1 on 1 Private Training Lessons
The most dog-specific, custom-tailored training available
Training isn’t about tricks & what your dog can do when you have a treat in my hand, it’s a lifestyle. To cater to the psychological & physical needs of your dog (and most likely the sanity of yourself / home), training is an absolute must.
Through these training lessons, my goal is to focus on creating a calm state of mind for your dog. All lessons are catered specifically to your dog and the behaviors that aren’t serving the overall household’s lifestyle & happiness (jumping, door darting, etc.) and as well as strengthening the behaviors that do (recall, loose leash walking, etc.).
FAQs About Private Lessons
Once You’ve Read All FAQs:
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Do The 1 on 1 Training Lessons Take Place?
In your home. The easiest way to show you (the dog owner) how to best work, train, and hold your dog accountable is in his or her own space.
How Long Are the 1 on 1 Training Sessions?
The 1 on 1 private, training lessons are 1 hour long.
Who Needs to Be There?
In this day and age, I know it’s hard to get everyone’s schedules to align, so I have worked with anywhere from 1 person to the whole family (children included). In order for you to get the most out of training, you want to make sure that the information learned during our lessons together is shared with the rest of your friends and family. Consistency is key in working with dogs!
What Days of the Week Can I Book Lessons?
I train Monday – Thursday. I do not have availability for training Friday – Sunday.
Time of day is based around your availability. I ask for your availability on the “Booking Form” at the bottom of this service page so I know where could work best for both of our schedules.
NOTE: Training lessons are generally booked with 15-30 minutes of wiggle room. This is to account for the transportation nature of my services (accidents, road closures, following a GPS, distance from the training lesson previous, inclement weather, etc.) as well as any overflow of time in the previous lesson / service I provided.
What Age Should My Dog Be To Start Training?
I have worked with hundreds of dogs from puppyhood to adulthood. The curriculum may be different depending on where your dog is in their development and your age-specific issues, but the goal is the same: a calm state of mind!
What if I Have More than 1 Dog Who Needs Training, How Does That Work?
When it comes to training dogs within a multi-dog household, you always want to train them individually before you start working them together.
For example, if you want both dogs to walk nicely on leash together, you start by teaching each dog the correct way to walk on leash first.
This might mean that when I am training one, I ask you to have the other crated, in a separate room, etc. so we can focus on teaching new behaviors with lower distractions to raise their rate of success.
How Does the Price Change if You Help Me With More Than 1 Dog?
Multiple dogs does not affect the price of training. My rate is based on the amount of time I am in your home (1 hour), not based on how many dogs we are working with.
That being said, since you are splitting that hour to accommodate both dog’s training needs, you may end up desiring more lessons to make sure all dogs are retaining the new knowledge.
What Issues Do You Work With / On?
Any and all things related to the lifestyle of you / you dog except aggression & resource guarding. All components listed below:
How Will I Know if You Can Help Me With My Dog’s Specific Issues?
I ask very specific questions on my booking form that collects the information needed to know if I would be the right trainer for you.
If when I reach out, I am offering a time slot for a lesson, that means that after reading your booking form, I know I can help you & your dog in your goals & I am ready to get started as soon as you are.
Do You Do Free Consultations?
I do not.
There would be so much valuable information (even in a free consultation) that you may be able to leave just that one meeting with a wonderful list of actionable tips and may not even need to transition to a payable service.
For this reason, I ask dog owners to follow my Instagram @Handfulofleashes to get an authentic, day-to-day view of my business and see if I would be a good trainer for you & your dog.
If the answer if “yes,” then you would fill out the booking form, specify if you are only doing 1 Lesson or a Package and we would get started right from there based on the information provided in the form!
I Can’t Find Your Phone Number Anywhere?
Yes, you won’t be able to find my phone number anywhere on my site.
I run my business differently than most of the surrounding dog trainers. They don’t put as much information on their site and ask you to call to get what you need (questions of how their program works, pricing, etc.).
I, on the other hand, want to serve (not sell), so my time is spent helping the owners who are ready to move forward (instead of persuading the owners who aren’t just yet).
Can We Have a Phone Call to Get Specific Questions Answered by You?
I do not do phone calls to answer questions.
