Frequently Asked Questions

You can send vaccination records to info@thecooperativecanine.com , upload them to your customer portal account, or have them with you at the time of your appointment.  

We require up-to-date vaccinations for all our clients to prevent transfer of diseases between homes. 

We require proof of up-to-date Rabies, DHLLP, and Bordetella. You can have them with you, upload them to your customer portal account, or email them to info@thecooperativecanine.com. We also accept titers. 

TCC uses email and texts as our main forms of communication. Please make sure you are set up to receive our emails. You will receive emails and texts about upcoming appointments, reservations, and other announcements.  

For any services which require us to access your house while you're not there, we require the use of a mechanical lockbox. We can provide you with one for a one-time fee of $20 (you will keep the lockbox). If you already have a lockbox or prefer to buy your own, our only requirement is that it be mechanical, not electronic. We require a lockbox even if you have a keyless entry system, as we have experienced failures of these systems in the past, leaving us unable to provide care to your pets.

We also require that you provide us with the name and contact information for one LOCAL contact who also has a copy of your key. This contact could be a family member, friend, or neighbor and should be someone who could take care of your pet in case of a catastrophic emergency, such as a natural disaster or fire, or in the event your pet becomes a danger to themself or the pet sitter.  

Every profession has a body of knowledge. Over time, that body of knowledge evolves to incorporate better and more efficient methods of attaining the profession's objectives. Oftentimes, as we learn more, we discard methods that are harmful or just plain wrong. This is true for all professions, and dog training is no different. 

Dog training is largely based on what we have learned from psychology over the years. A lot of research has been done in the field of psychology with humans and more recently with animals, including dogs. Humans and dogs have a lot in common when it comes to anatomy and biology, including certain hormones and neurochemicals that are instrumental in influencing behavior. Thus, much that has been learned that is true for humans is also true for dogs. As research has progressed over the decades, we have discovered better, more humane ways of working with animals that take into consideration their emotional and physical wellbeing. 

This has led many dog trainers to discard harmful, forceful methods that train dogs using brute physicality or the threat of pain to obtain compliance. Instead, educated trainers now understand the need to help dog guardians provide an environment that makes their dogs feel safe and interact in a way that improves the bond between them. These kinder, more science-based methods have outcomes that are much healthier for the dog and their guardian.

At TCC, we are acutely aware that science isn't static, and we make it a priority to stay informed of new findings in the realm of behavior modification. Naturally, just because something new comes out doesn't mean we blindly embrace it; we consider it carefully to determine if it's effective and, above all, humane.

Unfortunately, the pet care industry is unregulated, and there are no licensing or aptitude requirements to do business as a pet care provider. Certifications matter because not only are experience and knowledge required to attain them, but continuing education units are required to maintain them. As science-based pet care providers, it is essential that we are up to date on current behavior science, skills, and practices.

CPDT-KA, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed: indicates that a dog trainer has passed a comprehensive exam on instructional skills, learning theory, ethology, equipment, and animal husbandry, has at least 300 hours of hands-on dog training experience, and has signed a Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.   

CBCC-KA, Certified Behavior Consultant Canine, Knowledge Assessed: indicates that a dog behavior consultant has passed a comprehensive exam on applied behavior analysis, consulting skills, ethology, health, and biology, has at least 300 hours of dog behavior consulting experience, and has signed a Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.

PPAB PCT-A, Pet Professional Accreditation Board Professional Canine Trainer - Accredited: indicates that a dog trainer has passed a comprehensive dog training knowledge exam, has at least 130 hours of hands-on dog training experience, has verified competence in dog handling and training skills via video submitted to an evaluating board, and has signed a Code of Conduct which includes committing to training using force free methods. It is the only certification in the industry that requires its certificants to affirm they will only use force free training methods.

Fear Free Certified Professional: Trainers who complete the Fear Free Animal Trainer Certification Program acquire the skills to manage and handle dogs and cats alongside the veterinary team during veterinary visits and care to ease the pet’s apprehension regarding exams, procedures, and other care. The techniques may also be used in a home setting for carrying out or administering specific veterinarian-prescribed care plans or routine care like grooming. Most important, the Fear Free animal trainer is equipped to prepare pets for what to expect at the veterinary clinic so they experience the least amount of stress possible.

Our pet sitters are given the choice of attaining either their Certified Professional Pet Sitter certification or National Association of Professional Pet Sitters certification. Both organizations offer a multitude of educational opportunities, which means that our pet sitters have access to up-to-date information on the care and keeping of almost any animal kept as a pet including farm animals!

Additionally, our pet sitters are all required to be Pet First Aid & CPR certified as well as Fear Free Pet Sitter certified.

