expect, we highly recommend watching the videos on our website, Facebook page, Instagram, our Youtube channel, and reading our blog! As your trainer, we become a team and work together to improve you & your dog's relationship with one another. Before joining our team, it is crucial that you fully understand and have a reasonable expectation of what this training journey is all about. We are very transparent with how we train, so if you're committed, the results will follow.
Our program fees are non-refundable. Deposits provide a good-faith payment for a time reserved in our calendar for your dog. If you need to reschedule a Board & Train within a 60-day period, we are more than happy to credit your payment to a future date.
It is incredibly important to us that you feel confident about dropping your dog off for the best training opportunity of their life (literally, we offer life-time support)! We encourage that you revisit our social media posts so you can reacquaint yourself with us, that way you know if we are what you’re looking for!
The evaluation fee is refundable with 48-hour notice.
For free dog training resources, you can visit our Dog Training Blog for dog training tips & trips that come from our editorial team. Visit our Dog Training Services Page for more information on all of the types of training we offer.