You may have noticed this by now, but my website is very thorough and upfront with pricing, serviceable ranges, and FAQs. I do this for 2 reasons:
- To save me time as a business owner (which keeps me from burning out from constant phone calls / messages so I can focus on giving my committed dog owners my best)
- To start off our working relationship together open and honest right away
What if it’s a Requirement for Me to be Able to Talk to My Trainer Before Training?
If a phone call is a requirement for you to commit to your trainer, most of the dog trainers in this area require a call to get your information (at which point they will then share their pricing models). They would be a better option, as they already have phone calls built into their business model.
I do offer virtual training lessons via Instagram. If you wanted to talk to me at a lower price point virtually before investing in private, in-homes, that is an option as well.
Please only fill out my booking form if you are ready to start training with me.
What Results Can I Expect to Get from Training?
Instead of telling you, let me show you through watching a few of my previous training clients start to finish.
Let me give you some background details on why these owners reached out to see if any of their journeys may parallel yours & your dogs:
- Piper – Jumping / peeing when excited, counter surfing and trying to steal owner’s food, loose leash training, off leash training, general anxiety, at-home grooming
- Mila – Treadmill training, prey drive towards things like squirrels, bunnies, or birds, impulse control when 2 doggy brothers are playing with bones / toys, leash reactivity
- Sadie – Adopted at 7 months old, working on coexistence with older dog, have an “off” switch, total off leash freedom and reliability
- Indie – Crate training, airport / airplane travel manners between California, Philadelphia, & New York, place work, loose leash walking and calm in high distraction areas
Click on any of these Highlights on my Instagram to Watch Their Transformations:
How Quickly Will I Get Results From Our Training?
I am not a “Quick Fix” trainer. When you “Fix” one isolated problem without looking at the stem of that behavior, another issue will pop up in it’s place. This is what I call “Training Whack-A-Mole.”
Instead, I focus on building up / teaching them preferred behaviors (instead of just saying “No” to undesirable behaviors right away). When your dog knows what the expectations are, they are much more likely to resort to those behaviors instead of what they choose when we leave them to their own devices.
This is a fair and clear way to build an enjoyable lifestyle with your dog upon completing training and long after with your continued accountability.
Do You Bring Your Own Dog or Another Dog to My Lesson if We Need a Distraction for the Training?
I do not (my dog prefers resting on the floor in our home over working – don’t we all?). When working on issues that lend themselves to distractions, we will “use” whatever is in the environment around your home (such as dogs walking on the opposite sidewalk).
Is My Home Within Your Serviceable Range?
I will do training lessons in owner’s homes up to 30 minutes away from my own.
To know if I’m in your serviceable range before moving foreword with booking, type the address below into your maps app.
Central Bucks South High School
1100 Folly Rd, Warrington PA, 18976
If your home is over 30 minutes away from CB South, you are unfortunately out of my serviceable range.
What If I Found Out That I Am Outside of Your Serviceable Range? What Now?
Although I can’t accommodate “Private, In-Home Training” if you are outside of my range, I can still do training with you via my “Virtual Training Lessons” option. This option is both cheaper and able to be done no matter where you are located in the world.
More information on this service below:
If you were set on doing in-person training, my best advice would be to go to Facebook and post in your town’s community group asking for your neighbors recommendation for a trainer. Because you will be posting it in your town’s specific group, you are more likely to get a recommendation that is located closer to your home.
Would You Allow Me to “Gift” Your Training to a Loved One?
Although I know your heart is in the right place, I do not allow my training to be “gifted.”
My training packages’ success is based on the consistency and trust I get from the dog owners I work with. Because of this, I want the owners who hire me to be “All-In” and ready to do the work. This won’t always be the case when someone receives free training for an issue that isn’t bothering them as much as it is bothering the person who gifted the lessons.
I have had owners ask their significant other for my training as their Christmas gift. They simply asked their partner “Would you pay for lessons with Heather from Handful of Leashes as my gift?” In this case, the dog owner is asking for my services as a gift and is already on-board with training before being “gifted” it. This is the only situation where I will do training as a “gift.”
Thank you for understanding.
What Are the Options for Training?
My format of dog training is private, in-home lessons. If that is the service you are looking to use, your options are to either do a one-off lesson or a package of lessons.
How Do Your “Packages” Work?
My packages are where the magic happens.
