Better walks.
Clearer choices.
Stronger teams.

Basics is for everyday leash skills and clearer handling. E.D.G.E. is the one-on-one program for reactive dogs of any breed, and it suits moderate to severe reactivity where barking, lunging, fixation, or shutdown makes walks difficult. The evaluation confirms the right fit.

E.D.G.E. stands for Engage, channel Drive, Guide, Execute. It is the four-stage framework behind the reactivity program, and the name is easy to remember because you will be using it under pressure. Engage means your dog learns to focus on you instead of the world around them. Channel Drive means the energy that goes into reacting gets aimed somewhere productive. Guide means you learn the handling, leash mechanics, and timing that make the next choice clear. Execute means you practice it in real environments until it holds. The stages overlap rather than run in a line, which is why the program is built around them instead of a list of commands.

I look at two things together: the relationship between you and your dog, and what the dog actually knows. I assess standard obedience, how severe the problem is, and the likelihood of reaching your results in a reasonable timeframe. Your dog is not being tested for a pass or fail, and you are not being sold to. You leave with honest feedback either way.

Yes. Aggression is a common issue, and completely natural to a dog's behavior. However, the process to gain control of aggression, and ideally to rehabilitate the dog, requires a more in-depth approach, starting with the evaluation. Programs often run longer, and the cost of time and money is greater than with most other issues. Aggression programs start at $3,600, due to complexity of the issue and the risks involved.

E.D.G.E. is $2,397 for 6 one-on-one sessions across 6 weeks, and the program can be extended if your dog needs more time. Basics is $897 for four weekly lessons of 60 minutes each, with equipment, online classroom access, and six months of support included. The evaluation is free. There are no other fees, no travel charge inside Placer County, and no upcharge for equipment. If we have not hit your goals after the 6 sessions, the Make-Right Guarantee covers up to 4 additional lessons at no cost, bringing the program to 10 lessons, with at least one of those mine alone.

Nothing. The evaluation is free, and there is no fee to pay and nothing to credit back later. If your dog is not a fit, you keep the feedback and are under no obligation to enroll.

Payment details are part of the evaluation. If you need to spread the cost rather than pay it all at once, say so when you book and we can go over the options that fit your program and schedule.

No. It is a structured coaching process, run over 6 weeks and extended when a dog needs more time. Your progress depends on the dog in front of you, the environments you practice in, and your ability to maintain the work between lessons.

No. You are involved in every session. Your dog has to listen to you, not just me. I follow an 80/20 approach, so you do most of the handling while I direct timing and mechanics.

What a reactive dog learns does not decay on its own as long as the handling and the environment stay consistent. Behavior lives inside the life you and your dog actually have, and a change to that life is usually what undoes the work, not time. Move house, have a baby, get a new dog, start different hours, and the picture changes. So the last lessons are spent making you the handler rather than making your dog dependent on me. I also keep the door open afterward. You can text or call when something comes up, and if a new situation shows you a gap, we can address it then instead of letting it become a new problem.

Nothing beyond a collar, a leash, and food your dog actually agrees is food. Equipment is included and there is no upcharge, which means what gets used is my decision based on the dog in front of me rather than a kit you are required to buy. Most of the time that is a fitted collar, a six-foot leash, and a handful of treats worth working for. If your dog needs a specific piece of gear for safety, I will tell you exactly what and why. I will also tell you when a tool is not the answer.

The honest answer is: it depends. The evaluation is where we find out whether real progress is achievable, because I would rather tell you that in person with your dog in front of me than guess. I have a strong record of results, but I want you to know what to expect for your dog and your situation, because every dog is an individual and the outcome will look a little different from dog to dog and owner to owner.

Any breed is welcome to train. Herding and working breeds such as Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds, and Belgian Malinois often progress fastest because of their built-in motivation to learn and adapt. The program stays adaptable to a wide range of breeds and personality types.

Confident Canine Coaching serves clients in and around Placer County, California, including Rocklin, Roseville, Loomis, Lincoln, and Granite Bay. Sessions are built around the environments and situations that matter in daily life.

The evaluation runs 45 minutes and happens in person at Johnson-Springview Park in Rocklin, at the baseball diamonds. Bring your dog and whatever you normally walk them on. You will talk through the current challenge and your goals, and I will spend the time watching how your dog actually handles being there. You leave with honest feedback that helps you decide whether this is the right program. It is a straightforward assessment, not a pressure-heavy sales pitch.