Frequently Asked Questions

We have a Puppy Power course dedicated specifically for 8-16 weeks old puppies. All puppies have a "Critical Period of Socialization", a window of time between 8 and approximately 16 to 18 weeks. 

We all want to navigate away from anything unpleasant and in addition we don’t want to see our dogs experience difficulty in life. I know the sooner your dog is better emotionally, the happier and healthier he’ll be and that is my goal for you,..to move you along in progress and see your dog emerge with a new perspective and thrive. Considering the length of time your dog has been rehearsing the behavior is potentially a factor and of course every dog and person is different. However, most people report that even after the first session they witness improvement in their dog’s behavior, after which improvement becomes exponentially faster.

People are very satisfied with the freedom and flexibility to set their pace; to schedule as few or as many sessions as often or as seldom as they feel comfortable, with the frequency that resonates with them and their dog’s pace. In the end, at the quick rate that dogs learn with our protocols, as well as the reasonable tuition, there is no monetary benefit in a package. 

Does Half Moon Bay Canine Training offer board and train? The short answer is, we do not; dogs are complex and the primary reason is, your dog would not understand that he is in a temporary situation and consequently would experience the same stress and anxiety as if you had just re-homed him. Imagine how his emotions are going to interfere with anything much more than trying to find you or make sense of what just happened. Then add the additional stress of a stranger trying to interact with and have your dog respond to and learn behaviors. As well, in this scenario you would not witness and learn so many nuances of how dogs learn which is paramount,….you need to know how to operate your equipment or play your instrument! Dogs learn better and retain more when they are happy and relaxed and with their people. After a training session your dog will leave with a smile on his face, a new learned behavior and want to return for more!!

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Positive reinforcement training is a training method that involves rewarding desirable behavior with treats, affection, or other positive reinforcements. This encourages the dog to repeat the behavior in the future.

Statement by Karen Overall M.A., V.M.D., PhD, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behavior

author of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals

Use of Shock Collars-Tue Dec 6, 2005

There is never any reason for pets to be shocked as a part of therapy or treatment…There is now terrific scientific and research data that shows the harm that shock collars can do behaviorally. There is no longer a reason for people to remain misinformed. Let me make my opinion perfectly clear: Shock is not training - in the vast majority of cases it meets the criteria for abuse. In my patient population, dogs who have been ‘treated’ with shock have a much higher risk of an undesirable outcome (e.g., euthanasia) than dogs not subjected to shock, and I never recommend euthanasia. In all situations where shock has been used there is some damage done, even if we cannot easily see it. No pet owner needs to use this technique to achieve their goal. Dogs who cease to exhibit a problem behavior usually also cease to exhibit normal behaviors. The only data available support the idea that shock is neither an effective nor suitable training tool.

That said, it’s time we replaced everyone’s personal mythologies and opinions with data and scientific thinking. Such opportunities are now available, but are often not exploited.