In order to maintain their certifications, our pet sitters are required to stay current through continuing education units.

The Cooperative Canine, LLC is a force free, fear free dog training company. We prioritize your dog's wellbeing and building the relationship between you two as a byproduct of your training journey together.

Our approach to dog training may not be for everyone, and we understand that. It's important that you choose the service that works best for you and your dog.

Our training is different from a lot of services you may have seen advertisements for. How are we different? First of all, we are dedicated to force free training. That means we won’t use a choke, prong, or shock/e-collar to train your dog. We choose not to use these tools because they hurt your dog both physically and emotionally. There is no way to effectively use these tools without hurting or scaring your dog. Although using these tools will definitely stop behavior, it will do so at the cost of shutting your dog down and potentially making your dog afraid of you—maybe even aggressive.

Just as we would never condone the type of mindset that would incline us to abuse a human, such as…

🛑 I smack my kid/spouse to teach them to respect me

🛑 I spank my kid because I know what’s best for them

🛑 A little tough love builds resilience

🛑 “You made me hit you.”

we would never apply these principles to our living, breathing, sentient dogs (or any other animals either).

Instead, our approach considers the following…

🌟 Are you in pain?

🌟 Are you scared?

🌟 Are you confused?

🌟 What is your underlying emotional need?

because this is the humane way to approach behavioral “problems” no matter what species you’re working with. When you address the UNDERLYING problem, the behavior goes away because it’s no longer needed.

Secondly, we do not guarantee a quick fix or a particular outcome. If this is what you are looking for, we are not your best choice. What we offer is to help you lay a foundation of good behavior and decision-making on the part of your dog. Then we coach you in the maintenance and progression of the skills we built together. Why do we do this? We know you didn’t get a dog to become a dog trainer. (If you did, we’d be out of a job!) However, all behavior must be maintained, just like you maintain your physical health with exercise and nutrition, and we give you the skills to do this. Plus, when you continue working with your dog using our approach, it strengthens your bond with each other.

Finally, we know from recent studies that using force free training makes your dog more optimistic. We love that our choice of training method has this outcome. We want the dogs we train to be joyful participants in their own growth, eager to learn, and happy to engage with life.

You are a good fit to work with us if you...

• Understand that no training outcomes can be guaranteed.
• Can commit to being actively involved in maintaining your dog's training.
• Want your dog to make good decisions and have a positive outlook on life.

We train basic manners (sit, stay, down, wait, come, etc.). We assist in puppy raising. We also work with behavioral issues such as fear-based aggression, reactivity, resource guarding, intrahousehold dog-dog aggression, dog-cat acclimation, fear/anxiety, hyperarousal, and more. 

We do NOT handle separation anxiety. We invite you to try this DIY Separation Anxiety course, created by a certified separation anxiety trainer. It is a cost-effective way to learn how to improve your dog's wellbeing while you're gone.

We use force free methods to train your dog. You may also have heard this method referred to as positive reinforcement or R+. Some people think this refers to merely giving the dog food every time they do what you want, but force free is more than that. Working from a force-free perspective, we try to determine the root cause of your dog's behavior, because we know that every behavior is the result of an underlying need. (Observe yourself for the next 3 minutes; everything you do is to meet a need, including shifting in your seat, scratching your head, or blinking.) When the underlying need is met, there is no reason for the behavior to occur. For example, if your back was itching where you couldn't reach it, you might go to the corner to relieve that itch. But if your partner came along and scratched your back, you wouldn't need to go to the corner. Ultimately, working with your dog means helping your dog feel better about what's bothering them. 

Here are some additional things we might do:

• Use desensitization to help your dog feel better about their environment or other triggers.
• Help your dog build frustration tolerance.
• Help your dog build resilience.
• Help your dog build confidence.
• Teach your dog to communicate their needs with you—and teach you to understand their communication.
• Manage the environment to prevent or limit the occurrence of triggers.
• Teach your dog a different, healthier behavior to use to make themselves feel better.
• Coach you in ways to make your dog feel safe.

For basic skills, we use treats or other things your dog finds rewarding enough to work for. Sometimes your dog wants to work for their ball, so we'll use that. Sometimes, it's a tug toy. Notice, that I said things your dog will work for. I use that word because whenever we're asking a dog to do something for us, something other than what they would have been doing on their own, we are essentially asking them to work for us. When we work, we expect to get paid; why should our dogs be any different? We know that giving our dogs a reward for working for us makes them more likely to want to work for us. And that's the kind of relationship we want you to have with your dog.

We do not use aversives. Aversives are things that are painful or cause discomfort or fear in your dog. Using aversives with your dog erodes your dog's trust in you. It is common to use aversives to make a dog stop doing something the guardian doesn't like. There are several problems with this. 

