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A dog who listens on the leash, at the door, and around the neighborhood.
One-on-one obedience coaching for adult dogs and the people who walk them. We work in the places your dog actually struggles, with the leash in your hand, so the skills hold up after the last lesson rather than fading once I stop coming.
This is a private, on-leash obedience and lifestyle program, and it does not cover behavior problems. The point is to build the skills that keep those problems from coming up in the first place.
Is this the right fit?
- Pulls hard on walks, or checks out once you are past the driveway
- Jumps on guests, bolts through doors, or ignores you when it matters
- Knows the commands at home but not on the sidewalk in front of it
- Is a working line dog you are struggling to keep up with
Dog lunges, barks, or panics at other dogs or people? That is a different problem. See the reactive dog program.
10,000+
hours of hands-on handling in shelter and professional work
1-on-1
private coaching, and you are in every lesson
4 lessons
60 minutes each, in the places your dog struggles
Same day
reply to calls and texts during business hours
Basics
Four private lessons that fix the everyday problems that make walks and home life harder than they need to be. We work where your dog actually struggles, with you holding the leash, so the skills carry over instead of staying at the training session.
Basics is an on-leash obedience and lifestyle program for dogs who do not have a behavior problem yet. If your dog is already reactive, anxious, or aggressive, that is a different scope and a different program. Here we are building the obedience and the habits that keep those problems from developing, which is a lot easier than fixing them later.
I kept this program short on purpose. Four lessons is enough to change the daily picture for most dogs, and a shorter span means the work stays focused rather than stretching out. If your dog needs more than that, we will talk about it and I will tell you honestly what I think.
What it costs
- About $224 a lesson
- Equipment for the program included
- Online classroom access included
- 6 months of support after the program
- No travel fee inside Placer County
The $100 evaluation comes first and comes off this price if you enroll. The price you see is the price, with no upcharge for materials.
Loose-leash walking
Stop the pulling and the tug of war, starting on the street you actually walk every day.
Reliable basics under distraction
Sit, down, stay, and recall that hold up when there is something worth looking at.
Everyday nuisance behaviors
Jumping, door manners, and the small habits that wear on a household over time.
Working line dogs
This is a strong fit for working line dogs whose owners are having a hard time keeping up. Those dogs are built to work, and Basics gives them a job and clear rules instead of asking them to settle for less.
Four steps, no surprises
1
Free phone consult
Tell me what your dog does and what you have already tried. I will tell you honestly whether this is the right program or whether something else serves your dog better.
2
Meet your dog in person
We start with a $100 evaluation at your place, where I watch how your dog behaves in the environment that actually causes the trouble. That fee comes off your program if you enroll.
3
Four coached lessons
You learn the handling, the timing, and the leash skills yourself, so the results do not depend on me being there.
4
Support after the last lesson
You get 6 months of support after the program ends, so you are not on your own the first time something new comes up.
Balanced, rewards-based, and honest
Dogs learn fastest when they know what earns a reward and what the rules are. I use clear communication and fair guidance, and I explain every step so you can repeat it at home without me standing there.
- Training matched to your dog's drive and breed, not a one-size-fits-all script.
- You hold the leash in every lesson. Owner involvement is the whole point.
- If I see signs of reactivity or anxiety, I tell you up front instead of selling you the wrong program.
What owners say about working with Derek
These are published client reviews from across my work over the years. My programs have changed since some of them were written, so read them as what owners say about working with me rather than a description of any single program.
“By following Derek’s training and continuing to practice in between lessons, we have noticed a huge change in our dog’s obedience.”
“You can tell he has a passion for what he does and truly cares about each dog family that he helps. His techniques help you and your dog create a unique bond that encourages your pup to not just follow your lead, but to want to follow your lead.”
“We continue to train with Derek on a regular basis and she continues to improve with each session. We would like to highly recommend Derek and we also want to thank him for all of the extra efforts and treats he continues to give Arelo. So grateful to have connected with him.”
Common questions
01Where do the lessons happen?
At your home and in the places your dog struggles: your street, your neighborhood, and the local parks and trails. I work across Rocklin, Roseville, Loomis, Lincoln, Granite Bay, and the rest of Placer County.
02How do I know this is the right program?
That is what the free phone consult is for. Basics is an on-leash obedience and lifestyle program, so it covers walking politely, coming when called, door manners, and behaving in the places you take your dog. It does not cover behavior problems. If your dog lunges, barks, or panics at other dogs or people, that is reactivity, and if your dog has shown real aggression, that is a different scope again. I will tell you which one you are dealing with on the call rather than taking the booking.
03What training methods do you use?
Balanced, rewards-based training with clear rules and fair guidance. I explain what I am doing and why in every lesson, because you are the one who has to keep it going after the last one.
04What is included in the price?
$897 covers 4 one-on-one lessons of 60 minutes, the equipment for the program, online classroom access, and 6 months of support after you finish. That works out to about $224 a lesson. The $100 evaluation is separate and comes off the program if you enroll.
05Does my dog need to be vaccinated?
Yes, dogs need a current rabies vaccination. If your dog has a titer instead of a current vaccine, call me and we can usually work it out with a signed addendum rather than turning you away.
06What are your hours?
Monday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm, and Saturday, 9 am to 4 pm. Calls and texts get a reply the same day during business hours.
Ready for calmer walks?
Book a free phone consult and we will work out what your dog needs. Most people hear back from me the same day.
Book a Free Phone ConsultReactivity
The E.D.G.E. program
For dogs who lunge, bark, or fixate on other dogs and people.
View pageAggression
Serious behavior cases
Assessed case by case, with an honest read on what is realistic.
View pageService area
Where we work
Rocklin, Roseville, Loomis, Lincoln, Granite Bay, and Placer County.
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