top of page
PRIVATE LESSONS
Ruff Edges
Behavioral modification for the dogs the other programs are not built for. Reactivity, aggression, shyness and fearfulness, and separation anxiety.
OWNER AND TRAINER
Behavioral modification
FORMAT
4 private lessons
Each 1 hour long
AGE
Any age
PRICE
1,050
Is this the right program?
Does your dog bark, lunge, or act aggressively towards other dogs or people? Does your dog become so frightened that he just freezes in place? Does your dog panic when you leave the house? If your dog has these or any other major issues, Ruff Edges is the right fit.
This program is not obedience with extra steps. It focuses on behavioral modification and on changing the relationship you have with your dog, which is what has to shift before commands mean anything.
You are not the first person to walk in here with a dog like this, and nobody at Ryker is going to make you feel bad about it. Tell us exactly what happened on the questionnaire, including any bite history. The more direct you are, the better the plan we build.
Yes, if your dog
-
Is reactive or aggressive towards humans, dogs, or both
-
Barks, lunges, or growls on leash
-
Is fearful, shy, or freezes in place
-
Has separation anxiety
-
Has specific fears or phobias
-
Is under socialized
-
Has bitten or nipped a person or another dog
Not this one, if your dog
-
Is friendly but untrained. Go to Every Day Manners
-
Just pulls, jumps, and ignores you. Go to Every Day Manners
-
Is a puppy still in the socialization window. Go to puppy classes
-
Needs faster, deeper intervention. Look at the Behavioral Board & Train
What we work on
Reactivity and aggression
Towards people, towards dogs, or both. On leash and off.
Fear reactivity
The dog whose first answer to anything new is to bark or bolt.
Shyness and fearfulness
Building confidence in a dog that shuts down instead of acting out.
Separation anxiety
The panic that starts the moment you pick up your keys.
Fears and phobias
Specific triggers, from the vacuum to the vet's front door.
Under socialization
The dog who missed the window and never learned how to read others.
Your handling
What you do at the end of the leash is half of what your dog is reacting to.
The right tool
Chosen for your dog, with the proper use taught rather than assumed.
What's included
Format
4 one-hour private lessons at Ryker Dog Training, scheduled with your trainer. Each lesson is 1 hour long.
Price
$1,050
Age
Any age. Puppies under 6 months usually start with puppy classes instead.
Who attends
You and your dog. Handling is a large part of what gets corrected.
Method
Balanced training. The most effective tool for your dog, with proper use taught, so misinformation stops driving your decisions.
How the program runs
01
Complete the Training Questionnaire
This one matters more than usual. Describe the behavior, the triggers, how long it has been happening, and any bite history. A trainer reads it before you spend a dollar.
03
Four private lessons
One on one at our facility, working your dog and coaching your handling. No group class, no other clients' dogs in the mix.
02
A trainer confirms the fit
Some cases are better served by the Behavioral Board & Train. We will tell you if that is you rather than sell you the cheaper option.
04
You keep the work going
Behavior changes through repetition in daily life, not on a training floor once a week. The habits you build between lessons are the program.
Not sure between programs?
YOU DO THE WORK
Every Day Manners
Four basic lessons covering basic obedience and the manners that make a dog easy to live with.
$795
WE DO THE WORK
Day Training
Your dog trains with us during the workday. Puppy, teen, 20 day and 30 day packages.
$995 - $2,150
FASTEST
Board & Train
Your dog lives with a trainer. One week puppy, two week home manners, two week family dog, or the behavioral program.
$1,905 - $3,945
Questions
My dog has already bitten someone. Is it too late?
No, and it is exactly why this program exists. Put the full circumstances on the questionnaire, including who was bitten and what led up to it. A trainer will tell you honestly whether four private lessons is the right starting point or whether the Behavioral Board & Train is a better fit. Dogs with a bite history will be required to be muzzle conditioned prior to beginning training. We will provide resources to help you select the appropriate muzzle and instructions on how to properly introduce and condition your dog to wearing it.
What training tools will you use on my dog?
Whatever is most effective for your dog. That could be food, a slip lead, a prong collar, an e-collar, or something else. We will show you how each one works and why we chose it. Educating owners on proper use is how we cut through the misinformation around these tools.
Do I have to be there, or can you fix him for me?
You need to be there. A large part of what we correct is what is happening at your end of the leash. If your schedule genuinely will not allow it, the Behavioral Board & Train is the program where your dog lives with a trainer instead.
What if four lessons is not enough?
Serious behavior cases vary widely, and your trainer will be straight with you about where your dog is at the end of the program and what comes next. Progress depends heavily on how consistent you are between sessions.
Can my reactive dog join a group class or daycare instead?
No. Group classes at Ryker are puppy classes only, and daycare is offered exclusively to dogs who have already completed an eligible training program with us. Reactive and aggressive dogs work privately.
What if I need to cancel a lesson?
Give us at least 24 hours notice. A cancellation with less than 24 hours notice, or a no-show at your scheduled time, forfeits that lesson.
Cancellation policy
We work very hard to meet the needs of our client's busy schedules. Should you need to cancel your lesson, please do so with at least 24 hours notice. A cancellation notice less than 24 hours, or a no-show on your scheduled day and time, will result in the forfeit of that lesson.
bottom of page