• As mentioned, it can make your dog lose their trust in you. 
• Your dog can habituate to the aversive, meaning you have to keep escalating for it to have an effect. This could result in actual injury to your dog, depending on what you're doing.
• It can cause your dog to exhibit learned helplessness.
• It can cause your dog to become aggressive to you.
• It can cause your dog to avoid the behavior only when you're not around.
• It doesn't actually teach your dog a better behavior. Remember that every behavior is the product of an underlying need. If your back was itching in that spot you can't reach, but you were prevented from scratching it against the wall, you'd find some other way to scratch it. If you were repeatedly prevented from alleviating the discomfort of the itch, you'd go out of your way to find a way to do so. You'd probably get pretty irritated with whomever was stopping you. Regardless of your dog's need, it has to be met one way or another. We choose to teach the dog a way to meet the need that works for both the dog and the guardian.

Just as we would never condone the type of mindset that would incline us to abuse a human, such as…

🛑 I smack my kid/spouse to teach them to respect me

🛑 I spank my kid because I know what’s best for them

🛑 A little tough love builds resilience

🛑 “You made me hit you.”

we would never apply these principles to our living, breathing, sentient dogs (or any other animals either).

Instead, our approach considers the following…

🌟 Are you in pain?

🌟 Are you scared?

🌟 Are you confused?

🌟 What is your underlying emotional need?

because this is the humane way to approach behavioral “problems” no matter what species you’re working with. 

We use harnesses and leashes. On very rare occasions, we might train a client to use a gentle leader or Halti (a kind of head harness). We use treats and toys as rewards. We may use a small, noisemaking device called a clicker to aid in training certain skills.

We do not use prong, choke, or shock/e-collars.

We do not guarantee any particular outcome. There are so many factors that contribute to behavior. Genetics, personal history, learned consequences, outside forces, epigenetics, the health and experiences of the mother while pregnant, the physical health of the dog, and so on. While we have techniques and protocols we can use based on our education and experience, there are times when the root cause of a behavior cannot be ameliorated despite our best efforts. Therefore, we cannot guarantee any results, and we cannot provide a refund if you did not achieve your desired outcome.  

Virtual consults offer the convenience of a personal, private consultation from the comfort of your own home. They are especially beneficial if you live outside our service area or if your dog is triggered by strangers in your home, whether they become aggressive/reactive or extremely fearful. Dogs with stranger-related fears can have a more productive experience through virtual consults, as they won't be triggered by the presence of a trainer in their home.

Additionally, virtual consults are recorded for future reference. Each client has their own folder on Google Drive, which contains all their recordings, notes, updates, training plans, and additional videos as needed. Virtual consults enable our trainers to maintain frequent contact with clients, as we encourage clients to upload videos at least 3 times per week for our trainers to review and provide feedback. This ensures steady progress and the best possible outcome for our clients.

All services must be paid in advance.

A credit card must be on file and we will charge your card automatically for any services completed.

Cancellations for drop-in appointments must  be cancelled a minimum of 2 hours in advance. Cancellations done after the 2-hour window will be charged full price for the service.

All services that require TCC Team Members to have access to your home  will need to have a mechanical (not digital) lockbox. If you do not have  a lockbox, TCC will provide one for a one-time fee of $20.00. A lockbox is required even if you have an electronic/keyless/coded door lock.

For any services provided in your home while you are out of town, you  must provide either a local emergency contact who has a key to your home OR you must provide us with a second key which we will hold until your return.

Overnight services require a nonrefundable, 50% fee to hold your calendar dates. The remainder of your balance will be collected 24  hours before the start of service using the card we have on file. If you need to reschedule your reservation, your fee may be applied to the new dates of service if you reschedule within 14 days of notifying us of your change in plans. During our stay, should your dog become a danger  to our Team Member or other animals or people, we will call your  emergency contact to assume care of your dog. While we will do our best during our meet & greet to ensure we do not accept aggressive or  dangerous dogs, occasionally a dog will have difficulty adapting to having someone new in their home. In these cases, your payment for services will not be refunded. 

In the event of a natural disaster/emergency, we will call your emergency contact to assume care of your pet(s). We highly recommend you have an emergency kit prepared in the event your pets must be evacuated. 

For the health and safety of all our clients’ pets, your dog must be up to date on flea and tick prevention and all vaccinations, including Bordetella, DAPP/DHLPP, and rabies. Cats must be up to date on rabies and FVRCP.

(We DO accept titers.) Please note that this includes services where we visit your pet solely in your home, as pathogens may be transmitted between animals on the clothing and shoes of our team members.

Additional policies may apply to different services. Please discuss all policies thoroughly with your service provider. We do not offer refunds on services.