They keep you accountable to your training (since I will be coming to your home once a week) & introduce the course work in a slow, trickle method that allows maximum absorption of information & highest degree of success.
Do You Have Different Types of Packages?
Yes, I have 3 packages that I offer.
Package 1:
Puppy Stuff / Basic Obedience
Can Start at 8 Weeks+
- Sit
- Down
- Drop it
- Leave it
- Recall Basics
- Puppy Biting
- Crate Training
- House Training
- Chewing Issues
- Feeding Manners
Package 2:
Loose Leash Training (and Reactivity)
Can Start at 6-7 Months+
The package that pairs the loose leash walk with state of mind training to teach your dog to walk by your side (instead of choking themselves out).
Package 3:
E-Collar Training (And Off Leash Freedom)
Can Start at 6-7 Months+ AND After Loose Leash Training
This package is the only package that has a prerequisite in order to be taught. I do this to ensure the owners I work with are willing to do the foundational work / get their dog to a calm state of mind first instead of just throwing a tool on their dog & reprimanding.
What If I Don’t Know Which Package I Want?
You don’t need to know :)
All you need to know is if you want to do a package or not. In my booking form, I ask if you would like one lesson or a package of lessons.
Then, further down, I ask “What issues are you experiencing?” and “What are you goals?”
Based on these answers, I know what the best package is & we move forward with training together.
How Are the Packages Structured?
The First Lesson
The first lesson in each of my packages is focused on getting you in the right mindset, setting you up with the right tools, and teaching you the “why” behind the behaviors your dog is currently presenting. Your “homework” after this first session is very minimal (but very important) for changing your habits and keeping your dog from becoming “Training-Wise” (where they only listen to you when training).
Because of this, the first lesson of each package is not about “training your dog,” it’s about training you. I like to set that expectation up front so that you aren’t leaving the first lesson thinking “So when do we train my dog?” This is by design and is imperative to you and your dog’s success.
Each Lesson There After
From the second lesson on, we hit the ground running with each lesson having its own curriculum. You will have homework each night of the week to solidify the learned behavior from that lesson before we will add on the following week.
Should I Do 1 Lesson or a Package?
I offer the option to do 1 lesson for two reasons:
- To get a feel for if you would like to commit to a package after working with me & getting a feel for my energy
- Note: If you choose to move forward with a package, you would pay for the “One Lesson” that day & start a package the next time we scheduled to train.
- To get insight on the issue(s) you are dealing with and get actionable steps to work towards your goal without as much accountability from me
Note: The dogs / results in the pictures below were from clients who chose the package option.
What If I Choose 1 Lesson on the Booking Form, But Then Change my Mind & Want to Buy a Package the Day of My Lesson?
Two things I want to share to manage expectations up front:
Managing Purchasing Expectations
If you decide you would like to move forward with a package after your “One Lesson,” the package wouldn’t start the day we did the “One Lesson.” My packages have a “curriculum” and using your “One Lesson” towards it would cut into the lesson’s curriculum that starts once the owner commits to a package. This is especially important for the “Loose Leash Training” and “E-Collar Training” since these have lesson-by-lesson teachings and homework.
So it would either be:
- Buy “One Lesson,” then start a package next
- Start a package right away
I’ve had plenty of owners who buy the one lesson and then decide they would like to start a package next. It is no problem to do so. This isn’t to deter owners from doing one lesson first. It is to make sure you know the options thoroughly before deciding what works best for you :)
Summary: There is not an option to do 1 lesson and then clump that into a package if you decide to do a package by the end of your lesson.
Managing Scheduling Expectations
I plan my weekly scheduling around how many lessons I am expected to be doing with each client. If you were to say you only wanted 1 lesson on the contact form, once we have scheduled that lesson I don’t take your dog into consideration when I am booking the week following your lesson.
Because of this, if I already booked the week following your original 1 lesson before you decided to move into a package it may be 2 weeks before I can get you back on my schedule.
I am happy to get you back on the schedule if this were to be the case but I wanted to share this to help manage expectations around how scheduling works.
How Do I Pay You?
I take cash, check, or Venmo.
As a business owner, it was imperative that I created a business Venmo to keep business and personal transactions separate. The downside to this is there is a transaction fee to have this separation.
