Sandra Bowers
has over 23 years of experience training dogs. She has raised 23 puppies for Leader Dogs for the Blind and Freedom Service Dogs of America. She has been a Puppy Raiser Training Assistant for Leader Dogs for the Blind and a contributor to training protocols for both organizations. She is also a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).
Training Philosophy
Sandra Bowers believes in positive reward-based training, using praise, treats, or toys to reward dogs for desired behaviors. She emphasizes that training should be positive and fun for both the dog and the owner.
Services
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Private Lessons:
Individualized instruction and training plans for owners to teach their puppies. In-home lessons are 30 minutes, while lessons at the private facility are 60 minutes. Package prices are available.
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We Teach Your Puppy:
A trainer comes to the owner’s home and teaches the puppy. Two sessions per week for a month are included, along with a training tool kit and one training session with the owner present to transfer skills. Multi-dog households may incur an additional charge.
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We Teach Your Dog:
A trainer meets with the owner and dog to create a program specific to the dog’s needs, which may include training new behaviors, added enrichment, or other behavior modification. The process begins with a meet and greet, followed by progress updates after each session. The program includes 1-2 private sessions with the owner present for training and a training tool kit to transfer lessons.
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Private School:
Initial Meet and Greet Session for $150, which includes meeting the owner and dog, establishing goals and a training plan, and estimating the number of training sessions and cost. Private training sessions are approximately $150-$200/session, with package pricing available. Training progress updates, 1-2 private sessions with the owner present for training, and a training tool kit are included. The Meet and Greet session may lead to recommendations that do not include further instruction through Good Paws (e.g., aggression toward people, significant reactivity, etc.). In these instances, the cost of the Meet and Greet session is nonrefundable.
Certifications
Sandra Bowers is a Karen Pryor Academy Dog Training Professional (KPA-CTP), a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), and a Fear Free Certified Professional Trainer.
Specializations
Sandra Bowers specializes in positive reward-based training for dogs of all ages and breeds. She has extensive experience in puppy training, service dog training, and behavior modification.
Training Methods
Sandra Bowers uses positive reward-based training methods, which focus on rewarding desired behaviors with praise, treats, or toys. She avoids using force, shouting, harm, pain, or other negative forms of coercion.
