Ellen Balanecki believes in positive reinforcement training. This means setting up a pattern of your dog working for a reward, then moving toward working to please you without treats in hand. She believes training should be fun for everyone involved – you and your dog. To that end, she includes some games to play at home that build on skills learned in class. She believes training has a purpose beyond just a few parlor tricks to pull out whenever people visit. She believes training teaches you how to enhance your communication with your dog – and vice versa. When you understand your dog and your dog knows what behaviors are acceptable and pleasing to you, both of you are able to focus more on enjoying each other.
Services
Ellen Balanecki offers group classes and private training.
Group Classes
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Basic Obedience Course:
7-week course for $150, covering basic obedience cues (sit, down, stay, touch, focus, come, leave it, heel, stand) and dog-related topics such as training equipment, body language, socialization, and loose leash walking. Puppies must be at least 16 weeks of age and all dogs must be current on their vaccinations. Maximum of six dogs per course.
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Big Breed Basic Obedience Course:
7-week course designed specifically for dogs with an estimated adult size over 60 lbs. Maximum of five dogs per course.
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Bitty Breed Basic Obedience Course:
7-week course designed specifically for dogs with an estimated adult size under 25 lbs. Maximum of six dogs per course.
Private Training
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5-week package:
Meets once a week for an hour and costs $250. It covers sit, down, stay, focus, come, heel, and other behaviors (everything in the group classes) and has time for you to ask about specific behaviors you’re wanting help with (choose from jumping, excessive barking, loose-leash walking, mouthing, chewing, and house training).
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Single sessions:
Available at $65 per session.
Specializations
Basic obedience, puppy training, big breed training, bitty breed training, loose leash walking, jumping, excessive barking, mouthing, chewing, and house training.
Training Methods
Positive reinforcement