For this reason, if you choose to use Venmo as your form of payment, there is an additional charge:
For every $100 spent, there is a $2 charge to cover fees.
| Total Price of Service(s) | Additional Cost |
| $1 – $99 | + $2 |
| $100 – $199 | + $4 |
| $200 – $299 | + $6 |
| And so on… | — |
When Do I Pay You?
Before the start of service / day of the service.
If you are paying with cash or check, I love for dog owners to have it ready for when I come for the private in-home.
If you are paying with Venmo, I love for dog owners to Venmo me before the private in-home(s).
Where Can I Find More Information About Your Business As a Whole?
On my “About” page.
Here you will find my motivation to grow Handful of Leashes, my mission statement, the start of the business in 2014, my education, seminars and expos I have attended, and a timeline of when I added each service to my business.
Can You Give Me References?
I do not offer references for the reason stated below.
When a hiring manager asks a potential new employee for references, the person on the other end of the phone would be a business.
When a potential client asks for references, the person on the other end of the phone would be a person, answering questions in the free time, about a personal expense.
I really value my dog owners free time (heck, I made a business around doing so 😊). For this reason, I do not offer my current clients as references to potential clients.
If you were looking to see what others had to say about my business, below is an auto-updated Google review widget. But you can also find other reviews through my Facebook page “Handful of Leashes” if you click here.
Testimonials
From the moment she walked through my door, my dog behaved better than I believed she could. With body language alone, Heather brought out the best in my dog. I was so impressed by the progress made with just an hour spent together.
Heather is also an incredible business owner who makes you feel respected and taken care of. I am so grateful to how she extended herself to my dog and I.
From the very first lesson, not only did Heather show us what to do, but also explained why it works. She is beyond patient, and very positive. We have seen incredible improvement and couldn’t recommend Heather more! She really understands the mind of a dog and does a great job explaining it and making it make sense.
She is VERY knowledgeable and kind. We have two big dogs that were very reactive during walks, thanks to her we can now go for walks with no issues, communicate with them the right way, and meet their exercise needs without stress.
Her service and communication with the owners is also AMAZING, she is very accommodating and easy to talk to
I would recommend her in a heartbeat!!! You won’t regret it
We were first time puppy parents, so we didn’t know what to expect with the puppy. Heather was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. She helped us navigate through the first few weeks by helping us connect with our newest member of the family. Heather was so patient and asked what we wanted to focus on in the beginning of each session, which was great.
With the 5-week package, we learned how to stop the pup from jumping up on us, reduce on the biting, climbing up/down the steps, sitting, waiting for food vs. jumping up, and crate training.
She gave us the tools we needed to continue the training.
I highly recommend Heather!
Heather – thank you for all you do!!!
One of our dogs was experiencing anxiety and through some fairly simple steps he’s calmed down so much
I’ve recommended her to friends and everyone has had a great experience with her. Thank you Heather!
We’re also looking to use Heather for boarding services in the future, as well as further training as Abigail gets older.
UPDATE:
We’ve done 2 more packages (loose leash & e-collar) with Heather and it has made such a difference. Without Heather we have no idea we’d be with this crazy pup!
We’ve also used Heather for boarding on a couple of occasions, and Abigail comes home (although probably would rather stay) so fulfilled. We also get regular updates via social media which is awesome. Very much trust Heather to take care of our girl!
I was nervous when it came time for our first training lesson, but Heather put me at ease. She is the best! All questions are answered in a way that is relatable and shows you the big picture. Even now that we are done with our training packages, she is there with all the tips and tricks.
There are so many things I learned throughout our lessons that I never would have thought were related. One example that sticks out is how crate training improves confidence and problematic behaviors. Before we started training with Heather, Ranger was not crate trained. He behaved well enough outside of the crate that I didn’t think he needed it. Now, I don’t think we will ever go back! Many of the issues we were dealing with were resolved shortly after introducing the crate to Ranger.
Four weeks into our training, family and friends were already commenting on the improvements to Ranger’s behavior. Now that we have adapted everything Heather taught us into our lifestyle, I only see this getting better!
Two training packages later and Ranger is confident, he is a better listener, walks are no longer stressful, we get a full night’s sleep, he eats all his food again – I could go on and on. I look forward to utilizing other services provided by Handful of Leashes in the future.
