Frequently Asked Questions

What tools do you use?

We use several different tools during our training programs and the tools used often vary depending on the needs of the individual dog but a list and explanation of the tools can be found under our “About” section. 

Do you take any dog?

We take dogs with a wide variety of issues that need addressing but are not accepting dogs with human aggression/reactivity at this time. Our goal is to assist as many dogs and owners as possible. Human aggression would require a much longer and more intensive program and with our limited availability we do not want to tie up a spot on such a long term basis. We can, however, refer you to a very skilled trainer that is experienced in dealing with dogs with the most severe behavioral issues. Otherwise we are happy to work with any dog needing help with insecurity, anxiety, impulse control, hyperactivity, leash reactivity, dog reactivity, etc. 

Do you offer service dog training?

To answer this question, we will start by explaining what a service dog does and how a service dog is different than a therapy dog and an emotional support dog. A service dog, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, is a dog individually trained to perform specific tasks and to work with people with disabilities. The work of a service dog must be directly related to the handler’s disability. The ADA mandates that service dogs have full public access rights. Therapy dogs are trained to be comfortable in new environments and to interact with different people. They typically have certain personality traits and they volunteer in clinical settings such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. Therapy dogs do not have the same legal right to access as service dogs and although a dog can be certified as a therapy dog through an organization, there are no uniform state or national rules that regulate the certification. Emotional support dogs are not considered service dogs under the ADA. They may be trained for a specific owner, but they are not trained for specific tasks or duties to aid a person with a disability. ESA owners have only limited legal rights and those typically require a letter of diagnosis from a doctor or psychiatrist. They have certain access when it comes to housing but do not have unlimited access to public spaces. 2nd Chance K9 does not offer any type of task training and therefore does not train “service dogs.” The training we provide can prepare a dog to be certified as a therapy dog or be useful for emotional support animals as businesses may be more agreeable to allow access to a well-trained dog that is obviously under control of the handler.

Can I tour the facility?

Unfortunately we are unable to offer tours at this time because all of the training is done in the homes of our trainers. We love that our set up allows for our clients to be included in a home setting as an extended part of the family. We do understand the desire for a facility tour but we hope you understand why it is not something we can offer at this time and trust that we will do our best to take care of your dog as if it were our own.

Can I visit my dog during the training?

To ensure effectiveness and results, we do not allow owners to visit their dog during the training. Typically dogs associate their owners with their prior lifestyle and environment which we are trying to change and improve. Owners can represent bad habits and it makes the transformation more difficult when reunited with the owner before the training can be better reinforced. We want your dog to focus on the training and then be reintroduced to you once they are in a much better place mentally and emotionally. We will provide updates on your dogs progress on our social media so you can check in on your dog while with us. 

What is the daily schedule while the dog is in for their program?

The daily schedule depends on a variety of factors such as weather, where the dog is at in their program, the trainer’s personal schedule, and needs of each specific dog that is in for training. We make sure to take the dogs on a potty break a minimum of 3 times per day (with more opportunities built in before training sessions). We aim to go on 1-2 structured walks per day (which are typically around 30 minutes in length). We have a minimum of one active session per day where dogs are learning new commands or practicing commands they have recently learned. We will also have at least one duration work session per day as well. Duration work is calmly holding command for a duration of time while we focus on other aspects of life, such as eating a meal, watching tv, cleaning the house, etc. Duration work can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. We may interchange parts of that routine based on the factors above but we aim to give each dog as much practical real world training experience as possible!

Do you offer boarding?

We do offer boarding for dogs that have gone through one of our board and train programs because they understand the routine we have and expectations for time and place. Unfortunately we cannot offer boarding to new dogs outside of one of our training programs.

Do you guarantee results?

We hope you are considering us as a training company because you have witnessed our results either first hand or through videos. We do not guarantee results because there are so many uncontrollable factors that rely on the owner, the dog, and others. But we do make sure to do everything in our power to set you up for success and provide lifetime support. We troubleshoot post training issues and offer tune up sessions as needed. We WANT you to be successful and are committed to you and the dog. Although we cannot guarantee specific results, we find that our clients are happy with the transformation their dog makes and how effective the training is. 

Do you offer sessions or consultations?

Because of our big picture approach, we focus our time on board and train programs. Specific unwanted behaviors are typically caused by a deeper issue going on. Dealing with those issues and mental struggles are more effective when immersed in an around-the-clock training setting. With a board and train program, they are learning in a neutral environment without pre-established habits or triggers. They are given the opportunity to start fresh and learn the training from scratch. It also allows the trainer, who is experienced with nuances and dog psychology to pick up on whats going on, to control every aspect of training. Although sessions may have their own unique benefit, board and trains seem to be more successful. However, we do offer tune up sessions post-training. The only consultations offered are for program placement and for pre-training advice prior to reserved programs when the trainer determines it is needed or would be helpful. 

What is the booking process?

The booking process is pretty quick and easy. We first ask that you fill out a booking form which can be found at the bottom of our website homepage or under the “contact” tab. That form will give us your contact information as well as information about your dog and what you are looking to get out of the training so we can start tailoring a program. We do require a nonrefundable $50 reservation deposit to hold a specific date but that deposit is credited towards the cost of the program at drop off. We will use the contact information from the booking form to send an invoice for that deposit via email. Once the deposit is paid, we will have you officially reserved for the agreed upon date. Within a few weeks of that reservation, we will send you an email that contains the training agreement that needs to be signed (via docusign) as well as all of the drop off information. As the drop off date approaches, we will be in touch to schedule that exact drop of day and time.

What is Canine Good Citizen?

The AKC Canine Good Citizen™ (CGC) program provides a perfect framework for training and testing the training of your dog to become a polite member of society. The 10 test items on the CGC test are practical, functional behaviors that every dog should have to be welcomed in the community. 2nd Chance K9 provides training that corresponds with CGC and sets their clients up for success in the evaluation. This certification can be so useful when wanting to include your dog in life adventures or progressing to become a working member of society (such as a therapy dog). Our training company is happy to offer the Canine Good Citizen evaluations as a follow up service for our clients and discuss how the certification can utilized for your pup and lifestyle!

What happens if my dog gets sick during the training?

We, of course, take as much precaution as possible to avoid illness while in our care. However, being in a new environment and new routine for an extended period can be stressful to some dogs which can occasionally trigger mild stress induced health concerns. We work with the dog numerous times throughout the day and keep a close eye on potential symptoms or signs of illness. If by chance a dog does get sick while in our care, we immediately contact the owner to make them aware of our concerns. At that time, we are happy to handle the situation in whatever way the owner prefers (whether that is an early pick up, the owner taking the dog to their vet, or the trainer taking the dog to the owner’s vet or trainer’s vet). If after multiple varied attempts to contact the owner we are still unable to reach them, then the team as a whole will make a decision on course of action until the owner can be reached. 2nd Chance K9 will do everything in their power to avoid potential illness and help get your dog back on the mend if something does unfortunately occur.

Why is advanced booking so important?

We are very particular about ensuring we can devote the needed attention and time to each individual dog that comes in for boarding. Because of this importance, we only take in a limited number of clients at a time. To be sure you are able to book training for your dog when suitable for your schedule, we recommend booking with us as early as possible.