A Word on Fees

How I Determine My Fees

Fees

Payment

Refunds, Cancellations and Make-ups Policies

How I Determine My Fees

When I started dog training, my fees were low because I did not have a lot of experience and wanted business (think about that when you are deciding on whom to choose as a trainer and why some trainers' fees are lower than others!). Now that I do have the experience, I don't need to do that. Remember that the fee you pay is not the same as the value you receive. I am not the least expensive trainer, so if you are basing your decision solely on money, I'm not the one you want. But please do continue reading.

I CAN offer you a wealth of experience and training. How does this help you? It actually saves you money in the long run. Here's how. You call me and tell me about you and your dog, and I say that it's going to take X-number of lessons. You call another trainer and he says he can do it in one lesson -- or there are unlimited lessons until the problem is taken care of. Wow, that sounds like a good deal, so you hire him. Except after the one lesson, you are not satisfied and your dog still has the same problem -- or it gets worse. (I frequently receive phone calls from people who have said that I was too expensive and have gone with another trainer -- and then they apolotize. The story is similar -- they were seduced by the other trainer's fee, but their dog's issues were not solved.)

Let's take barking as an example. If your dog has a barking issue, you need to find out the reason for barking and THEN work on the solution. So you hire a trainer who says to put a shock collar or spray collar on your dog or throws something at him when he barks. Your dog may stop barking, BUT then the problem manifests itself in other ways -- your dog now may begin self-mutilation, i.e., chewing his paw until it bleeds. Or getting sick. Or peeing and pooping in the house. Or destroying furniture. Or trying to escape. So now you have a BIGGER problem because you choose a trainer based on the fee rather than on experience -- and it now costs you a lot more money because you have vet bills or have to replace furniture.

Many trainers work with the problem you call about (barking), but that problem many times is only a SYMPTOM of the actual problem (separation anxiety). They are more interested in getting your money than giving you solutions that actually work. News flash -- there are NO quick fixes with behavior issues. However, the solutions for many behavior "problems" may be a lot easier than you think they are.

I do want to help you and your dog. I have been training and working with dogs and dog behavior problems for 16 years and am the only trainer in Los Angeles who is certified by three dog training organizations, and I go to many, many seminars to expand my knowledge about dogs, dog behavior, and training. Please take a look at my Resume to see my education and experience.

What does this mean to you? That I have a lot of tools to work with which means I can offer you multiple effective solutions for each issue rather than one -- and generally in the shortest time possible. With each seminar I go to, each book or article I read, each email group I belong to, I learn something to help you and your dog. I spend an average of two hours every day learning about dogs -- honest! I will never know it all. Any trainer that says he does is not telling you the truth. Any trainer who doesn't go to seminars or read articles or books to keep current in his field is a fool. I let you know what seminars I attend by putting them on my Website. Check out my Dog Trainer Resume.

When you call me, we will talk so we can determine what type of training will be best for you and your dog. Expect to spend about 15-30 minutes on the phone.

There are generally three areas that people call me about --

• Obedience Training (Sit, Down, Come, etc.)
• Nuisance behaviors (jumping, stealing, etc.)
• Behavior issues (housetraining or potty training, separation anxiety, fear, aggression, etc.)

Sometimes these areas overlap. Sometimes the issue you're calling about turns out to be something entirely different. I will give you my assessment of the best course of action for you and your dog. Sometimes your dog can be helped by taking a class; sometimes more is needed and we need to do at least one private lesson. If there is a behavior issue, I will probably send you one or more questionnaires to fill out before our first meeting. The questionnaires will take you 1-3 hours to fill out, and I will look them over when we meet.

But I know that you are still concerned with fees. There is a table below that gives some general fees, but for an exact fee, look underneath the navigation buttons on the left and click on your area. You will be pleasantly surprised. Then call me at 1-877-7-DOGGIE.

Fees

Private lessons - This will give you an idea of the fees. The fees listed are for our most popular private 6-hour program. We do offer more training programs than are listed here. I do travel to areas are not listed there, but we need to make special arrangements.

If you would like more information about our other programs or your area is not listed above, check under the navigation buttons on the left or call 1-877-7-DOGGIE.

Group classes

Group Obedience/manners classes in Westwood - $179

Group Puppy classes - $169

Payment

Group classes and the combination of one private lesson and group classes are prepaid.

The private programs are prepaid. However, you may pay 50% at the first session and 50% at the second session with an additional $10.00 administration fee.

Individual lessons or individual group classes (when available) are prepaid.

If you begin with the group classes and then decide to take private lesson program within 30 days of your first class, we will deduct the group fee from the private fee.

Refunds, Cancelations and Make-ups

Refunds for Classes or Combinations of One Private Session/Group Classes

Doggie Manners will refund the fee for group classes with five business days' notice before the selected start date, minus a $25 administration fee. If we are given less than five days' notice, then you will receive credit towards another group class or private training. We do not refund group training fees cancelled in less than two business days. No refund or credit is given after the first class.

If you have purchased the combination of one private lesson and the group classes, our hourly rate is already discounted. If you take the private lesson before the scheduled class start date, the refund will be calculated at the regular hourly rate for private lessons in your area. You will be refunded the difference between the hourly rate and the fee you paid minus a $25 administration fee if you notify us at least five business days before the start date for the class. If we are given less than five days' notice, then you will receive credit towards another group class or private training.

If you take the group classes first and decide not to take the private lesson, you will be refunded the difference between the class fee and the amount you paid minus a $25 administrative fee, i.e., you will be charged the class fee for five classes plus $25 and receive a refund on the balance.

Make-up Policy

The classes are continuous classes, meaning you may join any week. For the group dog Obedience classes, you have 12 weeks to complete five classes. If you miss a class in the Puppy Kindergarten series, make-up classes are usually okay at my discretion.

Refunds for Private Sessions

During our phone conversation, I outline the program and payment options. At our first lesson, I verify with you what program and payment option you choose, and there will be a written agreement which we both sign. The agreement states that there are no refunds.

Canceling a Private Session

With the six-hour program, you may have two cancellations after the first session. Any cancellation must be 48 hours in advance. If the cancellation is less than 48 hours or if there are more than two cancellations, that lesson is forfeitted. We discuss cancellations with the other programs at the time of signing the agreement.