We purchased another package from Heather to work with Rex on some new issues. Her new packages are now 5 lessons instead of 4. By the 5th lesson we had nothing to work on because Rex was already ecollar trained and doing great. Rex is still the best listening dog we have (out of all 4). He knows his basic manners (from our first package) but since having a baby in February, he became very over protective. He came close to nipping one of our friends and that is when we decided we really needed to do something about it. Heather came over the following week and started training Rex. She taught my husband and I how to use the ecollar and within 2 weeks, he was a completely different dog. He no longer charges at people barking. When I call him, I no longer need to push his ecollar button, he automatically comes running to my side and sits. We really appreciate everything Heather has taught us. If it wasn't for her, something serious could have happened and we might not have been able to keep Rex. She is very knowledgeable, passionate and amazing at what she does. We will be moving soon and if any issues arise getting our 4 dogs adjusted to their new home, we will definitely call Heather again.
September 2022: I can't recommend Heather enough! We have 4 dogs, our newest one being a 1 year old German Shepherd rescue. We wanted to train him on basic manners, especially having a baby on the way. We purchased a pack of 4 training lessons and the difference from the first lesson to the last was HUGE. He learned basic commands like come, sit, stay, place, heel, etc. She taught us how to work with him on his barking, cage manners and jumping. It has only been about 2 months and he is by far the best listener out of all 4 of our dogs. The skills and knowledge Heather taught us is something we will continue to work on and start training our other dogs on as well. SHE IS THE BEST!!!!
We’ve also used Heather for boarding services while on vacation. Murphy loved every minute!!
Heather helped us to not only devise a training plan for our pup beginning the first hour we brought her home but also prepare her to fly across the country 2.5 weeks after getting her. Heather gave us the tools to make it a successful reality. Indie crushed her first two flights in a carry bag thanks to the training (crate training, bag training, socialization, alone time, potty training, and boundaries etc.) Heather had us strictly implement from day 1.
Next, Heather began working on obedience, distractions, behavior, impulse control, resource guarding, and more boundaries over Zoom and in person. Her training was so successful we were able to fly back and forth with Indie on leash (4-6 months old) before she even began leash training because her foundation was SO strong thanks to Heather.
When Indie hit 6 months she did a lodge and learn with Heather where she began leash training. We assumed she would learn the basics since she was only with her for 10 days. However, Indie was a different dog on leash when we picked her up. It was unbelievable. Prior to this, Indie would pull and walk all over the place, tripping us constantly. In the airport on the way back to LA, I didn't have to even use her e-collar once--just light prong collar pressure to lead her in the right direction. I was actually able to have her leash loose on my arm while holding a coffee...that would have been IMPOSSIBLE 10 days prior to her stay with Heather. The airport is a crazy place with many distractions (kids, food, crowds, etc) and she didn't break a heel ONCE. I was speechless and couldn't believe the progress she made in only 10 days.
When we started working with Heather our main goal was to have a dog that we could both take anywhere but also leave home whenever we chose to...In essence, we wanted her to be trained to behave perfectly in every environment and happy to be in her crate at home, as well. Heather made that dream a reality. Indie flies across the country twice a month, comes on every vacation with us, sits through long dinners, goes grocery shopping with me, and is now playing in the park off leash at only 8 months. She holds an hour long place and walks into her crate every night when she's ready for bed.
NONE of this would be possible without Heather's training of both Indie and us! It is a lot of work outside of training sessions but it is also incredibly rewarding and has bonded us deeply. Heather's expertise has enabled us to live our lives on our schedules with Indie by our side and we couldn't be more grateful for her. If you are considering hiring Heather to train your pup, I promise it is worth every penny.
She had our puppy literally eating out of her hand! She had practical and effective strategies for us to employ to encourage desirable behaviors while discouraging those issues that we were trying to eliminate. Highly recommend having a training session with her to address your concerns!
Heather was incredibly patient with me and thoughtfully and thoroughly answered all of my questions and eased my anxiety.
Once Sadie came home we bought Heathers 4 session training package to help Sadie learn the basics of being a well kept house dog. That package led to 2 more 4 session training packages. Heather spent dozens of hours helping us to train Sadie. Without Heathers common sense approach to good dog behavior Sadie would not be the dog she is today.
We have also utilized Heathers boarding offering at her
Family farm and we could not be happier with how well our Sadie is treated while at the farm. Heather is a wonderful dog trainer and even better person. I would highly recommend her services if you want your four legged family member to be well trained.
