Maricopa Dog
Training

Unleash your dog's potential! Call us today!
(520)252-2185

"He is your friend, your partner,
Your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader.
He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."
--Unknown


Thank you for your interest in Maricopa Dog Training! We specialize in Obedience, but also offer Trick Training and the prevention/resolution of certain behavioral issues. At this time, we do not work with aggressive dogs, this includes aggression toward humans or other animals.

We are located in the city of Maricopa. We offer training through private lessons that are held in the client's home and other locations, such as dog parks, pet stores and other dog-friendly places.

A well-behaved dog is such a pleasure to have around! Unfortunately, dogs are not born knowing what we want from them or how we want them to behave. So, without training, dogs will be dogs...they will pee on your carpet, jump on you and your guests, make chew toys of your favorite shoes and run in the opposite direction as you chase them down the street yelling "Come here! Bad dog!". But it doesn't have to be that way. Dogs inherently want to please us. Once you've given them some basic training, your dog will be happier, more relaxed and more confident and you will enjoy him so much more!

There are differing opinions concerning what method is best for dog training. The training method we use is called Positive Reinforcement, which basically means a reward is used to teach obedience commands or desired behaviors. A reward can be anything your dog enjoys, including food and treats, praise, playtime and toys. The reward used most often, especially in the beginning of training, is food or treats, simply because most dogs are very food-motivated. Along with the reward, we also let the dog know when they've done something correctly by "marking" their behavior with either a verbal response
such as "Yes!", or by using a clicker. Your choice.

Although we never use e-collars in any of our training classes, they can be appropriate in certain situations. It ultimately depends on the goal of the training. If you're trying to resolve an issue that is putting your dog or a family member in danger and you need results fast, an e-collar might be an appropriate option. But for obedience, tricks and most behaviors, we've found they are best taught with a gentle hand. So, we don't use shock collars (e-collars), prong collars, or choke chains. Any "hands on" during our training is always gentle and used only to guide a dog into position or to assist him in performing a particular action. There is no yelling, pushing, or pulling and we will never use physical punishment of any kind. A reward makes dogs more likely to repeat a command or behavior, so positive reinforcement is one of your most powerful tools for shaping or changing your dog's behavior.

Our methods are proven, reliable and guaranteed. But since our classes are normally just 4 or 5 weeks long, you and your dog should continue practicing once you've completed your course, for the best results. Your dog will have an excellent foundation by the end of a course but may not be "polished" in all commands and behaviors. The more you work with your dog, the better behaved he will become. Training should be a lifetime endeavor. Besides the obvious advantages of training, there is also a great deal of bonding that is achieved, between you and your dog, in the process.

If you have questions or would like more information, give us a call, or if you prefer, send an email and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

God bless you and your furry friend(s)!

Robin Faller
Owner/Trainer
Maricopa Dog Training



BEGINNER OBEDIENCE

Ages 6 months and up This course is 5 weeks long $475

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KINDER-PUPS

For puppies 8 weeks to 5 months This course is 4 weeks long $375

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DAY TRAINING

Let us train your dog for you! Available in Maricopa only. $1500

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INDIVIDUAL LESSONS

Any age/Any breed Each lesson is approx. one hour. $99

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TRICK CLASSES

Ages 6 months and older Each Trick Course is 3 weeks long $250

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VIDEO CONSULTATION

All ages & breeds Each session is approx. 30 minutes $35

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Why are your prices so much lower than other local dog trainers?

There are a few reasons why our prices are so much lower than our competitors:

For one, we have very little overhead. Many trainers have facilities so they can offer "Board and Train" programs, group classes and other services. Right now, we are only offering private lessons in the client's home so we don't have a costly facility or any of the bills that go along with having a facility. We also don't have a lot of employees to pay and insure.

The second (and most important) reason is that we believe basic dog obedience should be accessible to everyone. One of the biggest reasons dogs are surrendered to shelters or abandoned is because the owners "couldn't handle them". Most of these difficult-to-manage behaviors can be resolved or prevented by taking just one 5-week obedience course. We firmly believe we are helping both dogs and their humans enjoy a happier life together.

Don't think that because our prices are low, the quality of our training is low too. Far from it! I trained my first dog when I was just 14 years old. I now have over 30 years of experience working with dogs and other animals. I was a trainer for PetSmart and Petco. I'd say I've trained approximately 2,000 dogs during my career. Our results are guaranteed. If there is a command your dog doesn't learn by the end of the course, we will continue to work with both of you until they learn it, at no extra cost to you.

If I use treats to train my dog, will I always have to carry treats with me to get my dog to obey commands?

No, you won't have to carry treats around forever.  Most dogs are food-motivated, so treats are an excellent reward to give while training. As your dog learns the commands, the treats can be substituted with praise, playtime or anything that your dog enjoys. I do, however, recommend that you don't get rid of treats altogether. Even when your dog knows all of the commands and performs them perfectly, you should still reward them with a treat now and then to keep them motivated.

What items will I need for my dog's first class?

You will need treats that your dog really likes, preferably soft ones, but if your dog prefers hard treats or even kibble, that's ok. I recommend small, soft treats because they're easy to break or cut into even smaller pieces.  In the beginning of the course, we will be giving your dog quite a few treats so we want them as small as possible to prevent digestive upset or unwanted weight gain.

You will also need a collar or harness, whichever you prefer. But please, no shock or prong collars and no choke chains.  Also, no corrective harnesses. Just a plain old vinyl or leather collar would be great. You'll also need a 6' leash.  And that's about it!

I see you're located in the city of Maricopa. What other cities do you serve?

We will travel up to 25 miles (one-way) at no extra charge.  If you live further away, there will be a fee of $1 per mile, per class on anything over 50 miles (round-trip).  So, if you live 35 miles away (70 miles round-trip) there will be a $20 fee for each class added to the cost of the course. 

We don't normally take jobs that are more than 50 miles away, but we have been known to make exceptions.  Call or email us with the details and we'll let you know if we can help.

Will there be homework?

Yes, there's a little homework.  Each week, at the end of class, you'll receive hand-outs for the commands learned that day.  These hand-outs will tell you step-by-step how to perform the commands.  You should work with your dog at least twice daily, but you don't need to spend a lot of time on this.  Ten to fifteen minutes for each session is sufficient.  Of course, the more you work with your dog, the faster they will learn.  Training sessions are also great for bonding. Your dog will look forward to training time and so will you!
  • Maricopa, Arizona 85138
  • Serving Maricopa and surrounding areas. Call for details.