What to Expect

You really can train your dog in one day, and Steve Miles will show you how. This training will bond you and your dog closer than you could ever imagine. 

There are four dog training "no's":

NO pain
NO punishment
NO negotiating
NO overpowering

Instead, correction and praise are the keys to good dog training. It only takes five repetitionsfor a dog to learn any one thing if you communicate with him properly, which is why Steve can show you how to train your dog in a single afternoon. 

We’re not training a dog to do anything it doesn’t’ already know how to do we are just teaching you to communicate with your dog. It takes longer to train the owner than it does to train dog.  

 During your class, your dog will be trained in the five basic commands. After this is accomplished, Steve can address any specific problems you have. The commands are:

• Collection — Get your dog's attention. You can't train him if he's not paying attention! Your dog walks at your side with no tension on the leash. If you turn toward him, you do not bump into him because he turns with you. Why? Because he's paying attention to you.

• Sit

• Down

• Doorway behavior — You leave your dog somewhere, indicate he is not to cross the threshold or other barrier, and he stays on the correct side of the "doorway "while you are gone (examples of doorway situations: stay outside a store while you're inside, stay out of the dining room while you're eating dinner, stop on command before crossing streets)

• Recall — Your dog comes to you when you call him

When you schedule a class, reserve four hours and plan to be there the whole time. Steve will come to your home to work with you. We'll be training your dog but more importantly, we'll be training you to train your dog. 

Steve spends the first 30 minutes or so talking to you about his approach and discussing your specific issues with your dog. He will then go through the basic commands with you and your dog. At the end of the session he can address any specific issues you have. The sessions usually last about 3 hours but you should allow 4 hours to make sure you have plenty of time. 

You Will Need The Following Equipment

The only two pieces of equipment you need for the training is a Herm Sprenger prong training collar and a 6-foot leather leash. You can purchase these in advance or from Steve the day of the training. Don’t buy a cheaper knock-off of the Sprenger collar. The prongs are too sharp and bend and should not be used for the training. Please talk to Steve if you want more guidance on product selection:

• Herm Sprenger prong collar

• 6 foot leather leash

If you’d like more information regarding the use of prong collars, please read this article:

“Prong Collars Are Lifesaving And Humane Training Tools”, by Jeff Gellman/Owner of Solid K9 Training and Training Coordinator

Basic Training
What can you expect by the end of the session? Your dog will respond to these five basic commands when you issue them, without correction! 

Problem Behaviors
If your dog is aggressive, digging, biting, jumping, barking, urinating, defacating in protest, chewing, pulling, running away or lying down on his leash, Steve will teach you how to correct your dog and over time, with consistency, will resolve the issue.

“You will get out of the training what you put into it. I will give you the skills to take over as the dog trainer but it’s up to you to continue working with your dog.” - Steve Miles

Follow-Up
In the weeks after the class, you will spend a minimum of five minutes each day apply the training methods you learned to reinforce your dog's training. It's important that you continue to follow up with training your dog to get the best results.

Of course, you are welcome to call as often as you like, but Steve will make two follow-up telephone calls to check in with you and discuss any questions that might have come up in your training. Although few people feel the need for it, one follow-up visit to address unresolved issues is also part of the regular One Day Dog package. Click here to read more about Follow-ups on our FAQs page.