Feb 2023 Update!! We hired Heather a second time to train us in using an e-collar. Our whole experience with Little Dipper has shifted. With Heather’s guidance Dipper is free to be his Shepherd self. He can run free and has shown excellent re-call. We are thrilled!
Not only did Heather do a great job in training our puppy but also taught us how to think as the dog sees the world in order to understand why and how dogs learn and act.
I would highly recommend Heather to anyone needing their dog trained. I will be using her in the future for additional training we may need.
Biscuits and bully sticks ❤️
Leo🐾
Is There a Place I Can Get Updates On Your Training / Business / Tips / Other Clients?
I recommend that any dog owners who use me as their dog trainer follow my business Instagram account @handfulofleashes as well as my Facebook @handfulofleashes.
On Instagram, I post tips, behind the scenes of business, and day-to-day life with your dogs (and even try and tag your Instagram so you can share their cute little faces to your story as well).
Facebook gets the same content, but it may not get posted until after I have finished the service.
Below is a feed of my most recent Instagram posts (and stories are added daily):
Once I Book, What Happens Next?
The booking form that my new clients fill out immediately gets sent to my business email. Because I try and manage a good work / life balance (which is difficult when you are so in love with your business), I try and only check my business email once a day, usually in the AM before I start my services for the day.
If you fill out the booking form over the weekend, you can expect a response early next week.
If you fill out the booking form after 5 PM, you can expect a response within 1-3 business days.
The reason it may take 1-3 days is because I first:
- Add all of the information you provide in your booking form to your contact (so you don’t have to fill out the booking form again in the future)
- Check my calendar / figure out where your service would fit into itineraries with current client’s services
Then, you’ll get a response from me in the format you checked off at the bottom of the booking form (Email, Text Message, or Instagram Message).
My response is usually as simple and straightforward as:
“Hey _____, it’s Heather from Handful of Leashes 🖐 I received your booking form & if it works for you & Fido, I have availability around 11 AM this Tuesday, October 6th of this upcoming week?
I try and get you & your pup on my calendar for training within a week of filling out a booking form. This is made possible by asking all the right questions in the booking form (distance, expectations, your availability, goals, etc.) so I can move to booking your lesson(s) seamlessly & quickly.
How Does Your Service Pricing Compare to Other Business Models?
The price of my “Private, In-Home Training Lessons” is under “Your Investment.” This FAQ is here to show the usual difference in pricing between dog training business models.
Group Classes
$100 – $400 for 5 weeks
Group structure in facilities or pet stores focusing on concepts & basic commands
0 hours of 1-on-1 with trainer
Private, In-Home Training
$750 – $1500 for 5 weeks
1-on-1 in your home, teaching you how to remedy your dog’s individual issues
5 hours of 1-on-1 time (per package)
Board and Trains
$3,900 – $4,900 for 3 weeks
Drop off your dog in a kennel or facility for trainers to alternate working with your dog
0-2 hours of 1-on-1 to transfer 3 weeks of knowledge from trainer to owner at pick-up
Your Investment
1 Hour Private In-Home Training Lesson
$295
Package of 5 Private In-Home Training Lessons
$1300
(You save $175)
I Want to Book, What’s My Next Step?
If you would like to proceed with 1 on 1 Private In Home Training, fill out the “Booking Form” below so I can receive more information about you / your dog / issues / goals. I look forward to helping you change your life through training your dog.
How Did You Come Up With Your Pricing?
A Look Back On Where I Started (And Why Things Needed to Change)
When I first started training, my sessions were $50 an hour. You might be think “That would be a dream. I’d be able to always have weekly support” but it hurt my client’s progress so much. Because it was so cheap, I would teach a full lesson (homework and all) and come back the next week to “Ahh, we didn’t do the homework, but I’m happy to just pay again for you to reteach me.” There was no skin in the game for my owners to take their “investment” seriously. Because of this, they would work with me every week for a year at a time and not much would change. It was then that I realized my pricing was actually hurting my clients.
It didn’t happen overnight, but I was able to get to a place (price-wise) where my business (and my client’s commitment) was able to give the dogs I worked with the exact type of life they deserved.
Since making this change, my clients have been getting better (and faster) results every since :)
“Session” Mindset Vs. “End Goal” Mindset
I use the example of using a therapist as an aid for understanding my pricing model. I have an amazing therapist, Stephanie, who has helped me work through SO many challenges as they arise.
Whereas, my therapist rate is $150 an hour (virtually, through zoom) with no end in sight, my “sessions” are $260 each when buying a package (in-person and in the your home) with an “end” upon finishing the package’s lessons.
The difference between my therapist’s business and mine is she is selling me her time (for as many sessions as I need / request it), whereas I am selling you an end-goal (a dog that walks nicely on leash, a dog that recalls no matter what or who is in the front yard, etc). So instead of thinking, “It costs X-amount each time I want to see my trainer,” think about the training journey as whole.
I like to think of it as investing in the ‘end goal’ as opposed to “sessions,” if that makes sense.
When You Think of Service Provider, What Do You Think of?
There are a lot of service-based businesses out there: lawn mowers, nail techs, house cleaners, etc. The difference between there service and mine is they are doing the service for you whereas I am teaching you how to do the service yourself.
I could never compare my pricing model to these type of service business because they come at a continuous frequency for as long as you request them.
Lawn mowers = Once a week, 8 months out of the year (Indefinitely)
Nail Techs = Once every 2 weeks, all year round (Indefinitely)
House Cleaners = Once every 2 weeks, all year round (Indefinitely)
In-Home Dog Trainer = Once a week for a set amount of weeks (One time)
Those other businesses could switch up there business model to be similar to mine, you just probably haven’t seen it done before.
For example, if you visited me in a nail salon for a gel manicure twice a month at $50 a visit, you would spend $1200 a year keeping your nails how you like them. What If I told you, I could come to your house once a week for 5 weeks and teach you how to do your own nails for $1200 once? If you think of it as per “session” ($240 for an hour) you might think that sounds expensive. It’s only when you switch your mindset to look at the end goal of not having to spend money on going to the nail salon anymore that you see the value in being taught.
My pricing is not based on being a service provider who just comes in and does the training for you when you are not home (that’s what board and trains are for). Mine is based on teaching you how to become a dog trainer.
“Quick Fixes” Are More Expensive in The Long Run
Here is a more dog-focused reasoning for my pricing. I had a family friend who was struggling with crate training / separation anxiety but said they couldn’t invest in training at this time.
Instead, they decided to do daycare every day of the week since they didn’t know what to do about crate training and the separation anxiety. Their reasoning was that it’s cheaper per “session” / day. They now pay $500 a month on daycare and can’t leave the house for more than 3 hours on the weekend (when daycare is closed) with their 3 year old dog. That’s $6000 a year for the foreseeable future, as opposed to a package-price once.
You Are Getting Me and All of My Expertise The Whole Time
There was a time in my business that I shared with a client that I had been planning on bringing on an employee or two because I’m getting to the point of needing to create a wait list. This client was very adamant: “No offense, if you were to bring on someone else, I would not use them. I hired you for you, and I wouldn’t trust someone else to come in my house and to give me these same results.” I took that feedback on board and raised my pricing because I was burning out in my business as a one woman show.
I Want to Be Able to Help You ASAP!
My goal is to be able to help owners the moment they need it (without compromising on results). In order for that to occur, I’ve decided to be at a price point that is higher than group classes (if someone wanted a more 1-on-1 approach), but lower than board and trains (so they are in the drivers seat to maintain the training, as opposed to leaving it solely up to the trainer). And they are able to get on the schedule within a day or two of filling out by booking form because I am not overly booked / burnt out (which is why my energy and approach can be as calm and excitable as it is).
I Don’t Know If I’m Ready to Commit, What’s My Next Step?
I can give you the tools, information, and accountability necessary to train your best friend… but ONLY if you are ready to fully commit.
If you don’t feel you are ready to do so, I totally understand and would focus on learning in the meantime. We can never do too much of that!
Feel free to follow my Instagram @handfulofleashes to receive motivation to change the relationship with your dog and learn tips for crate training, socialization, mindset, loose leash walking, etc.
I post to my stories daily to keep my current clients motivated and my dog-loving followers learning.
At the end of the day, my goal is to help dog owners give their dog the best life while they are here with us, whether I’m getting paid (via services) or not (by sharing tons of information on Instagram).
